The San Francisco 49ers are set to travel to Mercedes Benz Stadium to take on the Atlanta Falcons in a week six matchup. The 49ers come into the game with a record of 3-2 and they currently sit atop of the NFC West. On the flip side, the Falcons enter the contest with a record of 2-3 and they are tied for second with the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South. The Falcons have done an incredible job of playing to the level of their opponents every week this season. Last week was their worst loss of the season, only falling to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by six points. Although it may not look that way on paper, there is a good chance that this game could come down to the final drive.
San Francisco 49ers Hope to Hold On to First Place Position In Highly Competitive NFC West
Coming into the season, you would be hard-pressed to find someone who believed the San Francisco 49ers would lead the NFC West, especially with starting quarterback Trey Lance suffering a serious injury early on in the season. However, with Jimmy Gorropolo back at the starting quarterback spot, the 49ers have not missed a beat and look even better than they did last season. San Francisco also lost running back Elijah Mitchell early on in the year due to a knee injury. Despite this, backup running back Jeff Wilson has stepped up and has proven himself as a quality starting option.
On the defensive end, the 49ers are one of the best in the league. With one of the best pass rushers in the league in Nick Bosa, quarterbacks lose sleep leading up to a game against the 49ers. Although Marcus Mariota is a very mobile quarterback, he will still have a tough day at the office trying to move the ball.
While the Falcons have kept every game they have played in this season within one score, this could be the game where the streak ends. If the 49ers show up to play, there is a chance that they could bury the Falcons.
Atlanta Falcons Look to Bounce Back After Close Loss to Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Falcons have played well above expectations this season. Many thought they would be one of the worst teams in football, however, they have proven themselves as a very gritty team. Despite not having one of the more talented rosters in the NFL, they do have a lot of hyper-athletic players and a creative coaching staff. Atlanta has done an excellent job of using players like Cordalle Patterson in trick plays or multiple positions to maximize his value as a player.
Along with the offense, the Falcons’ defense has also had a great start to the season. The Falcons’ defensive unit is the heart and soul of the team this season. Despite the coaching staff doing what they can with their offense, they still struggle to move the ball at times. When that has happened, the defense has done what was necessary to keep the Falcons in the game with a chance to win at the end.
