49ers Gameday Preview

<p class="bold allcaps">FALCONS AT 49ERS</p> <p><b>WHERE: </b>Candlestick Park</p><p><b>WHEN: </b>1:05 p.m.</p><p><b>TV: </b>Ch. 2</p><p><b>RADIO: </b>KNBR 680/1050-AM, KSAN 107.7-FM</p><p><b>THE LINE: </b>49ers by 2½ (41½ total)</p><p><b>THE SERIES: </b>The 49ers lead the series 44-29-1, but the Falcons have won the past two meetings.</p><p><b>LAST MEETING: </b>Playing without injured Frank Gore, the 49ers managed just a first-quarter touchdown in a 20-16 loss at the Georgia Dome on Nov. 4, 2007. Alex Smith, playing with a separated shoulder, completed just 17 of 38 passes for 149 yards and three interceptions.</p><p><b>INJURY REPORT</b></p><p><b>Falcons — </b>S Antoine Harris (knee) is out; K Jason Elam (left hamstring) and RB Ovie Mughelli (hamstring) are probable.</p><p><b>49ers — </b>RB Frank Gore (ankle/foot), LB Jeff Ulbrich (concussion) and S Reggie Smith (groin) are out; LB Marques Harris (hamstring) is questionable; LB Patrick Willis (abdomen), G David Baas (ankle), WR Arnaz Battle (hand), LB Manny Lawson (illness) and KR Allen Rossum (back) are probable.</p><p><b>SPOTTING TRENDS</b></p><p><b>FALCONS (2-1): </b>The Falcons have asked a little more of quarterback Matt Ryan in his second season. Part of that is by design, but it's also because the Falcons have not experienced as much success in the early portion of the season with their run game. Michael Turner, who rushed for 1,699 yards in his first season with Atlanta, has gotten off to a slow start. He averaged just 3.5 yards a rush in the first three games. The Falcons are the league's 25th-ranked rushing attack. Ryan is playing well, though. He's completing 65.9 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and one interception for a passer rating of 100.4.</p><p><b>49ERS (3-1): </b>The 49ers' first three victories came against teams with a combined 2-9 record. The 49ers now have a chance for their first victory over a playoff team from a year ago. San Francisco has never lost a home game started by quarterback Shaun Hill (7-0). Hill has developed a nice rapport with tight end Vernon Davis, who has three touchdown receptions in the past two games. Rookie Glen Coffee gets his second start in place of injured Gore. Coffee has experienced difficulty in the earlygoing of his first season. He gained just 138 yards in 59 rushes (2.3-yard average) in the 49ers' first four games. </p><p><b>QUOTE TO NOTE</b></p><p>“Our guys understand where we are, and they understand that we are not where we need to be. We don't even have time to begin to think about anyone saying how great we are. We know that week in and week out, it's going to take everything we have to win.”</p><p><i>— 49ers coach Mike Singletary</i></p><p><b>FALCONS WILL WIN IF . . . </b>their offense regains its run game and Ryan has time to throw.</p><p><b>49ERS WILL WIN IF . . . </b>Coffee is able to consistently gain 5 yards on first-down rush attempts.</p><p><b>KEY MATCHUPS</b></p><p><b>NT Aubrayo Franklin vs. C Todd McClure</b></p><p>Franklin is the key to the 49ers' run defense. He'll be working against a veteran who has started every game the past seven seasons.</p><p><b>LT Joe Staley vs. DE John Abraham</b></p><p>Abraham is the Falcon's biggest pass-rush threat. He recorded 16.5 sacks last season. Staley, a third-year pro, has gotten off to a strong start.</p><p><b>LB Manny Lawson vs. TE Tony Gonzalez</b></p><p>Lawson will line up over Gonzalez, one of the best tight ends in NFL history, and try to disrupt his pass routes off the line of scrimmage.</p>