San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, and others spoke with reporters after Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. Here is everything they had to say.
Transcript provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan
Opening comments:
"Injuries from the game. Huf [S Talanoa Hufanga] had a knee, did not return. [DL Nick] Bosa was evaluated for a head injury, got cleared and [S Jaquiski] Tartt had an ankle, he returned."
Aside from the obvious, the victory, what did you like most about this game?
"I liked how we played almost every play, except for about 10 of them. Which doesn't sound like the best answer, but I thought our defense played really well in the first half, but we had three penalties there on third down that I think they got points on all those and were getting off the field. One of them that I think was kind of just unfortunate part of the league. Then two that is totally on us that we have to fix. Offense I thought was really good. Then the two drives before our final drive – I think we went three-and-out on both, we just needed to stay on the field and finish them right there, but the D came up huge with those fourth down stops, which made us survive it."
You were up by quite a bit going into the fourth quarter. Were you looking ahead at Thursday at all? Were you thinking about taking the starters out of the game and getting them some extra rest?
"No, not at all. All I was thinking about is last time we were up by 14 versus these guys in the fourth quarter we lost, so fourth quarter didn't really start to relax until I think we got our second first down there and we took about five minutes off the clock on that last drive and then felt alright."
You had two second quarter touchdown drives with big completions to WR Brandon Aiyuk and WR Deebo Samuel, but were those designed to be breakaway plays right away? Were those two plays designed or to go for that long? Did you see that?
"They're all designed to go that long (laughing). We thought we had a chance to. They were playing some zones and we thought if we could hit our guys at the right angle running through them, they had a chance. Deebo got a big one, Aiyuk got a big one, Kittle got one, I think in the first half down in the middle. I messed with Kittle, I thought he should have had a second one in the second half, but he thought a few more people were around him on that. I think Deebo went and got one after it. But those guys run pretty fearlessly through those zones and [QB] Jimmy [Garoppolo] has got a quick throwing motion and it was nice to crease them a couple times."
I assume you're a tough grader, when you say only 10 plays that you weren't thrilled about, is that a pretty overall, very clean performance?
"You're always a little frustrated as a coach. I thought we should have finished them earlier with some of the stuff and I hated how we started the game. I thought we struggled on special teams. I think that was obvious with the turnover there. It didn't seem like we kicked the ball that well, just with our kickoffs and some of our punts, so that was tough with the field position battle. I just always want to do better."
A big part of the last month and a half has obviously been Jimmy's play. What generally have you seen from him just as these games have kind of been stacked up?
"Jimmy hasn't been much different to me all year. I think we've gotten better around him throughout the year. I think we've gotten more continuity on the offense. I think that we've with the skill positions and tight ends they've gotten healthier and been out there more consistently than they were at the beginning of the year. When you get to string weeks together from a quarterback and some of the guys you're throwing to, I think you usually improve, and you just get more consistent. I think that's what we have struggled with, is consistency. Guys getting a little better health and then us just committing to the run a lot better than we did at the beginning of the year and getting more results out of that to me helps everybody on offense."
What if anything could DL Arden Key have done differently on that play and what do you say to him after that?
"You're not allowed to land on the quarterback in a certain way. I'm not exactly sure. That's why I want to check out check with the league. I feel like it's a little different when you're hitting from behind and they're going forward. You don't totally always know if they're still a passer or running forward to move the chains on third down. I think he had one earlier this year that he's got to avoid. I thought that one was tough though, so I'll see on the film and see what the league has to say about it."
How well did RB Jeff Wilson Jr. run in this game and how much has he improved since the team activated him off IR?
"He's improved a ton. We all know exact exactly what Jeff is, so it's not that he was ever just not good or anything. But it's hard when you get hurt in OTAs and then your first practice is Week 6 or whatever that was. So, it's taken him a while to get his legs back. He's been looking so much better these last few weeks and each week he gets stronger and stronger. He gave us a little scare there at the beginning of the game when our defense stopped them on the fourth-and-one, I thought he got hurt celebrating with the guys. So, it gave us the scare, but he ended up being alright. He had a hell of a game today."
Arden has developed into providing the pressure he has. It's not all on Nick, he's got help now. And that pass rush, it seems like that's really been essential with some of the, not weaknesses, but injuries in the secondary, some vulnerability there. Can you speak on that?
"Arden, I think he's been real consistent with, I want to say he's gotten an inside sack, like six games in a row or something. I don't know if that's right at all, but it feels like that. I do think it was both sides though, as far as both groups. There was a lot of times I looked up and I thought our rush was really good. If you give [Atlanta Falcons QB] Matt Ryan a hitch, usually he gets a completion. There was a couple times in the game where I thought he got about three hitches. And our coverages were pretty tight, which allows us to do it when you have seven guys in coverage. Then the D-line eventually got there and made some big plays. I thought it went hand in hand with both. I thought the defense did a hell of a job in that way. Especially going against a good quarterback like that."
When you have plays that assert an obvious physical dominance, like the play Kittle makes early, the play when Deebo knocks the guy's mouthpiece out and it goes way forward and the things Bosa does routinely, does everybody feed off those plays?
"Yes, definitely. I think our team when we can be the more physical team and that's not taking anything away from them. Watch how they're running back runs the ball, they're a very physical team too. But that's kind of our goal every week. We've got some guys who enjoy the physicality of the game, whether they have the ball in their hand or whether they're blocking or whether they're hitting on defense. I think that's extremely important into being a good team."
You've talked about the skill position players getting better. How much has WR Jauan Jennings helped at being that sort of New England Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne, blocking, big slot receiver role?
"Jauan's gotten a lot better. We had some hopes for him last year, just watching him on practice squad each day. He had a bad injury last year where no one got to see him. Kind of started out behind this year, but we're gaining a lot of confidence in Jauan. I know he had a rough game today though with some of his drops. He also had some good plays too. I think he had a key third down on third-and-four. He also had that touchdown, I believe that was on third-and-goal. But Jauan, we'll keep coming to him. He had a few drops that I know he could make, but Jauan 's a good player."
With all the injuries you've had on defense? What can you say about the job defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans has done to really keep this group together and be so effective?
"I've been very pleased and excited about DeMeco. We knew he would be good, but there's lots of challenges that go through the year. And when it's your first time, you have to learn on the run. It's just about adjusting to things and DeMeco with just the way he's handled the team, the way he's handled the players, the way he's handled things when his back's been against the wall from just pressure outside, the guy is always the same. I think he's getting better as the year goes and that means he'll get better each year with us."
When you started 3-5, was it difficult to not make wholesale changes and make big changes and just stay the course? And now you end up in pretty good spot, it seems like.
"No, I don't think it's very difficult. You have to deal with people getting annoyed with you, a little bit. But, you always try to do what you think is the best, so that's usually not difficult. We're in a building, where that's not too hard to do. We discuss everything with the coaches, with personnel, with [general manager] John [Lynch] and [CEO] Jed [York], so we're always pretty much on the same page. It was tough when we were losing that many games in a row because you understand why everybody wants to just start doing other things and rebuilding. You can totally understand that, but it's a long season and lots of things can go. I'm glad we got this win here. I'm glad we got it last week. But it's still the same deal. We've got a game here in four days and it's going to come down to the wire for all these teams."
Were there things happening during that downturn behind the scenes that gave you faith that you guys would be able to turn it around?
"It was mainly watching the five games that we lost. You just have to look at how they go and you don't want to just say that, 'Hey guys, we execute better. You'll be all right.' But when you watch stuff, it's 'guys, we have to get more consistent at this stuff.' That goes back to one thing, it's just practicing and getting more opportunities and taking reps and eventually you think you'll get better at it. But we saw good enough players. We saw opportunities where we thought we had a chance to win all those games. You have to find a better way of doing that. I think we've found a better way of not turning it over, we've found a better way of running the ball, and I think we're continuing to get better on D."
Another kickoff fumble that was costly. Some big returns on the kickoffs. How confident are you that these things are being addressed appropriately?
"I'm confident they're being addressed appropriately, but we're not getting enough of the results. When you don't get as much out of the kickoff or you look at some line drives, we'd love to get all touchbacks. That's what we're trying to go for, but there's not much to address on that. We just have to kick it better. When we don't, we have to move down there better, and make tackles. But it has been frustrating and hopefully we can get some more guys back, which does help. But we have to make sure, first and foremost, that we don't turn the ball over like that."
Back to that roughing the passer early on, did you notice that Arden Key, he and both Nick Bosa on hits, they would actually go like this like, raise their hands up like they're not trying to hurt the quarterback?
"They're concerned about it. They all are. It's a tough job to get to the quarterback. It's tough when you get there to not get a penalty, so it's something we talk about all the time, stuff we show tape on and it's a challenge to do it."
Did you mention to them to do that then? To do that kind of gesture so they don't get penalized?
"No, I didn't tell them to do that."
You had four guys score today, you had three different guys with sacks today. Do you get a little extra satisfaction when it's spread out across the team like that?
"No. I didn't really know that. But I get extra satisfaction when more guys are happy than just one guy. So that's cool, but something you don't ever really worry about in the heat of battle."
Like privately do you give Jimmy like pats on the back? Maybe not that much, but you've said pretty consistently this season that he has played pretty well. You're like, well maybe not the Colts game and really that's it. But there was a lot of Garoppolo, Lance, what are you doing talk. Did you ever during the course of this season say, 'Hey, Jimmy, you're playing great' or good or whatever. Or do you feel in this stage of the relationship you don't need to do that?
"I give soft compliments a lot. Jimmy and I see each other every day, so it's not like, Hey, things have been weird for five days. I have to go tell you that I think you're playing pretty good. He doesn't need that and most of our guys don't. We see each other each day, we're in meetings together, we're on film. Every time he runs a play, I tell him the play, so we're pretty close in that way. He does pretty good with my soft compliments."
49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo
FB Kyle Juszczyk said he and TE George Kittle noticed you at breakfast that you had a different aura about you. Do you even know what he was talking about? Did you feel different today?
"I feel good but I feel good a lot of games though. I don't know. guys were locked in today. You felt it throughout the week too. It was a big game. NFC opponent, playoff picture and everything like that. It's December football. We knew what we were in for."
WR Brandon Aiyuk, the slant that he took a pretty long way. The play right before he false started. Did you guys think you were going to get him on that play? Was he just really excited?
"Had a good idea. Maybe he got excited, whatever it was. He made a hell of a play on that. I thought he was housing it for a second. He does such a good job of running through those catches. It's not an easy thing to do either. It was kind of low and he snagged it and made a nice play on it."
Was it the same play call on first and 15? Just run it again?
"That's kind of a secret. Yeah, it was."
December football, like you just mentioned. Considering the way you guys started, does it mean more to be in this position and how do you feel the team has evolved?
"I think whenever you get an opportunity to be in the situation we're in, it's not easy. It doesn't happen every team, but you've just got to take advantage when you get that chance. I think guys realize that. I think more and more week in and week out, it's become bigger and bigger. Like this Thursday coming up, it'll be a big game for us. Just like this one was and we've just got to keep a good mindset right now."
Are you looking at everything?
"You have it in the back of your mind? But yeah, as long as we keep winning good things will happen."
Head coach Kyle Shanahan kind of told us that he had decided that it's going to be you all the time. It's not going be two quarterbacks. And it hadn't really been that since like Week 3, but did he tell you this too a couple months ago?
"Sort of, I guess. You get a feeling though, just throughout the week. Yeah. Our offense has changed a lot since the beginning of the season run game, pass game, everything has. That's what good offenses do. That's what good teams do, you adapt as the season goes. Guys come in and out. Just I don't know, coaches do a good job of putting us in position and guys go make plays."
He says he soft compliments you. I don't know exactly what that means. What does that mean to you?
"Well, they are far and few between. Not only me, just everyone. That's how Kyle is and you like that in a coach. Pushes you. We all want to be perfect and we're all trying to be perfect and when you have a guy like that pushing you like that, it helps."
Can you talk a little about the trick play, specifically where you gave it to WR Deebo Samuel and then Deebo became a quarterback, was tossing it out at the end and then right following after that, you have to kind of like a slight pass underhand?
"Oh yeah, yeah. Well the one to Deebo, it was close. It was close. He showed off his quarterback skills a little bit there. It was unfortunate that didn't work, but yeah. Then we came back with the slide pass to who was that? [RB] Jeff [Wilson Jr.]? I think. And yeah, just guys making plays, like I said before. It's stuff that we haven't done, but whenever coaches, you know, give us new things to experiment with this. It's always fun."
What's your coaching point for Deebo on that throw?
"B.A. could've helped him a little bit if I'm being honest. He looked good. He scrambled a little bit and made a little play."
As a quarterback, you don't necessarily want to get in the mix physically, but when your guys in front of you were playing physical, how much more does that get you amped up?
"Oh, tremendously. It starts with the O-Line. They set the tone, but guys were hitting today. I mean, it was physical. You could feel it from the defense too. I remember I saw Quiski [S Jaquiski Tartt] have one on [Atlanta Falcons QB] Matt Ryan at the goal line. That's the style of football that we play. And when people tried to play that with us, that's what we want."
49ers DL Nick Bosa
How'd you feel after the collision there with Atlanta Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson?
"I'm feeling okay. Yeah."
From the replay they showed on the screen it looked like you were in a choke hold? Is that relatively common and how do you prepare for that?
"You can't really prepare for that, but I thought I was going to maybe get the call there. But, I guess not."
That flag on DL Arden Key, is there any way to avoid that?
"I didn't see it, but you just can't land on them ever. So took one away from the D-Line, but we'll make it up."
How critical was that start of the second half for DL Samson Ebukam to get a sack and then you come around and get your sack fumble?
"I didn't know the ball I was out. Yeah, that was huge. Samson made a big play on the play action. And then I had a nice power rush and [LB] Fred [Warner] and Samson ran a good game over there to make him flush out of the pocket. And I ran him down."
49ers FB Kyle Juszczyk
Do you guys feel like you're playing your best football of the season?
"Yeah, definitely. I think we're peaking at a good time and I should preface it with we're definitely not playing as best as we can. There was a lot of things that didn't exactly go our way out there, but we were able to battle back and not let it phase us early on. But I do think we're playing some good ball right now and we're stacking some weeks and we're feeling good."
Is San Francisco 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo the leader of this team in a lot of ways?
"Yeah, for sure. He's the quarterback. You know, we're going to go as far as Jimmy takes us. He does such a good job of being that leader, especially on the offensive side. He's so good at stepping into the huddle, commanding that huddle, getting us fired up, but also keeping us calm and being able to direct the offense. He does a great job."
I don't expect you to have seen this in real time, but San Francisco 49ers T Trent Williams flattened his opponent on your touchdown. Did you catch that out of the corner of your eye? Did you know something like that must have happened because you had good room on that side?
"I didn't necessarily see exactly what Trent did. I saw a massive hole but we've ran that play probably 12 times in the last two years. We scored like four touchdowns on it and it's not a highlight for me. I promise it's a highlight for Trent Williams and [San Francisco 49ers OL] Laken Tomlinson. Those two have absolutely teed off on people every time we run that play and it's just a testament to them. They're two very special blockers and they can do some really special things that you don't see from a lot of offensive linemen."
We see the physicality of this game. The things San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle does early. When San Francisco 49ers WR Deebo Samuel delivers a blow to a guy and knocks his mouthpiece out. The things San Francisco 49ers DL Nick Bosa does on so many different snaps. How much does everybody else feed on those physical plays? How big is that to your guys' turnaround?
"We feed on that big time. I know personally, I do. I saw a lot of flexing out there and that got me hype today and it definitely is a trickledown effect to everybody. I do think that has helped us, it has kind of been the catalyst for our offense. It started with physicality all the way back to that LA Rams game when we were 3-5, it was about running the ball. It was about being physical. And it's trickled down to guys like Deebo and [San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon] Aiyuk run after the catch. It's not just blocking, it's being physical with the football too."
49ers TE George Kittle
RB Jeff Wilson Jr. said that you guys saw something different from QB Jimmy Garoppolo this morning, a different aura, essentially at breakfast. Can you tell us a little more about that?
"I don't know if I saw it at breakfast, but definitely you could tell just in the locker room. Especially on the field during warmups. Jimmy was definitely inspired to play at a high-level today and he definitely inspired all of us. He's a guy that breaks down the team before we go head out to the field as a team. And I thought he did a great job today. He definitely pulled us all along. I think he had a really good day today. But he definitely an aura. I did like that."
You mentioned Trent, he had a couple of vintage T Trent Williams blocks today.
"He always does."
Are you cognizant of that, when they're happening or is it always sort of a day after game?
"No, I'm cognizant of it. You can kind of feel it when there's just a giant hole where the C gap or B gap should be. And it's just Trent Williams looking at a guy like laughing at him. It's pretty awesome. You definitely feel it. And when Trent's rolling too, like you can feel his energy in the huddle for sure. I think Trent's very much like [RB] Jeff Wilson [Jr.], he just kind of goes to that dark space and the only thing different is that Trent Williams is 300 pounds. He can throw you over a building. So good luck to anybody that has to go against him when he's feeling it, which is always."
You've been a super positive guy throughout the entire season, but when you are 3-5, was it difficult at all to maintain that positivity or have the same level of belief that you could get to a point where you are now in a pretty good position to make playoffs?
"I mean losing sucks, like it is what it is. It's not fun. It definitely has like a dark cloud that kind of follows you around for the week. And [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] always says, the only way to get over a loss is the next Sunday we have an opportunity to go out and win. But for me, when I look at my team and I have [LB] Fred Warner and [DL] Nick Bosa, [DB] Jimmie Ward, [LB] Azeez [ Al-Shaair], [DL] Arden [Key], I got [DL] Arik Armstead. And then my offense, I got [WR] Deebo [Samuel], [WR Brandon] Aiyuk, me, Jeff Wilson, Jimmy G, Trent Williams. We have a lot of play players that can make a lot of really big plays. So no I've always believed in this offense and this team that we can go out there and make plays. Earlier in the season, we were just turning ball over, like way too much. And we've just stopped doing that and it's given us a chance to win."
49ers WR Deebo Samuel
Did you know at the time that you knocked the corner back's mouthpiece out on that one play?
"Not really until I seen the replay and then everybody was going crazy. So I knew something crazy kind of happened."
Obviously you take a lot of pride in playing the game of a physical a nature. When you see that physicality show itself in that way, does it make you laugh or give you more pride or anything like that?
"No, this is the kind of game that I always played. To see my team round up together, it does give me a little comforted boost and a little energy. Then you just go out there and try to do it again all game. because, not too many defensive backs want to be a part of that."
How has your relationship with WR Brandon Aiyuk developed throughout the weeks? I have noticed that both of you do a great job of blocking, and more so as you two continue to play together.
"That's just a standard in our room. [49ers Head Coach] Kyle [Shanahan] puts a big emphasis on blocking. With the way we run the ball the blocking sets up all the passes. We do a great job and take pride in blocking for the backs because we want them to protect the quarterback whenever he has to throw us the ball. So it plays out hand in hand."
You have run for seven touchdowns now. When did Kyle come up to you and say, I want you to play a hybrid position with you at both running back and wide receiver?
"I just saw it on the install. He knows my mindset when it comes to just playing the game. I'm never going to shy away from any contact or shy away from anything that they ask me to do."
Can you describe what the next 24 hours will be like?
"We just know what is at stake. We got a game on Thursday. It's a short week. We just got to lock in and continue to build off this game and just continue to play the ball we've been playing."
49ers LB Fred Warner
Describe the play where you recovered the fumble and I guess more importantly than that, just the way the pass rush seems to be fueling your defense right now?
"When you have [San Francisco 49ers DL Nick Bosa] 97 on the edge, you have a pretty good chance every single play, right? That play, I was in there trying to rush and all of a sudden you just see a blur just come through and knock the ball out, then the ball is on the ground. I happened to be around one of the balls on the ground a couple of times this year. But yeah, that pass rush is coming alive and they're coming alive right when we need them to. A lot of talent up front, they lead the way. They're the ones who started penetrating on first, second down so they can earn the right to rush on third down and we got a lot of guys coming along."
They ran five plays from your one-yard line, didn't score on any. How much does one stop get the next for you guys in terms of feeding off of getting a stop at the one and continuing that?
"Those moments are like you have nothing left and you have to really just bring something out. It's one more down, we have to get it. We have a situation where the game's on the line, this is where we have to make something happen. We take pride in that. That was huge today for our team because those count like takeaways for the team. It gets crazy down there, but it was something that was really special."
With how awkward this season could have been, or was already with the quarterback situation, what has it meant to the locker room to have San Francisco 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo get through this? To be playing like this right now in December? What kind of message is that in the locker room?
"It hasn't been awkward at all for us on our side. I mean it's probably just been awkward outside the building with guys talking about it. But inside he's been the guy all along and [San Francisco 49ers QB] Trey [Lance], he's got a bright future ahead, right? We see it every day in practice on our side because he's out there dicing us up. But Jimmy is our leader. He's our quarterback and we've rode behind him the entire way. So we see him playing at a high level like he is right now and we're going to need it."
With the injuries you guys have had on defense this year, what can you say about the job San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator DeMeco Ryans has done to really keep you guys together?
"I can't talk about it enough. You talk about some of the losses that we had in the secondary, not having [San Francisco 49ers LB] Dre [Greenlaw] and different guys in the lineup every week and it doesn't matter. He has set the standard for what kind of defense we're going to come out with week in and week out. Kind of that swarm mentality of getting all into the rock, playing fast, physical style of football. That standard continues to be reset every week. We'll continue to do this going into a part of the season where we're going to need it."
49ers RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
How much better do you feel physically, and could you tell today that you're there or close to where you were pre-surgery?
"I am much better, much better. Today was one of those days where I felt like myself. I felt like old Jeff, before all the stuff happened. So, it was a good day and I felt very good."
How frustrating was the earlier part of the season for you when you weren't getting what you felt like you should be getting?
"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't frustrating. It was very frustrating, especially, and it's not so much me wanting to be out there or doing this, doing that, it was just like me being able to contribute to the team the way I know I can. So, that part was frustrating, but just being out there and being around the guys, being around the coaches, all that made it better. They all kept me up, kept me upbeat and just told me to keep pushing."
Talk about that celebration at the--?
"Oh man, we just had a little car collision. On side of the road, it wasn't, a little fender bender. That's what it was. I'll leave it at a little fender bender. Yeah. But it was cool, but everything turned out alright."
You see San Francisco 49ers WR Deebo Samuel going down near the goal line, popping out the defensive back's mouthpiece in the middle of that play. That style of football, how much does that excite you when you're on the field?
"Oh man, that's the energy boost for sure. Especially, to see him have that same mentality and run like me. That's just like candy for a baby. It is just like, give it, I want some of that. It was just him having a thrill, and the player he is. He's a tremendous player and he is only getting started. So that was very good."
Falcons Head Coach Arthur Smith
Can you tell us about the red zone that we talked about a lot, the first drive and the two in the fourth quarter where you were inside the 10 and can't punch it in there?
"Sure. I mean, that's kind of stating the obvious there. It's probably a difference in the game. We get the ball opening kickoff, didn't punch it in. Thought you got in with [Atlanta Falcons RB Cordarrelle] Patterson. Credit to them. They stopped us. So, we still had our chances. We had another short field, only came away with three and again, we didn't do a good enough job in situational football."
On the first one, you had a play action and then a run and then another pass outside. Did y'all consider trying to pound that in those three times?
"You're talking about the start of the game?"
Yes, sir.
"So, you're not considering the run? I went run, yeah. The first play was run that scored that got overturned. Yep. And then went play action. Then went run, and then went pass again. So that's pretty much, is that what you're asking?"
Oh, no. I guess I'm more asking, did you consider running some power there instead of those pass plays?
"We consider everything. We go in there and game plan, you're always looking for an advantage. What do you think of advantage? Obviously, it comes down to execution and the defense has a say as well. We'll continue to look at everything."
What do you think is reflective of the fact that you have short yard situations three times in the red zone and don't score?
"Well, it's a couple things. I mean the one early, when you're in goal line offense, right? You try to punch it in, think you're in, you're not. So, you come back, try to get them, because there's, to play over aggressive, something we saw. Obviously, they did a nice job covering it. Same thing, the guy up front made a play, moved us back and on third down, again, we didn't have time to progress the back side. That was kind of, a couple times we had guys wide open and they got a really good rush from. And so, if you get the quarterback off the spot, it's hard to get to the second read. So, that happened a few times. The one down there, you talk about the pitch, when they don't work, it looks pretty not great, but there's a lot of logistical things that go in there, things that we set up before. You can go in there and sneak, you get a certain look, you may package things, it all comes into play. Clearly, we didn't do a good enough job executing though."
And the overall inability to run the ball today, how much did that--?
"Yeah, they did a nice job. They made a commitment. We'd been running the ball pretty well. They bowed their neck, thought it was a difference in the game. They ran it, we didn't. We found other ways to move the football. We were able to get some chunk plays in the second half, and that's a credit to our guys that kept swinging. Obviously, the score. They bowed up down in the red zone. So, you come away with only 13 points."
Did you have to change your plan at some point because of the rush?
"No, I mean, it's more possessions when you're down and again, it's a fine line when you're playing a front like that, where you just, you don't want to sit back there and be a sitting duck. So, we hit some very deep shots, guys stepped up, [Atlanta Falcons QB] Matt [Ryan] hung in there, we made plays down the field, but we didn't make the critical plays down in the red zone and that was the difference in the game."
I know something that you talked about recently is being able to play smarter football, and I know early in the game there were a few false starts that I'm sure y'all would want back. Do you feel as though there was a step taken back in that regard?
"I don't see it as a second step taken back. I mean, you regroup and refocus if it's something that had been, you know I didn't like the way we started it. I mean, you give an advantage right there, a couple logistical things that we got cleaned up, maybe the crowd affected us more than we anticipated and just, we've got to be a little bit cleaner there. Don't like wasting the time outs, but we rallied on the sideline and that's what coaching is, and the players, credit to the players. You calm down, you adjust. Obviously, the turnover was a big turning point in the third quarter and then, not getting it on three fourth downs in a red zone. I mean, that's, you'd like to say you come up with 21 points, but you don't and so, hat's off to them."
Defensively, what role do you feel like explosive plays played in this game?
"Well, we had explosive plays too. It was the way that they were able to run the football that kept them on balance, and they hit some quick hitters, they had a quick game for a big play. They hit some off the play pass as well, but they got in a pretty good rhythm running the football."
You guys had seven plays today where you needed one yard for either a first down or a touchdown, and you guys converted one of those as a quarterback sneak. Does that tell you anything big picture about this team?
"I think it's more of this game. I mean, the easy narrative is to write these dramatic stories about big picture, but every game's their own story. It's been like that some weeks. You know, it's for multiple reasons, it's never just one reason why something doesn't work. Obviously, when you get blown up, if it's a negative play, yeah obviously, you consider hindsight's 20-20, but those are easy narratives. I mean, the truth is we, this team has continued to get better and continued to compete, and the credit to San Francisco. They had to say and they stopped us in the red zone."
I know you've said that you learn about players in certain games, especially in games like this. In terms of Atlanta Falcons WR Russell Gage, have you learned anything about him in terms of the way he's been playing?
"Absolutely. He goes in there and battles, all our guys do. As receivers they battle. I thought [Atlanta Falcons TE] Kyle [Pitts] stepped up, made some big plays, made some tough catches. He's continued to improve. Like I said, you get down there, that's why sometimes the explosive plays can be a misnomer, because at the end of the day, it came down to situational football and we didn't punch it in there."
Did you see the Patterson score that was overturned?
"Yeah. I mean, I've got an opinion but clearly if they saw something, they did. So, they overturned it."
From a momentum standpoint, do you think things are different if you punch it in there?
"There's so much football. It certainly helps. You feel good about it, you feel like you stole a possession. I mean, they lost the ball in a return to start the game. So yeah, obviously you'd like to be able to punch it in and we came away with nothing."
Do you feel the need to address your guys about the end of the season? Your playoff chances have really shortened. Do you address that with them and say we want to close strong anyway or how do you approach that?
"We're going to compete every game. You just keep swinging. A lot of crazy things have happened in the NFL, so we'll try to win the next one. Win one at home and just keep chipping away and see what happens, because there's a lot of things, what it looks like today, that's not how it's going to look like after Week 18. Guys that have covered this league a long time, you guys know that. Usually, the last week of the season, you just want to have a mathematical chance. Crazier things have happened."
Falcons QB Matt Ryan
What was the crux of the red zone issue today?
"Yeah, we have to find a way to get in the end zone. We knew coming into it that was going to be important for us. We will have to take a look at it and see exactly what the issues are. We had our chances. We moved the ball, we put ourselves in great position a handful of times. Special teams with the opening kickoff put us in a really good position. When you're playing a good football team in an important game, you have to find ways to score and you have to take advantage of those opportunities. That's something we have to be better at moving forward. We'll take a look at the film tomorrow and try and make those corrections as we move forward."
According to the analytics, your playoff chances are down. How do you move forward into the next game?
"Still a chance. So you're saying there's a chance, isn't that the old movie line or whatever? Listen, I've seen crazy things happen in this league, so we've got to hold up our end of the bargain and that starts next week. When we get back to Atlanta, we've got to find a way to have a really good week of practice get ourselves in position to play well next Sunday and keep that narrow focus and see what happens."
You had seven plays today where you needed only one yard for a touchdown or first down and didn't convert. What does that say to you?
"Got to be better. One of seven is not good enough. In those short-yardage situations where you just need a yard, we've got to find a way to really convert those at a high level. Good football teams do that and we weren't good enough at that today. It has to be an area of concern for us and something that we work on this week. I wish I had a better answer for you, but we have to be better."
Why is it that the best version of the Falcons hasn't shown up consistently in those games against the best opponents?
"I don't know. I keep going back to the fact that we have to be opportunistic. We have to take advantage of, of the really good opportunities that we have. When you're playing good football teams, they take advantage of those and we haven't done that. It's got to be a point of emphasis for us as we get back into practice. When we get turnovers, when we get short field opportunities, there's got to be blood in the water. You have to go attack and you got to find a way to get the job done and get in."
Was Atlanta Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson in on that play?
"I'll always say yes but I didn't see. I only saw a little bit from outside there. It looked tough to tell."
On that first possession, you said that a team should be able to run the ball four times and get half a yard. Why was that harder on this team?
"I'm not sure. We have to look at where we didn't operate as well as we needed to. I don't know that, my back is turned on a lot of those things to know what happened. We will take a look at it and we will try to rep it and improve there. You have to harp on the smallest of details in those type of situations, the combination blocks, the physicality, or even in the passing game, just the level of precision has to be higher down there. That's something we need to work on."
I guess my question was, why throw it twice in that possession rather than just try and run it in?
"I suppose when you pound it and it doesn't get in it makes you reconsider what you're doing. As a player I never overthink those things. Our responsibility is to make those plays come to life and make them work. I think we can, whether it is run or pass, collectively be better. There's no rule book on what you have to do in those situations. Whatever is called, we need to find a way to get it done."
On that early timeout, what was going on there? Looked like you were telling someone to go in motion.
"Yeah, those happen once in a while. It is just part of it. You have a motion on, I was a little down on the clock, that is just part of the game from time to time."
Going back to the conversation in the red zone, Atlanta Falcons WR Russell Gage was talking, and he was using the word "settling" and "settling" in the endzone. How do you talk to these guys about being settled in the moment?
"I think the level of precision goes up. The space is smaller and so the windows become smaller. It's always important, timing, spacing, those things are always important, but it's magnified down there because you don't have that vertical threat. You don't have the backup threat. You have the sidelines and the end line that kind of make it cramped. There is a level of timing and spacing that has to be there and I think at times we've been good at that through the year. At times we need to be better. Again, I think we need to rep it, we need to practice it, we need to get to work. That is the only way I know to improve. We certainly need improvement."
Are you comfortable with all the new COVID protocols as your team tries to finish out the season?
"I am. I feel like I've done everything I can to protect myself. I have my booster, I feel comfortable. I feel good about myself and what I've done to try and protect myself as best I can."
Were you in favor in the league change to not test vaccinated folks anymore?
"I don't get involved in those things and I never have when it comes to those decision-making things. I generally leave that to the people who are more involved who understand that stuff better than I. I just try to follow the rules and make sure I do everything I can to protect myself."
Falcons WR Russell Gage
How tough is it for you guys dealing with not being able to score in the red zone today?
"For us, it always comes down to execution. We had a lot of opportunities. To start the game off, we have to capitalize there. We understand that we know things that we can do. There are a lot of things that we can do better, finishing drives, we moved the ball on teams often, we just have to find a way to finish these drives. To execute will ultimately determine a lot for us."
In executing will that provide a boost for the offense?
"For sure. It goes hand in hand. It is complimentary football. When you are able to cap drives off with touchdowns, not just field goals, but touchdowns, we know that definitely goes a long way."
You guys are down to a two-percent chance at making the playoffs, how do you fight on knowing that is the case?
"We know that nothing is set in stone right now. We know that we have three games that we can win out. Anything can happen. This season has already been crazy as we have seen. Nothing is set in stone. We are going to go out and find a way to win these last three."
What was the problem in the red zone? Was it communication? Was it the crowd noise? What was it?
"I think honestly it was a combination of all of it. We have to settle down. We have to understand that we have plays that are implemented and we have to find ways to execute them. At the end of the day, it is a combination of everything. We are playing on one accord and we do a good job of getting down there, we just have to understand that things happen faster in the red zone. Sometimes we may have to pick up the tempo. It's a number of things; you can't put your finger on one thing exactly. We just have to find a way."
Falcons S Duron Harmon
What is the mood of the team? The playoff hopes appear to be diminished after this one.
"Well anytime that you lose, you are not excited, and especially when there were opportunities out there where we know that we could have played better. We could have executed better. This is the reality of it. We have to learn from this game. Look at the corrections and get back in the winning column. You never know what can happen, weird things happen at the end of the season but we have to control what we can control and that is winning the game that we have next. We have a Detroit team that beat a good team today and they are going to be ready to go on next Sunday but we have to play better."
Defensively, San Francisco 49ers RB Jeff Wilson Jr. got going, San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle got going and San Francisco 49ers WR Deebo Samuel. How did you guys try to defend those three?
"Well if you look at it, we didn't really defend them much. They out executed us. When those guys got the ball in their hands they made plays and we didn't. It sucks because we knew what they were going to try to do, run the ball and get 19 and 85 the ball in space. We didn't do what we needed to do to win. That is what you have to do. You have to execute at this point of the season. The 49ers out-executed us and we have to tip our hats to them because they played the game the way they wanted to play the game and that is why they won today."
How do you move on from an outing like this?
"We have to look at the opportunity that we have ahead. We have a Detroit Lions team that is coming in, that plays everybody tough. They play hard. We just have to focus on what we have to focus on. That is winning the next game. We don't know what will happen. The only thing that we can do is control what we can control and that is who we play next."
You guys felt like you were improving all season long. ls today a step back or a one off and things are still moving in the right direction?
"I feel like things are still moving in the right direction but it stings. Every time that you put everything that you have into it, you feel confident about the game plan, going out there competing with the players, and your teammates but today wasn't our day. As much as we wanted it to be our day, it wasn't. We have to be truthful with ourselves when we look at the film and learn from the film. We have to remember this feeling so that we can continue to try to move in the right direction."
Falcons LB Foyesade Oluokun
How do you guys try to move forward after today?
"The way we've moved forward before, where we go back to the drawing board for the next team and try to play cleaner football."
How tough was the challenge today against the 49ers?
"They may have posed different challenges, kind of getting you to give you one look they've shown for weeks and then play kind of something off of it. End of the day, you've got to learn exactly what you're doing, no matter what situation or whatever formation, and play cleaner football."
You have a long flight home. What are you going to stew on the most?
"Oh just, a couple plays I wish I had back, but at the end of the day I'm a football player, so I'm replaying the game in my head already. Get onto the next week. More football to be played."
Math people are saying the playoff chances are really small now after today. How do you all try to, you know--?
"I mean, if there's a chance, there's a chance. I don't really care how small they are. If there's a chance, you might say they're improbable, I say there's a chance. So, we're going to keep fighting and make sure that we do our part in order to try to make the playoffs here."