What we learned from 49ers dominant win over Falcons
By Peter Panacy
Takeaway No. 2: 49ers special teams isn’t so special
A week ago, the 49ers benefited from the Cincinnati Bengals’ own special teams gaffes, namely two muffed punts in the first half that heavily influenced the Niners’ overtime victory.
In Week 15, it appeared as if San Francisco was going to be responsible for those kinds of gaffes, arguably the only way a substandard Falcons team could have stayed in the game.
Running back and kick returner JaMycal Hasty fumbled the opening kickoff, then let another kickoff bounce off his helmet and out of bounds the following chance. Luckily for him, the 49ers defense engineered a no-scoring goal-line stand against Atlanta to pick Hasty up.
But that didn’t cover up the fact the Falcons averaged 25.8 yards on kick returns and had one punt return for 23 yards.
The Niners entered Week 15 with the league’s 21st-ranked special teams unit, according to Football Outsiders, and there’s no doubting that rank will take a hit after what happened against Atlanta.