15 ‘big win’ observations from the 49ers win over Atlanta

The San Francisco 49ers are one step closer to the postseason. Two years after the Atlanta Falcons upset the 49ers in a week 15 matchup, San Francisco made sure that didn't happen again. The team came out focused, and controlled the game from the start...well almost. Someone forgot to tell the kick returner that turning the ball over wasn't in the plan.

In spite of that mistake, the 49ers beat the Falcons 31-13, and now stand in good position to make it into the playoffs. But first, here are my observations from the 49ers' big win on Sunday.

• What's the recipe for losing to a team you should beat? Turn the ball over right off the bat. The 49ers did not make things easy for themselves, as JaMycal Hasty fumbled the opening kickoff. The 49ers special teams unit continues to put the team in difficult positions.
• The 49ers defense came out strong, though, with a goal-line stop, to keep the Hasty fumble from doing any damage.
• The defense came up with big stops all game long, and ended up with three fourth down stops inside the 10 yard line. That's not something that happens very often—like every 40 years.

• The 49ers offense, after a three and out at its own goal-line, followed with a 10-play, 79-yard drive, but only came away with a field goal.
• The 49ers offense played really well for most of the game.

• George Kittle looked great on the team's first drive. He finished the game with six catches for 93 yards.

• Arden Key has been coming on strong for the 49ers lately. He currently has five sacks on the season. That's more than he had in his career coming in to this season.

• Jeff Wilson looked like the old Jeff Wilson today. He ran the ball really well. Wilson finished the game with 110 yards on 21 carries, with one touchdown.
• Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt both came up with some big plays in the fourth quarter. The fact that those plays were touchdown-saving plays, inside the 10-yard line, makes the plays all the more important.
• The 49ers started the second half with a strip-sack by Nick Bosa, his 15th of the season. The fumble was recovered by Fred Warner. The offense converted on a Wilson touchdown run. Bosa has a legit chance to beat Aldon Smith's 2012 single-season sack record of 19.5.
• Speaking of Bosa…

• Starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was extremely efficient on Sunday. He was 18 of 23 for 235 yards and one touchdown pass.
• Jauan Jennings continues to get better. He always seems to make big catches. He's making me not regret losing Kendrick Bourne. But he did drop a big pass in the 4th quarter. He still does that too often.
• That Deebo Samuel guy showed up again. He had 29 yards rushing (with one touchdown), and 60 yards receiving. He even threw a pass, although it was incomplete.

• The 49ers offense continues to struggle in the 4th quarter. They will need to improve for San Francisco to go anywhere in the postseason.

Just think, less than two months ago 49ers' fans were screaming for Jed York to fire Kyle Shanahan, release Garoppolo, and blow the entire thing up. And now, here we are, getting ready to watch our team clinch a playoff spot. And for those who think it doesn't matter, because they won't get past the first round, don't be so sure. There are plenty of teams who don't want to play the San Francisco 49ers right now.

• Marc Adams
• Written by:
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