The Atlanta Falcons take on familiar faces in Santa Clara

The Atlanta Falcons have a chance to win their fifth game of the year today in San Francisco. In order to pull off the biggest upset of the 2019 NFL season, it is going to take their best 60-minute effort in nearly three years.

The Atlanta Falcons have the talent to upset the 49ers, but can coaching put them in a position to come home victorious? The Falcons have won three of their last five games, all after the bye, but have shown many of the same tendencies that led to them starting 1-7.

Jeff Benedict – Site Expert

Today will take a monumental effort to take down the NFC’s best team and betting favorite to win the Super Bowl.

With three games left, there are many who do not want to see the Falcons win another game this season in order to preserve a Top 10 pick in the 2020 draft. I understand that as a win today would drop them from eighth to somewhere between 10 and 15 with two games left.

However, no current player or coach cares about the 2020 draft and is going to go out there and try to beat the 49ers. Jimmy Garoppolo and Kyle Shanahan are going to target the Falcons young secondary. Jordan Miller, Kendall Sheffield and Isaiah Oliver; if Oliver is able to play.

The Atlanta Falcons offensive line is going to have their hands full today with Dee Ford, Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner and the rest of the 49ers defensive line. Matt Ryan may get hit a record number of times today if Dirk Koetter continues with his nonsensical offensive game plans.

Despite all of that, I think the Falcons pull the upset today in Santa Clara.

• Falcons: 27
• 49ers: 24

Adam Zippan

San Francisco has the #1 rated pass defense in the league. They are banged up on defense and missing some key starters.  Their offense is clicking on all cylinders and the Falcons inconsistent, the weak defense won’t be able to shot them down. Atlanta will need a strong run game on offense today, but that most likely will not happen. 49ers win but don’t cover.

• Falcons: 31
• 49ers: 41

Deen Worley

There really isn’t much to look forward to when the Falcons travel to Santa Clara. A Falcons win and that betters the chances that New Orleans will get a bye, and a loss will benefit Atlanta in terms of draft position.

However, I simply can’t watch a Falcons game and cheer for a loss, even if a loss benefits us. So as I fully expect a loss here, I also will be hoping the Falcons come out on top.

• Falcons: 13
• 49ers: 27

Matt Siegman

During the 2013 NFL season, the Atlanta Falcons has one of the worst records in the league and played the 49ers had one of the best records in the league.

They played each other on Monday Night Football and the game was won in the last few minutes. Despite the records, this will be another close game late into the fourth quarter before the 49ers pull away. Both defenses will have good games but the 49ers defensive line is too difficult for the Falcons to overcome.

• Falcons: 17
• 49ers: 27

Ross Terrell

This is the matchup we’ve been waiting to see. Atlanta Falcons fans will get a trip down memory lane of what our offense used to be with Kyle Shanahan at the helm. Now he’s leading arguably the hottest team in the NFC. And the Falcons defense, sadly, doesn’t stand a chance.

• Falcons: 24
• 49ers: 49