49ers vs. Falcons: Live Thread & Scoring Updates for San Francisco

The San Francisco 49ers visit the Atlanta Falcons in Week 15. Niner Noise has your live in-game thread with scoring updates, analysis and a comment section for you to get involved.

Facing off against the 8-5 Atlanta Falcons on the road didn’t present a likable opportunity for the 1-12 San Francisco 49ers and their hopes to end the team’s 12-game losing streak.

But that’s what was on the table for the Niners, who were already be shorthanded as the result of a plethora of injuries to the team’s roster.

Atlanta was vying for a playoff spot and hoping to retain its hold on the NFC South. San Francisco was playing for little more than pride. And considering how ugly the 49ers’ losses to the Chicago Bears and New York Jets in back-to-back weeks, was there any possible way the Niners pull off an upset?

Niner Noise already broke down the preview for this contest, and it doesn’t look good for San Francisco.

Key to this contest would be how well quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running back Carlos Hyde would play. The Falcons defense isn’t good at all, so these two Niners should have had some chances.

On the flip side, quarterback Matt Ryan and the Atlanta offense is the best in the league. Even though this group was without wide receiver Julio Jones (toe), the Falcons offense ranked No. 1 in the NFL with 428 points scored coming into the game.

And San Francisco’s defense didn’t exactly seem to be in a position to match up well.

Regardless, Niner Noise has your Week 15 thread right here. So bookmark us, and be sure to add to the discussion in the comment thread below.

First Quarter

San Francisco lost the coin toss and received the opening kickoff after a lengthy delay to set one of the goalposts right.

But Kaepernick and the Niners went 3-and-out after the quarterback overthrew wide receiver Jeremy Kerley.

Special teams didn’t help, as the Falcons were able to return the following punt to San Francisco’s 47-yard line.

Ryan and the offense were easily able to maneuver into the 49ers’ red zone. And Falcons running back Devonta Freeman found the end zone on a five-yard touchdown score.

Cornerback JaCorey Shepherd managed a solid return to midfield on the ensuing kickoff.

Only Hyde fumbled two plays later, and Atlanta recovered. And the Falcons were right back into the red zone on just a handful of plays.

Touchdown… Ryan to wide receiver Taylor Gabriel. The Falcons were already up 14-0 before the halfway mark of the first quarter.

49ers went 3-and-out the following drive, again. And the Falcons went right back into the red zone, again. And Atlanta found the end zone, again. Just like that, the Falcons were up 21-0 at the close of the first quarter.

Second Quarter

San Francisco finally managed a first down just before the start of the second quarter. But a nine-yard loss on a sweep to wide receiver Quinton Patton, who was later injured on the drive, further thwarted the Niners’ drive.

Kaepernick managed to pick up a first down on a 45-yard pass to tight end Blake Bell. But Bell suffered an injury on the tackle.

Niners players were starting to drop like flies.

But Kaepernick managed to find fellow tight end Garrett Celek for a 16-yard touchdown score to cut the lead 21-7.

Any joy was short lived, as Atlanta wideout Aldrick Robinson hauled in a 59-yard pass to push the Falcons right back into San Francisco’s red zone. But on the one-yard like, Freeman fumbled and the ball was recovered by linebacker Michael Wilhoite — a huge break for a reeling 49ers defense, if the call on the field stood.

It did.

Hyde managed back-to-back 15-plus-yard carries to push the ball towards midfield. But Kap was sacked, forcing the 49ers to punt.

And the Falcons made it all the way back into the end zone, thanks to another touchdown carry by Freeman. Atlanta 28-7 over San Francisco.

Kaepernick helped lead a decent two-minute drive before halftime into Atlanta territory. And he found wide receiver Rod Streater for a five-yard touchdown score to cut the gap 28-13. Kicker Phil Dawson missed the ensuing extra point — a rarity.

Third Quarter

Atlanta started off on offense, yet to punt after the first half. Strangely enough, San Francisco’s defense managed to force their first punt on the Falcons’ first drive after the half.

Not like it mattered though. The 49ers had to punt, buried deep in their own territory, after going 3-and-out.

The punt from Bradley Pinion meant the Falcons would have good field position, and they took advantage of it. Falcons kicker Matt Bryant connected from 50 yards out to increase Atlanta’s lead.

San Francisco managed to move towards midfield but had to punt once again.

And this led to a 34-yard touchdown run from Freeman — his third of the game. 38-13 Atlanta.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/810631391515770880

Tack on another 3-and-out for San Francisco on the subsequent drive.

Fourth Quarter

Atlanta could move into cruise-control mode for the fourth quarter, leading big and already posting some huge offensive numbers against a weakened 49ers defense.

And the injuries continued to pile up for San Francisco, as pointed out by SFGate.com’s Eric Branch:

Even with the Falcons not having to get too creative, the Niners defense couldn’t hold much at all as the final minutes waned down in the fourth quarter.

Kaepernick and his second-half offensive woes continued into the latter minutes of the fourth quarter. The Niners had a total of seven punts on the game by the 6:15 mark.

Not having to force anything, Atlanta started to sub out its starters. But even backup running back Terron Ward managed a 45-yard carry against a paper-bag-thin San Francisco defense. And backup quarterback Matt Schaub managed to lead a drive into 49ers territory.

Tack on another Bryant field goal, and the Falcons pushed their score to over 40 points.

Next: 5 Biggest Bright Spots on the 49ers Roster in 2016

San Francisco fell to 1-13, and whatever hopes for late-season improvement evaporated as quickly as the 49ers’ chances after Atlanta’s first score.