The San Francisco 49ers returned to the Bay Area on Sunday night after a difficult two-game road stretch. The team enters Week 15 with an 11-2 record, the best mark in the NFC, and will host the Atlanta Falcons (4-9) at Levi's Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The 49ers open the week as 11-point favorites over the Falcons, according to OddsShark.com. One storyline will be Kyle Shanahan going against his former team, where he was the offensive coordinator for two years (2015-16) before being named the 49ers' head coach.
San Francisco won't take the Falcons lightly because it doesn't do so with any opponent. But the matchup has to be considered easier than the team's last three games, where it faced division leaders now with a combined record of 31-8.
San Francisco wasn't able to escape Week 14's game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome injury-free. The team likely lost starting center Weston Richburg for the season with knee and ankle injuries. Starting cornerback Richard Sherman reportedly suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain, and will probably miss at least Sunday's game against Atlanta.
Defensive end Dee Ford left Sunday's game after re-aggravating his hamstring injury, and cornerback K'Waun Williams exited with a concussion. Neither returned to the game.
The Falcons did not escape Week 14 injury-free themselves. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley is out for the remainder of the season due to an abdominal injury. He had 63 receptions for 866 yards with a team-leading seven touchdowns this season.
Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant suffered a fractured forearm in the second quarter and, like Ridley, will land on injured reserve. He leads the team in interceptions.
San Francisco can clinch a playoff berth on Sunday — its first since 2013 — with a win over the Falcons.
