49ers, Falcons to meet in critical NFC West battle

Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Ga.,
Sunday, Nov. 15

AT A GLANCE: The 49ers have long been the reigning bullies of the NFC West, but the Falcons aren’t the 98-pound weaklings they used to be. Atlanta is looking to muscle its way past San Francisco and into first place in the division.

Since 1981, when they went 13-3 in the regular season and went on to win their first Super Bowl, the 49ers have dominated the NFC West. The Niners have won 13 division titles over the last 17 years, and they’ve often won going away.

During that span, no team in the NFC West has been able to consistently challenge the 49ers for the division crown. The Panthers took the division title in ’96, only their second season in existence. But the Panthers have regressed and are no longer an immediate threat to the Niners’ divisional supremacy.

A year ago, it would have seemed absurd to think that the Falcons were on the verge of challenging the 49ers for a division title. On Nov. 15, 1997, the Falcons were 2-8 and seemingly going nowhere fast in Dan Reeves’ first year as head coach. But the Falcons went 5-1 the rest of the way, building momentum that they have carried into this season.

The Falcons are 7-2 and tied with the Niners for first place in the division. But, if the Falcons want the NFC West lead to themselves, they’ll have to beat the 49ers for the first time since ’95.

The Niners have won five straight against Atlanta, covering the spread in three of those five wins. Led by QB Steve Young, who threw for 387 yards and three touchdowns, the 49ers beat the Falcons 31-20 in San Francisco in Week Four.

WHEN THE 49ERS HAVE THE BALL:

Young missed last week’s win over the Panthers with an abdominal strain he sustained the previous week in a loss to the Packers. He has vowed to return for this week’s game.

Young will try to take advantage of a Falcon secondary that gave up a lot of big plays early in the season but has played better over the last few weeks. For Atlanta to end its losing streak against the Niners, Falcon CB’s Ray Buchanan, Michael Booker and Ronnie Bradford must prevent Young and the dangerous 49er WR trio of Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens and J.J. Stokes from taking control of the game. Buchanan is a fine cover man, but Bradford and Booker are inconsistent.

Like the Packers, who sacked Young nine times in Week Nine, the Falcons have a front four capable of putting heavy pressure on opposing QB’s. Falcon DRE Chuck Smith, a dangerous pass rusher, faces Derrick Deese, whom the 49ers have moved from right tackle to left tackle now that ORT Kirk Scrafford has come out of retirement. Scrafford must contend with Falcon DLE Lester Archambeau, who is quietly having a fine season. The Falcons will get a big lift if DLT Travis Hall, their best overall lineman, returns to the starting lineup from a knee injury. Hall would face 49er ORG Kevin Gogan, who has great power but isn’t especially quick.

Falcon LB’s Cornelius Bennett, Jessie Tuggle and Henri Crockett, who have been tough against the run this season, will try to contain shifty 49er RB Garrison Hearst.