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Falcons vs. 49ers: Week 15 matchups, injuries and breakdown

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 08: Devonta Freeman #24 of the Atlanta Falcons is pushed out of bounds by Jimmie Ward #25 of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on November 8, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 08: Devonta Freeman #24 of the Atlanta Falcons is pushed out of bounds by Jimmie Ward #25 of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on November 8, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Falcons vs. 49ers: Week 15 by the Numbers

Despite the high-scoring affair the Niners encountered last week in New Orleans, coordinator Robert Saleh’s defense still boasts the league’s No. 3 scoring defense entering Week 15. And it’s still a unit which has given up the fewest pass yards through the air on the season, which bodes well against a still-potent Falcons passing offense.

Speaking of that Atlanta passing game, the Falcons have 3,844 yards through the air this season, which ranks third best. On the surface, that’s scary. But when the team is averaging just 6.5 yards per pass attempt — good for 15th — it’s pretty easy to understand many of those yards have come from Matt Ryan and Co. passing a lot when playing from behind.

While offenses are going to dictate a lot of the action this Sunday, the Falcons defense has again failed to produce at expected levels. Dan Quinn’s squad owns the league’s No. 26 scoring defense, which has been awfully susceptible to yards through the air — 7.2 yards allowed per attempt — and that plays right into the hands of Jimmy Garoppolo.

Kyle Shanahan, too, who’ll look to use his full array of offensive weapons, including tight end George Kittle and wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Deebo Samuel.