ATLANTA — This is the live blog for the pregame of the NFC Championship game between the 49ers and the Falcons. I’ll update this frequently with information and analysis from the Georgia Dome press box.
10:16 The 49ers’ first offensive play last week was a pass to Michael Crabtree. What do you think their first offensive play will be today, pass or run?
10:18 The Falcons’ first offensive play last week was an incomplete deep pass to Julio Jones. What do you think their first offensive play will be today, pass or run?
10:20 Colin Kaepernick is taking his first warmup throws. He’s throwing to A.J. Jenkins.
10:37 The 49ers inactives are Scott Tolzien, Trenton Robinson, Jewel Hampton, Cam Johnson, Tony Jerod-Eddie, Joe Looney and Ian Williams. WR Chad Hall is active. His number is 14.
10:39 Blog quiz: Who will play more snaps in this game, Chad Hall or A.J. Jenkins?
10:41 The Falcons inactives are QB Dominique Davis, WR Tim Toone, G Phillipkeith Manley, G Harland Gunn, T Lamar Holmes, DE Lawrence Sidbury and DT Travian Robertson.
10:46 Falcons’ kicker Matt Bryant just made a 58-yard field goal in warmups.
10:52 David Akers just made a 55-yard field goal from the left hash.
10:52 Next kick, he makes a 60-yard field goal.
10:54 Tony Gonzalez has been catching passes since I arrived in the press box about an hour ago. Vernon Davis has been warming up his legs.
11:20 Randy Moss just made all of the 49ers wide receivers huddle up and listen to him. He held his hand up and made each of them give him a high five.
11:25 Crabtree is warming up on the field. He’s dancing before and after running routes. He looks as relaxed and confident as can be. ESPN reports the 49ers highly doubt Crabtree will be charged for sexual assault.
11:27 Eddie DeBartolo Jr. just told Tim Kawakami this is a warmup game for the 49ers.
11:37 The 49ers just huddled up in the middle of the field and the whole crowd is booing them.
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Frank Gore up the middle 7 yards
Greetings Grant, and hopefully Lowell
Faithful, ESPN is running an interview with the Smith Brothers in a couple of minutes. Uh, no, not Alex & Troy.
No prediction from Grant means good things for the 49ers : )
Jack,
Saw your prediction on your blog, I hope you have Grantides.
So do I!
I said 49ers by six.
Oh boy…
That was a conservative prognostication Grant. Do you really think it will be that close?
I do. I think the Falcons are very well-coached. I expect their game plan to be top notch.
I’m a numbers/stats guy and I just don’t see it being close. We’ll know soon enough…
Well, at least not a blowout prediction…….
Good Morning Grant!
GC, what wine did you have last night with the fried chicken?
An Italian Barbera called Renato Ratti. It’s the plural of Ratto, I guess. It was good.
Cool. Just curious because LC mentioned on his blog that AK was ordering…
We got there about a half hour after her, and her table was full. My dad, Phil Barber, Jerry McDonald, PD photographer Kent Porter and I sat at the kids’ table.
Ha!! Who made the most noise?
Killion. She was feeling it. Monte Poole was having a ball, too.
Did Ratto’s sweater harass the wait staff?
The sweater was on its best behavior.
I don’t know how RR wears those sweaters. Hotter than hades!!
He’s a Bill-Cosby kind of guy.
Ratto sweathers have alot of stretch marks.
From seeing him on Chron Live, MP seems to roll with the flow. True?
I’d say so. He’s very nice.
Good evening folks! here’s hoping for a big niners win and a civil blogosphere tonight! First play tonight for the niners will be a deep shot to Vernon, incomplete, and the Falcons will run Turner up the middle and he will be stuffed for a gain of one.
Falcons will open with a pass to Gonzo to test Whitner
*puts on flame retardant suit*
Falcons win by 10.
The kool-aid drinkers will protest but until this team shows they can win three games in a row I’ll assume they can’t. Please prove me wrong 49ers.
Each person that responds please go check your prediction for the Vikings/Rams/Giants & Seattle game. If you were certain of victory in any of those games then you have no business telling me I’m wrong.
Who really what anybody predicts, predictions are freaking stupid, and to waste a sizeable time, in saying you are dead wrong, is also stupid. That is why they play the game. I am nervous in every game, don’t care if we were playing the Bills again , I would still be nervous.
I certainly wont criticize you, but personally i dont think that the previous pattern will have even the slightest say in tonights game, this is the playoffs, regular season results mean nothing now!
If the Falcons can break a playoff loss pattern, the 49ers can certainly break the 2w, 1l pattern.
The 49ers motivation will be the ugly taste of last years championship game loss. It’s a game that every 49er player, coach, and fan knows we should have won.
We may have been denied a SB game last season, it don’t believe it happens today.
Records and “patterns” are made to be broken!
I will be very disappointed but not shocked if the 49ers drop this game. They have shown an ability to lay an egg at the oddest times this year.
Justin and Aldon being nicked up concerns me. Despite his ridiculous nickname Ryan is horrible under pressure but very, very good when he gets protection (true of all QBs but in Ryan’s case the difference is huge).
I guess it will come down to the basics again. Stop the run, tackle, pass pressure (especially up the middle), no mistakes on ST, then Gore and Capernicus make something happen.
Grant
Did you find anything interesting in Hot’Lanta’s culinary or libation scene?
I went to South City Kitchen last night with all the sports writers. Best fried chicken I’ve ever had.
The Huntsville, Alabama Ruff Ryders were having a convention/party at my hotel last night. Almost made me want to join a biker gang.
A biker gang? What would Mrs CohnZone say?
Thanks for the update. I can believe those folks know their fried chicken.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/HUNTSVILLE-ALABAMA-RUFF-RYDERS/119062028129852
They throw good parties.
Did you try the sweet tea?
No, I’ll have to try that tonight after the game.
Wasn’t this your gang in college?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSTb4s8eznQ
I wish! I didn’t make the cut.
I’ve had the sweet tea and it’s like corn syrup.
LoL! Enjoy the game.
Your locals, Oakland Hells Angels, have a ummm… Illustrious history.
This group seemed nothing like them. The Ruff Ryders seemed friendly.
Tailgating at the GA dome lot A…loving it. Surprised at how many niner fans showed up here in the Atl. Go niners.
Awesome! Represent!
“10:16 The 49ers’ first offensive play last week was a pass to Michael Crabtree. What do you think their first offensive play will be today, pass or run?”
Hand off to Gore, or play action.
“10:18 The Falcons’ first offensive play last week was an incomplete deep pass to Julio Jones. What do you think their first offensive play will be today, pass or run?”
Deep pass over Culliver
“WR Chad Hall is active. His number is 14.”
Surprised he is active over Cam Johnson
“Who will play more snaps in this game, Chad Hall or A.J. Jenkins?”
Jenkins will get more snaps, Hall will have more passes tossed his way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwt2_GJqqnk
Good morning….this is what I want today!!!! look at minute 1:40.
Yeah, like that.
How is the wi-fi in the press box?
Off to Healdsburg to watch the game. Everyone have a great afternoon. Go Niners!
Let’s go fellas!! One for All – All for One!!
Go Niners!!
Hey Crab!!!!!!!!! Where have you been?? Time for some 9er football dude! Number 6 is on the way…LET’S GO!! Good times.
Hofe/Big niner – What are you guys drinkin? I have the usual ice cold Lagunitas IPA and picked up some Five Guys burgers with cajun fries to go! Kap would be proud! :)
right now nothing, to nervous. Last thing I need to bathroom trips in the middle of a tight game. I might just wait till later.
Crab, I haven’t started yet but may go with my Amstel (I know terrible!) with apps and much later a zin to go with my homemade pizza. Although, I’m flexible and may only drink wine. Beer is ok as long as you don’t drink the wine too close together. :0)
Crab
I know you like the IPA, have you tried the Lagunitas “Hop Stoopid Ale”? Pretty good in cold weather.
Anxious, nervous = cold feet, bubble guts
The only team that can beat us today is the 49ers. Don’t come out flat!
I would be curious don’t think Nolan and Alex Smith will be chatting.
Neal, really? smh
Alex might put Nolan in a full nelson, dislocate Nolan’s shoulder and say “man up and go play now”.
hahah
A lot of 49ers fan there today Grant?
That’s the impression I got walking to the stadium.
Argh, Buck and Aikman. Wasn’t someone suppose to give them the flu or food poisoning or something?
1st play: play action fake to Gore, pass to VD.
Go Niners!!
The 3 win a row jinx is holding so far. PTL I don’t gamble.