Atlanta Falcons fall out of playoff race in ugly loss to San Francisco
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 19: Matt Ryan # 2 of the Atlanta Falcons is attacked by Kentavius Street # 95 and Jordan Willis # 94 by the San Francisco 49ers of the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter of the game at Levi’s Stadium on December taken 02/19/2021 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images)
Three keys to the Atlanta Falcons defeating the 49ers
The Atlanta Falcons’ playoff hopes are all but over after an ugly 31-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Atlanta had chance after chance to assert itself in the game and, in true Atlanta fashion, refused to take any opportunity.
The first possession of the game set the tone for Atlanta. The Falcons forced a turnover on the opening kick and had the 1st and goal well within their five-yard line. They flipped the ball on downs and couldn’t take advantage of it.
Their inability to get the ball out of their own five set the tone for the rest of the game. San Francisco gave Atlanta one chance after another, and Atlanta found ways to fumble each one against an obviously superior team.
Matt Ryan continued to take far too many hits from a paper mache offensive by the Atlanta Falcons
Matt Ryan’s toughness is one of the few “positives” to take away from this game. San Francisco kept hitting Ryan, driving him into the grass, or knocking him down in seemingly every passing game. Ryan continued to throw throws and gave his team a chance to return to the biggest game of the season.
Defensively, Atlanta regressed against a very physical offense in San Francisco that allowed the 49ers to get whatever they wanted and toss that game away in the third quarter.
Russell Gage and Kyle Pitts were both bright spots for Atlanta, reaching 168 yards together and keeping the Atlanta offensive moving. The Falcons were able to consistently move the ball offensively but were unable to convert within the twenty.
Atlanta will turn its attention to getting its first home win of the season against a suddenly boisterous Detriot Lions team that claims a big win. The Falcons are still not excluded from playoff competition but have to go undefeated in their last three games and are busy. In all likelihood, this was the last major game of the season for Atlanta.
A game that came much later this year than the previous three seasons. Slight advances maybe, but advances that Atlanta can focus on if they focus on the off-season.
