Top 5 takeaways from 49ers Week 15 loss to Falcons

Wide receiver Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons and free safety Jimmie Ward #20 of the San Francisco 49ers. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Wide receiver Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons and free safety Jimmie Ward #20 of the San Francisco 49ers. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Falcons Julio Jones
Wide receiver Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Julio Jones was the X-factor

Let’s give credit where credit is due. Julio Jones absolutely picked apart the 49ers secondary. Matt Ryan found Jones on 13 catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns, one being the game winner:

It was, of course, his second best performance of the season.

In a game of “what ifs,” it’s hard not to think about if defensive back Jimmie Ward, who was oh-so close to a holding the goal-line stand, had tackled Jones standing up. What if the Niners secondary was able to stop Jones early enough in the game, so Ryan was forced to find another target?

The Niners defense was missing quite a few key pieces to its puzzle, but it still had a chance to seal the victory, but unfortunately couldn’t do it. Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon was primarily tasked with covering the 30-year-old product of Alabama.

Witherspoon just couldn’t match the speed Jones brought to the table.

For the second time this season, the Niners allowed a receiver to catch for 134 yards. The first time? Last week against the Saints’ wide receiver, Michael Thomas.

This secondary is clearly one of the best in the NFL. They hardly allow receivers to run around them, especially on the home turf. Sunday’s game was a great reminder, you can’t take anyone lightly in this league. When it comes to the playoffs, the secondary needs to play lights out.

But before they even focus on January, they’ll need to think about the upcoming Rams game.