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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The San Francisco 49ers' investment in
young defensive players is producing returns.
San Francisco's defense, dead last in the NFL in yardage allowed
entering the game, held the Atlanta Falcons to 211 total yards
Sunday in a 16-6 victory. Rookie cornerback Jason Webster returned
an interception 70 yards for the game's only touchdown.
|  | | The Niners held Falcons running back Jamal Anderson to just 76 rushing yards and no touchdowns Sunday. |
These 49ers bore little resemblance to the tentative group that
allowed eight teams to score 30 points or more this year.
"I think we're showing progress, and I think the confidence is
starting to creep in a little bit," 49ers coach Steve Mariucci
said. "We need to develop a swagger here. It's going to take a
year or two to get that 49er swagger back."
San Francisco (4-8) sacked Chris Chandler four times -- twice by
Pro Bowl defensive end Bryant Young -- and kept the Falcons out of
the end zone. The 49ers, who beat Kansas City 21-7 last week, held
consecutive opponents under 10 points for the first time since the
third and fourth weeks of the 1997 season.
"We always knew we were capable of playing this way," Young
said. "Now everybody has to believe it."
Charlie Garner had 135 total yards, and Wade Richey emerged from
a lengthy slump to kick three field goals, but the 49ers struggled
to move the ball and had 85 yards in penalties.
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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Question on the Falcons: How were the Falcons able to keep Jeff Garcia TD-less?
Donahoe: Give the Falcons' defense and defensive coordinator Rich
Brooks credit -- Brooks was able to come up with a game plan for thwarting
Garcia, and the defense was able to execute it. The 49ers have had one of
the more explosive offenses in the NFL this season. But Garcia's favorite
receiver, Terrell Owens, did
not play today -- and this was certainly a factor in their offensive output
(or lack thereof).
Question on the 49ers: What part of the 49ers' defense has improved
the most?
Donahoe: The secondary has been the most-improved unit on the 49ers
defense this season. In earlier games, the 49ers were giving up not only
lots of yardage but also lots of big plays. With some changes in personnel
and changes in their coverage, they've been able to cut down on the big
plays they've given up. The 49ers defense played much better last week
against the Chiefs as well as this week. The roster is young, and the 49ers
will do well to continue to be patient and allow these players to develop.
Tom Donahoe, ESPN.com's NFL analyst, was formerly the Steelers' director
of football operations.
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Despite a strong defensive performance of their own, the Falcons
(3-9) suffered their third straight loss and eighth in the last
nine games. Atlanta coach Dan Reeves said the Falcons will stay in
the Bay Area and work out at Stanford until next Sunday's meeting
with the Oakland Raiders.
"Right now the offense is struggling, and it seems like the
only way we're going to win is by forcing turnovers and scoring
points on defense," said frustrated cornerback Ray Buchanan, who
batted down four passes and had four tackles.
The Falcons, who beat San Francisco 36-28 in Week 1, haven't won
on Candlestick Point since 1991. Jamal Anderson was held to 76
yards rushing, and Chandler was 16-of-33 for just 154 yards.
"The offense isn't doing its share," Anderson said. "We've
got to find an identity because we're struggling to run the ball
and pass the ball."
Chandler was blanketed by a heavy pass rush from the 49ers, who
said they rushed heavily because it was Chandler's first game back
after missing last week's loss to Detroit with a concussion.
"We knew he would have to be careful, and we thought we could
get him," Young said.
Trailing 6-3, the Falcons got a break midway through the third
quarter when Gerald McBurrows recovered Tai Streets' fumble at the
49ers 25. On third down, Chandler passed up two open receivers
across the middle and tried to throw a screen pass to Anderson.
Webster intercepted it, broke Anderson's tackle and ran 70 yards
for his first career TD, pumping his fist four times in the end
zone before being mobbed by his teammates.
"We had great pressure from the defensive line, so the QB had
to throw it over the running back's head, and I got an early
Christmas gift," Webster said.
With Terrell Owens out of action with turf toe, the 49ers had a
poor offensive game. Jeff Garcia made no big mistakes and finished
16-of-31 for 210 yards, while Garner had 59 yards rushing and 76
yards receiving, but never got San Francisco into the end zone.
Richey, who had made just two of his last six field-goal
attempts entering the game, was perfect from 32, 30 and 26 yards.
Last week, he guaranteed reporters he wouldn't miss another kick
all season.
Game notes
Young has seven sacks in the last five games. ... Falcons
defensive end Brady Smith was ejected after the final play of the
third quarter when he knocked 49ers tackle Matt Willig to the
ground with a blow to the head after a play. The penalty set up
Richey's third field goal. ... Both teams played without key
veteran offensive linemen. Falcons offensive tackle Bob Whitfield's
franchise-record streak of 123 consecutive starts ended when he was
deactivated with a strained nerve in his right arm, while the 49ers
lost Ray Brown to a sprained knee shortly after halftime.
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ALSO SEE
Atlanta Clubhouse
San Francisco Clubhouse
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