Atlanta Falcons deserve credit for pulling out win vs. 49ers

Alright, Atlanta Falcons. Make this one make sense.

For the second time this year, the Atlanta Falcons knocked off a top seed, Super Bowl contender in the NFC. Both times on the road.

First, in New Orleans and now in Santa Clara, albeit against San Francisco. The combined records of the 49ers and Saints 21-6 (The Saints hadn’t yet played their Monday night game.) In fact, the two teams arguably had the game of the year last week in a 48-46 shootout.

But that’s neither here nor there.

What we saw from this Atlanta team was impressive. It wasn’t their best performance of the year by any means. The Falcons tried to steal a possession to start the second half but didn’t have enough guys on the field and it cost them.

The offense looked anemic at times. Julio had some big drops, but the end made the biggest catch of the day. Let’s not forget the Falcons were undermanned too. No, Calvin Ridley, Takk McKinley was injured, plus the other players who are already on injured reserve.

This Falcons performance was a reminder of the potential of this team. What they could’ve been. Now yes, the 49ers were missing some people too but they were 11-2 going into this game.

Atlanta embraced the role of spoiler, even when it was meaningless, they came out and performed clinching a last-second win.

For that, you’ve got to give Dan Quinn credit. Atlanta has nothing to lose but as equally nothing to gain. A lot of teams would come out and lay an egg, especially when the other teams get rolling.

But the Falcons never gave the 49ers the chance to do that. Now, this shouldn’t save Quinn’s job at all, though you can add it to his highlight reel. The teacher beat the student in this one.

He used whatever knowledge of Shanahan he had from employing him for a few years and made it count.

Quinn has his team ready to perform, against former coaches and players, and they got the job done. A solid “Rise Up!” is in order.