49ers vs. Falcons live blog

Posted By on December 15, 2019

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) warms up before an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)

SANTA CLARA — Here is the live blog for the 49ers’ Week 15 game against the Atlanta Falcons. I will update this with information and analysis from the press box.

12:00 Here are the 49ers’ inactives:

  • CB Richard Sherman
  • CB K’Waun Williams
  • SS Jaquiski Tartt
  • DE Dee Ford
  • DT Jullian Taylor
  • QB C.J. Beathard
  • WR Jordan Matthews

12:05 Here are the Falcons inactives:

  • G James Carpenter
  • G Jamon Brown
  • T Ty Sambrillo
  • DE Allen Bailey
  • LB Ahmad Thomas
  • DE John Cominsky
  • WR Brandon Powell

1:24 The Falcons win the toss and choose to receive the opening kickoff.

1:30 On third and four from the Falcons 41, strong safety Marcell Harris breaks up a pass intended for Austin Hooper, and the Falcons punt. The 49ers start from their 20.

1:35 On second and eight after a two-yard run by Tevin Coleman, Joe Staley gives up a sack to Vic Beasley Jr. The 49ers go three-and-out. Staley was so concerned about Beasley’s speed around the edge, Staley gave Beasley a clear lane to the inside.

1:41 On third and 14, Matt Ryan throws an incomplete pass intended for Julio Jones, and the Falcons go three and out. Dre Greenlaw broke up a pass intended for Jones on second and 13.

2:04 On first and goal from the 2, Raheem Mostert runs between the tackles for a touchdown. The 49ers lead 7-0. That drive took 21 plays.

2:19 On first and goal from the 5, Julio Jones beats Emmanuel Moseley for a five-yard touchdown catch. Earlier in the drive, Moseley gave up catches of nine yards and 28 yards to Jones, who simply is too big for Moseley. Game tied at seven.

2:25 On third and five from the 49ers 30, Kendrick Bourne drops a low pass from Jimmy Garoppolo, and the Niners go three and out. The Falcons start from their 35 yard line after a 42-yard punt by Mitch Wishnowsky.

2:37 On third and seven from the 49ers 25, Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas loop to the inside and hit Ryan as he throws an errant pass. Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo makes a 43-yard field goal, and the Falcons lead 10-7.

2:48 On third and goal from the four, Garoppolo throws a pass directly to Falcons cornerback Blidi-Wreh Wilson, but George Kittle knocks the ball away before Wreh-Wilson can pick it off. Robbie Gould makes a 22-yard field goal and ties the game at 10 just before halftime. The 49ers will receive the kickoff to start the third quarter.

3:09 On third and five from the 49ers 48, Wreh-Wilson breaks up a telegraphed pass from Garoppolo to Kittle, and the 49ers punt.

3:17 On second and 22 from the Falcons 7, Sheldon Day sacks Ryan for a loss of seven. That’s the 49ers’ first sack of the game. The Falcons punt two plays later. The 49ers will start from their 37.

3:27 On third and 11 from the Falcons 35, Garoppolo completes a seven-yard pass to Kittle. On the next play, Robbie Gould makes a 46-yard field goal and gives the 49ers a 13-10 lead.

3:32 On second and 15 from the Falcons 18, Ryan steps up in the pocket and runs into Nick Bosa, who sacks Ryan for a tw0-yard loss. The Falcons punt two plays later. The 49ers defense has been fantastic in the third quarter.

3:42 On first and 10 from the 49ers, Matt Breida fumbles but the ball rolls out of bounds. Two plays later, he fumbles again and the Falcons recover at their 34. Shanahan needs to quit messing around and give the ball to Mostert when the 49ers run the ball.

3:47 On third and 17 from the Falcons’ 40, Fred Warner almost intercepts a pass from Ryan, but 49ers nickelback D.J. Reed knocks the ball away from Warner by mistake. The Falcons punt. Great defensive stand by the 49ers defense after Breida’s fumble.

3:56 On third and three, Garoppolo gets hit as he throws the ball away, and the 49ers punt. During the punt, Ross Dwelley strips the ball from Falcons punt returner Kenjon Barner, and Kyle Juszczyk recovers the ball at the Falcons one-yard line. Two plays later, Jusczyk catches a one-yard touchdown pass from Garoppolo. The 49ers lead 19-10 after Gould misses the extra point.

4:08 On first and 10 from the 49ers 33, Ryan throws deep to Jones, who draws a pass-interference penalty from Jimmie Ward in the end zone. Falcons running back Qadree Ollison scores a one-yard touchdown run on the next play. The 49ers lead 19-17 with 5:15 left. Gould’s missed extra point could be one of the deciding plays of the game if the 49ers lose. I don’t think they’ll lose, though.

4:21 On second and 10 from the 49ers 37, Garoppolo fakes a handoff, rolls right and throws a pass behind the line of scrimmage to Deebo Samuel, who runs for a gain of 29. Three plays later on third and four, Garoppolo completes a pass to Kittle who has run to run for a first down, but he fumbles and the ball rolls out of bounds one yard short of the first down. Robbie Gould makes a 43-yard field goal, and the 49ers lead 22-17 with 1:42 left. The Falcons have one timeout. They start from their 30.

6:08. The 49ers lost. Stay tuned for my game story and report card.

This article has 273 Comments

  1. Nothing like winning with one hand tied behind our backs. Let’s dominate early so we can rest guys late. Go Niners!

  16. I’ll go ahead and change my prediction now that it’s early.
    Niners 31-20
    I thought Mostert was starting.
    Why in the world is Coleman starting this game?

  17. OK, we have seen more than enough of Coleman, we all know that at this point he is the #4 RB on the team. Secondly, get Brunskill warmed up, old Joe got badly abused there.

  18. Why is Shanahan still starting Coleman. I mean everyone but him see’s he should be the last guy off the bench. He is totally obsessed with old vets who used to play for him.

    1. It’s called depth and using it. It doesn’t matter who starts in this RB rotation as all of them will get touches.
      It’s the art of deception.

  28. For a team that supposedly has a bad pass rush, they are putting pretty good heat on Jimmy. The OL needs to be better.

  41. Let’s be objective and evaluate players by what they do with the opportunities they are presented with. No one expects any player to be perfect. They are all going to have off games, but it should be a matter of consistency.

  47. Weatherspoon doesnt want to play football.
    He should retire. He puts in halfassed effort, doesnt even attempt tackles. His minds not into the game.

            1. Still think one of the most promising young up and coming corners in the league should retire? Sounds like nerves have been well and truly touched to me…

              1. Keep your hands to your self you pervert.

                And yeah, hes playing not to get hurt. He doesnt have the want. Hes not up and coming, hes just young.

                And the only one who seems to be hurt is you, getting all defensive over a DB who doesnt want to play

  48. This may be a game, Ryan is way to comfortable in the pocket. The injuries are starting to have a real impact on the defense it seems.

    1. those are the throws in his comfort zone. He seldom throws over twenty unless the receiver is wide open. The farther the throw the more inaccuracy comes into play.

  53. Ugh… Saleh’s plan is looking a bit rough.
    Julio is the one guy you have to stop on this offense and he can’t seem to figure it out.

    1. Went through his hands… if I was going to critique Jimmy it was that Kittle was wide open on the pass before that but Bourne needs to catch the ball.

      1. Now watch the second view. It was low and behind him. If it was low and in front he can get under it, but low and behind his body is moving in the opposite direction. Watch the replay and you will see what I am talking about, It is all about the camera angle. In the initial camera angle I would agree with you.

  59. Looks like the 2018 defense right now. No pass rush. If this continues, Matty Ice will carve them up like a Thanksgiving turkey. Meanwhile, Jimmy looks a little off, the O line looks like they’re sleepwalking. Team looks lousy, just going through the motions. The crowd is not involved. Don’t have a good feeling at this point. Atlanta looks like the 11-2 team, not the Niners. ugh.

    3. They are not going to put Mullins in no matter what. They are going with Jimmy this season. If they were ever going with Mullins they would have done so in one of Jimmys really bad games. This game he is basically just off target.

  73. Kyle better come unfknglued at halftime. This is not acceptable.
    There we go Coleman. Play with a chip on your shoulder. Team take note.

    1. No one touched him. Mostert or Breida might have taken that too the house. It is what you do with what you are given. He made good cuts, but all the rb’s have been doing that. Mostart and Breida are just quicker and faster and run harder.

    1. They do.

      His name is George Kittle.

      So you going to disappear again once the 49ers take the lead?? We all know you aren’t even a fan.

  79. Horrible redzone series there. Play calling and execution. Both teams have 1 offensive player keeping them in the game.

  80. That was disappointing, need TD’s not FG’s.

    Niners need to come out after the half and slam the ball down Atlanta’s throat.

  81. It’s interesting that neither defence has really taken away the offence’s strongest weapon. Going to come down to which one can make the best adjustments on that for the second half. It’s a tie game, need to go win it now.

  82. Couple things on that drive.
    1. Jimmy is not as accurate this week as he was last week.
    2. You can’t use Coleman in the red zone. He doesn’t have the necessary vision to find the crease nor the power to blow through the defenders.
    3. Kittle has shown why he is so trusted, making a tough catch and then saving his qb.

    1. Last week was probably Jimmys most accurate game as a Niner. I didn’t expect him to repeat that. He just needs to put more than one accurate game together. That is the problem. He is inconsistent. He has more inaccurate games than he does accurate ones.

  84. Wtf Shanny?? You said in the press conference Mostert had earned it…well where the hell is it??
    He deserved way more touches in the first half!! Give him the damn ball Shanny!! He’ll break one if you give him enough chances.

  85. As a near 40 year former season ticket holder at the ‘stick, I’m embarrassed for the supposed Niner fans at the mausoleum. It’s like the Niners play 16 away games. Come on already. Make some noise when Atlanta has the ball. Get into the game. They need help. Jeesh.

  87. Ryan 11-of-16, 93 yards, zero sacks, 1 TD, 0 INT, 104.4 rating… Defense needs to find a way to slow down Ryan and Jones and the offense needs to play keep away and score TDs. Can’t let these chumps hang around.

  99. Colman doesn’t make those runs. Bad call on the peronal foul. It appears that the NFL now has a major league baseball strike zone. Between the knees and the chest.

  100. Garoppolo is off. That’s 2 ridiculous roughing calls on the Falcons. They will need the referees to help them to win.

  102. We’re keeping them in the game. Not good. Where are Sanders and Deebo?
    Kyle is off today.
    Bootlegs?
    Draw plays?

  103. Pass protection is non existent. Pathetic. O line is getting manhandled. Where are the other receivers today? It can’t be Kittle every play. Racer 5 not doing it today. Time to break out the Teqillya. :}
    Some good news. 31-7 Dallas. Clinch.

  106. What the hell is going on with Jimmy and Kittle? It’s like there are no other receivers on the field.

  107. Is the only receiver Jimmy has is Kittle? Grant give us a game film evaluation if any other receivers were ever open.

    1. He should be replaced next year. He’s been terrible imo. Easily one of the poorest aspects of the team, which granted isn’t saying a lot given how good almost every other facet is.

  133. The San Francisco 49ers and placekicker Robbie Gould have reached an agreement on a long-term deal, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports. According to the report, Gould has a four-year, $19 million deal, with $10.5 million fully guaranteed over the first two seasons.Jul 15, 2019

    * in case anyone was wondering……….

  142. I feel bad for Jimmy on that one. But… to be fair, I feel the first one that was challenged, was a PI, so it kind of balances out.

  145. JImmy doesn’t trust his accuracy. if a guy is not open he will not throw into a tight window and throws away from the receiver. Probably as it should be. Play it safe.

  146. Gotta get this first down. Can’t depend on Gould for the FG and can’t depend on the D for a game saving stop. Get it done O!

  150. In other news, kinda cool to see Jeff Ulbrich coaching. He was always one of the more cerebral LBs in the league. Long-time Niner fans will remember.

  157. Falcons deserve it I think. That was a TD, and the Julio one clearly is too. Niners still control their destiny, but gut check time regardless. Bad loss, not the end of the world.

    2. Niners deserved to lose this game! Poor effort all around, including the coaching, or should I say …. ESPECIALLY the coaching!

  160. Choke job by Shanahan against a former superior.

    Niners defense is exposed. They couldnt stop the Golden Girls right now.

  163. 49ers need that bye to get healthy. That los of a tie with Seattle will come back to haunt them.

    1. I said I would’ve played for the tie in that game. Looking back, all these losses are important character building moments. All came down to a play or two. If Kittle doesn’t fumble that 3rd down play, he will most likely get that first down and the game is over.
      This young team has to learn how to finish. This is a better team and betting coach that Harbaugh’s squad, but those dudes were mature and knew how to close it out.

  164. Well, good try. The Niners were 6 inches from winning.
    .
    I knew this would be a hard game to win.
    .
    Niners need to regroup, and get ready for the Rams.
    .
    At least they clinched a playoff spot.

  165. Don’t have to worry about Saleh getting a HC offer next year. Julio Jones is the Falcons whole offense and he has no clue.

    1. Yeah, that should put an end to any of that talk. Very poor job today, from dialing up successful pressures to getting the correct guys covering. It remains to be seen if Salah is even a very good defensive co-ordinator, let alone head coach. I think he’s good, but he has a LOT of talent to work with.

  166. Jones was unstoppable. We really missed Richard Sherman this week. May he heal quickly. Hoping Tartt comes back, too.

  167. Defensive choke job reminiscent of a year ago.

    Go up 19-10, then give up back to back Touchdown drives of 75 and 70 yards.

    1. Saleh has been figured out. Too much zone and not enough pressure.
      He once again let’s a QB sneak beat him. Head coach? Doubt it!

    2. Was this on the defense, the offense or both? Seems to me you are going to loose to a team with Ryan and Jones if you only score 19 points, they shut down both the Niners and Saints offense.

        1. Offense/Special teams had the team in a position where only a TD could beat them and the defense failed. Again. It’s been happening over the 2nd half of the year as the QB’s have gotten better.

  168. Gonna be a flood of bad, bad grades for Grant to give out. This is seriously concerning, the defense has been trending bad now for three games in a row, and further back if you include the Cardinals games. The Rams game looms now as being huge, if they lose that game….

    1. If they lose that one, it still comes down to Seattle. However, they would also need Green Bay and New Orleans to lose. Right now they are in a four-way tie with record, 13-3 wins the Number 1 seed. 12-4 could be fifth, or third, or second.

  169. Well, Grant was wrong again. No blowout win. Guess the Falcons were playing for Quinn’s job.

  170. Oh well, Niners are right where they should be. Seattle is better. They’re in the playoffs. Be happy with that. They don’t have a home field advantage. That place is a jinx anyway. I think they play better on the road. They’re in the dance. Don’t worry, be happy. :)

    1. R-E-L-A-X. Niners still own their own destiny by winning the last two games. I don’t think Seattle is better, but I think they’re clutch and savvy enough to avoid bad losses and win a few games they shouldn’t. Now the Niners can move on from this “historically great” stuff. They’re a good defence, and a good offence. No need to worry about where they rank in history, it’s about winning some games now. I hope I don’t see players posting about the pro bowl nonsense though, it’s time to gut out these last two wins.

  171. Should have blitzed that statue Matt Ryan… instead let’s go full prevent while our DL has struggled to touch Ryan all day. Total choke job…

  172. I honestly think they got both calls right…

    I don’t know how Saleh doesn’t scheme to take away Julio.
    This is 3 weeks in a row where when the D needed a stop they couldn’t get it… that said, with the injuries mounting I don’t think Kyle can rely on this D to win games going forward and he needs to scheme accordingly.

    They desperately need Dee Ford and Tartt and Sherm back.

  173. All of the defensive injuries hurt the Niners.
    .
    Saleh needs to make some adjustments.
    .
    KS was a little too conservative in his play calling. Where were the counters, misdirections and fly sweeps?
    .
    Niners should have gone bold, and not settle for field goals.

  174. Seattle this, Seattle that… Not even thinking about Seattle… the Rams could very well clean our clock on Saturday night. Gotta take care of business or that last game doesn’t matter.

    1. Yes, anyone assuming we will just roll over the Rams at this point is clearly not paying attention.

    1. true..we should have come up with a stop on the last drive to the line. Saleh has been declining the past 6 games or so. He is no genius and failed to adjust against a bad team.

  176. We have a better team than both the Rams and Seahawks. That doesn’t mean we will win but I sure like our odds.

    1. When healthy we do… but this isn’t the same team it was.
      The defense is missing It’s starting NT, LB, CB, and SS not to mention its best Pass Rusher. Then they are missing both of their backup DE’s… and that is just the defense.

      1. Yes but today wasn’t just the fault of the defense. I missed pat is as much to blame. What happened to our wide receivers? They were non existent. Brenda fumbled – twice.

    1. NOT a great team today…didn’t close it out c hok ed cough cough deja vu last year all over again

        1. surely did….just like I said from the Seattle game forward the “rubber meets the road” and we have 3 losses….I was right

          1. Just like you said! When the rubber hits the road, you know it’s not good.
            What ever shall we do?

    2. Sour,
      I’m not sure this is still a “great” team at this point… the injuries have really started to mount. Good Yes, but very flawed currently.
      If they can get Ford and Sherm back at full steam they might get back to being great.

      And on offense, if someone can lock Coleman in the stadiums basement for the duration of the game… that might help also.

    1. Yes lost to a horrible team…they have one good player Julio and couldn’t stop him….the defense looked like last year all over again

  179. Relax folks. Saleh should’t be fired, the defense doesn’t suck, and believe it or not, the sky isn’t falling. As a matter of fact, even in this heartbreaking loss, they still clinched a playoff berth! Yes, seeding is important but that wasn’t going to be decided until the trip to Seattle anyway.

    The last three games have taken a toll on this team. It’s a bummer that they lost in the last second today, but the best is still to come from this team.

  180. A championship defense cannot give up a 10 play 70 yard drive with less than 10 minutes to go.
    Saleh has to change up his calls injuries or not.

    1. choke job……seems like the team going backwards at times…giving up way too many points to be a SB team….or to be mentioned as one

      1. well said and those of us who are “negative” are really caring fans who are distressed by bad coaching and bad play. We have that right. Grant taught us that.

    3. Prime time,
      Best comment by far on this thread.
      Ryan should have never had that much time to throw. Not having the extra pass rushers like Ford and Blair down the stretch has been evident as well.
      We’ll be getting many of our starters back for the playoffs so although this loss is frustrating the best is yet to come.

  181. No excuses . Bad game for just about everyone.

    1. Mostert, Kittle, Bosa and Ward played well.
    2. Everyone else was mediocre or underperformed.
    3. Two weeks in a row a number one , athletic receiver lit us up.
    4. Interesting how enthusiastic some people get when we lose or have a bad game. What’s up with that.

  182. We are really, really lucky to have these guys, and I still LOVE ‘EM!
    But that was UGLY.
    If they win the next two games it won’t matter even a little bit.
    But that was UGLY.
    For all the hypercritical nitpickers and naysayers, you must be loving it… LOTSA fodder for those twitching fingers and keyboards! But while all y’all enjoy feasting on that mangy carcass, the rest of us are gonna just MOVE ON to next week.

    PS- To those calling for Nick Mullins to play:

    Nick is not better than JG.
    I could write many mean & nasty things about your football IQ… and you probably would deserve it.
    But I won’t ’cause doubt you mean well. So, for your edification one more time-

    NICK MULLINS IS NOT BETTER THAN JG.

  183. Awful performance. Yes there are a ton of injuries but they gotta close out games against garbage teams.
    They won’t do much as the 5th seed because this battered team needs a break.

    1. Yes people need to realize this Falcon team is a 4 win team….can’t lose to losers but they did .. and your right gotta close out games

      1. agree..many noted how much space the defense was giving the Falcons in that last drive. Pitch and catch all the way and win in the last second. Horrible game with bad coaching from the declining Saleh. Shanny was off as well.

  184. Niners D did not play well in coverage with the backup players. There is a reason why these players are backups. Except for Kittle, the offense had a lackluster game, especially the O line. That’s why they lost the game. No mystery here. But the obtuse will call for firing Saleh…
    And oh yeah, just a little time out for contemplation for those who wanted Eman to replace Sherm next season….

    1. Didn’t take you for the straw man type Mood. Other teams with less talent have held Jones in check.

    2. Even in a game where Kittle played well, his one mistake was very costly. If the ball doesn’t inexplicably slip out of his hand on the 3rd down play late in the game, he likely picks up the first down and the Niners leave Atlanta without enough time left to stage their comeback.

      I’m not sure there was a 49er player on the field today who didn’t make a mistake, and I thought Shanny and Saleh made plenty of mistakes of their own.

      Poor effort for the Niners today, across the board! The only positive being that the 49ers suffered no significant injuriesfor a change, which could be key heading into the final 2 weeks of the regular season. If the Niners win out, they end up with the number 1 seed, and the NFC’s easiest path to the Super Bowl.

      GO NINERS!

  187. Sucks to lose, especially the way they lost, but this was the one remaining game they could most afford to lose. No real harm done. Win out and they still finish as the #1 seed in the NFC.

    Most important thing was no more injuries.

    As for the game itself, yeah, pretty ugly performance all the way round, with the exception of Kittle. Too many silly errors on offense. Too many easy completions allowed to Jones. Not enough out of the pass rush – even when they got pressure they rarely really threatened to bring Ryan down.

  189. Concerning that the D is trending downward while we’re two games away from the playoffs… if not for last weekend’s offensive heroics, that would be 3 straight games the defense would have given up the game winning score to end the game. Even more concerning it appears the pass rush has disappeared.

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