Niners @ Falcons - GAME THREAD

[ABM]

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[porkchopexpress]

SF vs Balt/NE/Hou. Sorry, couldn't resist

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm liking the Niners' chances. Falcons looked very beatable.

 

[ABM]

Now that Ryan and Gonzalez have the playoff monkey off their collective backs, anything is possible. I see Julio Jones having a big game.

That said, yes, the Niners look awesome. It'll take Atlanta's A+ game to beat them......even in the firendly confines of the Georgia Dome.

 

[tlongII]

I like the Falcons at home. I don't trust Kaepernick.

 

[Natebishop3]

I like the Falcons at home. I don't trust Kaepernick.

I agree. Why trust the guy who broke the record for most rushing yards EVER by a QB?

 

[tlongII]

I agree. Why trust the guy who broke the record for most rushing yards EVER by a QB?

At home.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Fuck the niners. I hope they get killed on the road.

 

[Natebishop3]

At home.

Does Atlanta strike you as being even remotely as loud as Seattle?

 

[ABM]

Does Atlanta strike you as being even remotely as loud as Seattle?

Now that they've won a playoff game, they should be louder than they were today. As loud as Seattle? Unlikely. Better than playing in Candlestick? By FAR!

 

[tlongII]

Does Atlanta strike you as being even remotely as loud as Seattle?

It's a dome so it might even be louder than Seattle.

 

[ABM]

It's a dome so it might even be louder than Seattle.

I was in the Dome when the Falcons had that tremendous, last-second, come-from-behind victory over the Bears. I've also been in Century Link. Seattle is louder by quite a bit.

[video=youtube;MmJRVcFrDmE]

 

[Natebishop3]

It's a dome so it might even be louder than Seattle.

You can keep hoping and praying that they'll lose, just like you were hoping and praying for the Ducks to lose.

Do you ever get tired of being disappointed?

 

[ABM]

Niners an early favorite:

http://linemakers.sportingnews.com/...oint-spread-nfc-championship-nfl-playoff-odds

That said....

From a power ratings perspective, the value appears to be with Atlanta next week. The 49ers have a 100.1 rating by The Linemakers, the Falcons a 99.3 (before this weekend's action). On that basis, San Fran would be about a 1-point favorite on a neutral field. Atlanta's home-field advantage is worth 3 points, so from a pure power rating standpoint, the Falcons should be a 2-point favorite next Sunday.

 

[tlongII]

You can keep hoping and praying that they'll lose, just like you were hoping and praying for the Ducks to lose.

Do you ever get tired of being disappointed?

Fuck the Niners and fuck the Ducks.

 

[Natebishop3]

Fuck the Niners and fuck the Ducks.

Fuck the Seagulls and fuck the Beavers.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Now that Ryan and Gonzalez have the playoff monkey off their collective backs, anything is possible.

i think the opposite is true actually...from tony gonzalez crying after his first playoff game win, matt ryan saying "its gonna be nice to quit hearing about the playoff thing"...it just feels to me that the falcons think that they already accomplished their goal, and arent going to be nearly as hungry as the niners

 

[3RA1N1AC]

why the niner hate? back to back nfc west titles, back to back nfc championship games

oh and

 

[tlongII]

As a Seahawks fan I'm required to hate the Niners. They are in our way.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

As a Seahawks fan I'm required to hate the Niners. They are in our way.

im sure they will shuttle the seachickens back to the afc at some point dont worry

 

[Nate Dogg]

Interesting writeup so far.

3. How will the Falcons defend the read option and pistol? It won't be easy. Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton exposed the Falcons' problem in stopping the read option and the pistol in two games this year. Newton rushed for 202 yards on 18 carries and passed for 502 yards against Atlanta, helping the Panthers score 58 points. Falcons defenders spent this week's practice working on containing the Seahawks' running game, particularly Wilson, who is dangerous on the read option. The prime assignment was containing Marshawn Lynch. Success. He had 46 yards on 16 carries. Still, Wilson was the elusive one with 60 yards rushing and a touchdown on seven carries. "We're big guys so when you have a guy who is that small running around, it's hard for us to get him," Atlanta defensive tackle Corey Peters said. Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon said the problem with the read option is gap integrity. Offenses have six running gaps, while a 4-3 defense has four defensive linemen to fill those gaps. Plus, there is an element of trickery. "The quarterback has that sleight of hand in which he can keep it or give it to a back or throw it quick to the outside," Peters said. Defenders can't be caught out of position. Packers defenders looked lost trying to stop Kaepernick. Their adjustments were slow. Players after the game complained about the coaches not having answers for what Kaepernick was doing. The week of preparing for Wilson should help the Falcons in finding ways of trying to contain Kaepernick. Though he may be just as fast as Wilson, at least Kaepernick is a tall target. Still, he will probably get his rushing yards.

Source: http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2012/story/_/id/8841313/nfl-playoffs-nfc-finalists-vindicated

 

[Nate Dogg]

More..

3. Unfamiliar opponent. San Francisco came close to playing this game against division-rival Seattle at Candlestick Park. Playing at home would have been great, but facing an opponent less familiar with the 49ers could have advantages, too. The Falcons' run defense was susceptible during the regular season. The 49ers' playbook features a higher volume of running plays than usual. That will put pressure on a Falcons team that hasn't faced the 49ers during the Harbaugh era. The Packers appeared unprepared.

I sure hope the 49ers watch the tape of how Seattle pushed it to the wire. It is amazing how #94 Justin Smith makes an impact as a Defensive Tackle for the 49ers. Here's his stats vs the Packers.

Wearing a bulky arm brace to protect his torn triceps, Smith recorded five tackles during Saturday's win over the Packers. "It felt pretty good," Smith told reporters. "It held up pretty well. It doesn't feel too bad right now ? It didn't feel much different at all. It was a weird feeling of having a brace on. I've never played with a brace before, but I got used to it pretty quick. I'm sure I'll feel even better with it next week."

Sources: www.espn.com

 

[3RA1N1AC]

the niners super bowl chances hinge entirely on justin smith imo, they are completely different team when he is dominating

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I hope the 49ers win.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Tony Gonzalez is retiring after this season just like Ray Lewis is. But Tony isnt getting nearly the media attention as Ray. Tony is without a doubt the best TE to ever play!

 

[Draco]

Tony Gonzalez is retiring after this season just like Ray Lewis is. But Tony isnt getting nearly the media attention as Ray. Tony is without a doubt the best TE to ever play!

Tony flys under the rader with recent tight ends like Gronk, Jimmie Graham, and until last year Antonio Gates outplaying him. Ray has been a part of some elite defenses Tony hasn't been a part of a similarly high performing offense.

Murdering people also gets your name out there.

 

[ABM]

Murdering people also gets your name out there.

I remember back around 2000, when I was living in The ATL, Ray-Ray was making all the news.

 

[Nate Dogg]

Atlanta's Defensive End John Abraham is nursing an ankle injury that he substained against Seattle. 49ners have lots of weapons.

Armed with one of the NFL's best offensive lines, the 49ers could probe the middle of an undersized front four that averages 271 pounds. Atlanta ranked 21st in the NFL in run defense (123.2 yards a game) this season and defensive end John Abraham is nursing an ankle injury that limited him to 15 snaps Sunday against Seattle.
"This is an offense that can morph into a number of different things," Long said. "... They can go to the classic 49ers offense that we've seen over the last couple of years that will pound you and go big. But then they can go to a pistol, a read-option and designed runs for Colin which we saw last week."
With his unique blend of speed, arm strength and accuracy, Kaepernick is viewed as a new breed of NFL quarterback, along with dual-threat rookies such as Seattle's Russell Wilson and Washington's Robert Griffin III.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/49ers-keep-defensive-coordinator-guessing-4200832.php

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Atlanta's Defensive End John Abraham is nursing an ankle injury that he substained against Seattle. 49ners have lots of weapons.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/49ers-keep-defensive-coordinator-guessing-4200832.php

Pound Abraham early and often. That soften up ATL's D real quick.

 

[ABM]

Man, the Niners are STACKED!! I just hope the Falcons can keep it close....so the (fair-weather) fans might stay in it. Seattle fans they ARE NOT!!