Niner Noise
FanSided

3 positive takeaways from 49ers tough Week 15 loss to Falcons

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 15: Tight end George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball against strong safety Damontae Kazee #27 of the Atlanta Falcons during the game at Levi's Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 15: Tight end George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball against strong safety Damontae Kazee #27 of the Atlanta Falcons during the game at Levi's Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Matt Ryan, Falcons, 49ers
Quarterback Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Losing Guards the 49ers Against Complacency

In many ways, this loss teaches the Niners a valuable lesson: They can’t be content with how they’re playing down the stretch.

Sure, San Francisco’s second-half schedule has been significantly tougher than what Kyle Shanahan and Co. endured early on. But the Falcons figured to be the easiest challenge of any team the 49ers faced over their final six games.

Instead, the upset. Tempered egos and expectations follow. Teaching points, too. And many of the players were quick to point out the work that needed to be done.

“You definitely learn what your team is made of,” tight end George Kittle said after the game. “I hope our team learns from this game, that if we don’t bring the intensity, then it will be a quick season ending.”

Left tackle Joe Staley echoed similar sentiments.

“I think we will look back at this as a huge learning experience from the season,” Staley added. “And we will carry that forward to the playoffs.”

Fellow tackle Mike McGlinchey was also pretty spot on about this being a valuable teaching point.

“We are going to bounce back, we are going to get better from this,” McGlinchey said. “We are going to see things on tape that we aren’t going to like and things that we do. Most importantly, we’ve got to clean up the ones we don’t like the most and capitalize on them in the future.”

One could argue teams learn more about how to improve from losses than they do from wins.

If that’s the case, the 49ers received an invaluable lesson from Week 15.