49ers fall into trap game in Week 15, lose to Falcons at last second

The San Francisco 49ers dropped a winnable game in painstaking fashion, losing 29-22 to the Atlanta Falcons. Here’s the game recap from the loss.

Even though this Week 15 game was a chance for the San Francisco 49ers to clinch a playoff spot, the Niners, just a week away from their thrilling victory over the New Orleans Saints, were going to face a scuffling Atlanta Falcons team which had nothing to play for.

It was the definition of a trap game, and it played out just like a trap game would. And the 49ers watched a late lead fall apart, as the Falcons pulled off a stunning last-second 29-22 victory to send San Francisco to 11-3.

Both teams showed considerable offensive ineptitude early in the game, with both teams punting in their first two drives. But then, off the backs of tight end George Kittle and running back Raheem Mostert, the Niners slowly drove down the field with a 21-play drive that spanned over 10 minutes, capped off with touchdown:

https://twitter.com/49ers/status/1206335148213460992

The Falcons responded with a long drive of their own, with quarterback Matt Ryan throwing a touchdown to star receiver Julio Jones.

From there, the game took a considerable lull. The 49ers offense was unable to get anything going, and the Falcons were much of the same. Both teams managed a field goal to enter the half tied 10-10.

From there, it was more of the same, really. The Falcons tried and recovered an onside kick to start the third quarter, but an illegal formation penalty gave the Niners offense hope and eventually lead to a field goal. But besides Kittle and Mostert, the 49ers looked lost on offense, and the Niners defense was doing enough to hold back the Falcons attack.

Kittle finished with 13 receptions for 134 yards.

A Matt Breida fumble may have given the Falcons life, but the Niners defense stood up to the challenge and kept momentum, however little of it existed in this game, on the 49ers side. The Niners offense still couldn’t get anything going, but then, on a punt, the Niners punt defense team, led by tight end Ross Dwelley, forced a fumble on returner Kenjon Barber recovered by fullback Kyle Juszczyk giving the Niners the ball on the 1-yard line, leading to this:

A 2-yard pass to Juszczyk gave the Niners a 19-10 victory because Robbie Gould missed the PAT, and it felt like the Niners finally had control over the game. However, the Falcons marched down the field, scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run following a pass interference call on Jimmie Ward.

The Niners got the ball and were in position to end the game, but George Kittle, who had carried the 49ers offense, fumbled the ball, rendering him unable to convert a 3rd-and 2. Gould nailed the 43-yard attempt, giving the Niners a 22-17 lead with less than two minutes to go in the game.

But the Falcons were not done just yet. They marched down the field and with 8 seconds left, the Falcons were at the 5-yard line with a chance to win. Ryan threw a dot to tight end Austin Hooper, but it was ruled incomplete with five seconds left. And with the game on the line, the Falcons threw the ball to Jones, who just barely broke the plane and scored the go-ahead touchdown with two seconds left.

A special-teams touchdown near the end of the game only made the box score look even worse.

This was a game the Niners could afford to lose, but they clearly shouldn’t have. They still secured a playoff berth by virtue of a Rams loss, but no one in that locker room will be celebrating.

The Niners will regroup against the Los Angeles Rams next Saturday, and L.A.’s loss in Week 15 still means the 49ers are playoff bound for the first time since 2013. In the end, though, the 49ers still control their own destiny. Winning out gives them the No. 1 seed.