Falcons-49ers history

Atlanta Falcons

Falcons-49ers history

The Falcons will meet former division rival, the San Francisco 49ers for the 72nd time in their history Sunday in the NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

The Falcons last met the 49ers at the Georgia Dome in 2010. The 16-14 win was the 71st meeting between the onetime division rivals. San Francisco leads the series 44-30-1, which dates back to Atlanta's first season in the NFL.

The Falcons opened their first season in the NFL in 1966. Behind coach Norb Hecker, the Falcons opened their inaugural season in the East Division with the likes of the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Redskins, Pittsburgh Steelers and N.Y. Giants. In Week 9 (Oct. 16, 1966), the Falcons met the 49ers for the first time at Atlanta Stadium. The Falcons mustered 215 yards of total offense in a 44-7 losing effort. It was their sixth-straight loss that season, in which they went 3-11.

24-12 (Sept. 21, 1969): In 1967, the Falcons moved to the NFC Coastal Division that included the Falcons, L.A. Rams, Baltimore Colts and San Francisco 49ers. The Falcons opened their fourth season with their first ever win against the 49ers. Led by Pro Bowl quarterback Bob Berry, the Falcons had 308 total yards of offense and nabbed three interceptions from San Francisco quarterback John Brodie. In another first the Falcons swept the division matchup in 1969, en route to a 6-8 finish. (After the AFL-NFL Merger in 1970, the division was renamed the NFC West. The Baltimore Colts moved to the AFC East and were replaced by the New Orleans Saints.)

39-34 (Oct. 13, 1991): Falcons defensive back Deion Sanders (21) had a 100-yard kickoff return that sealed the win for Atlanta in San Francisco. Falcons' quarterback Chris Miller through for 208 yards and 3 touchdowns. This was one of only four seasons in which Atlanta won both divisional games against San Francisco.

In 1991, the Falcons battled for the NFC West Division crown. Atlanta went 6-0 against California teams, defeating the San Francisco 49ers (twice), L.A. Rams (twice), San Diego Chargers and L.A. Raiders. The Falcons ended the year second in the NFC West and lost in the Divisional Playoffs to the Washington Redskins, but to coach Jerry Glanville the team was a champion. "We're the state champions of California," Glanville proclaimed and even went so far as to have a 5-foot, three-tiered, wood and gold trophy, with figures of birds, football players and an angel made. The following season, Glanville hoisted the trophy before their game in San Francisco as a motivational tool. It backfired ...

56-17 (Oct. 8, 1992): After Jerry Glanville's "California Tophy" antics before game time, 49ers quarterback Steve Young passed for nearly 400 yards, including an 80-yard bomb to Jerry Rice (above), who had 183 yard receiving that day in San Francisco.

The Falcons have gone into overtime against the 49ers in three games in their history, two of them coming in 2001 - the Falcons' final year in the NFC West Division. The Falcons opened the 2001 season in San Francisco, where the 49ers rallied from a 13-3 deficit in the third quarter to win in the extra period. Four weeks later, the Falcons let a 20-7 third quarter lead slide and lost the game on a 52-yard touchdown catch and run by the 49ers' Terrell Owens in overtime.

10-10, OT (Oct. 19, 1986): The Falcons' third overtime game against the 49ers resulted in a tie. The Falcons rallied in the fourth quarter to tie the 49ers and neither offense could muster any points in the extended period. It is one of six ties in Falcons franchise history.

20-18 (Jan. 9, 1999): The Falcons and 49ers have only met once in the post-season, in the NFC Divisional Playoff at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons' Jamal Anderson rushed for 113 yards and 2 scores, while Atlanta's defense secured three interceptions from San Francisco's Steve Young. The Falcons advanced to the NFC Championship Game against Minnesota and with a swift overtime kick by Morten Andersen went on to its only Super Bowl appearance.

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The Falcons last met the 49ers at the Georgia Dome in 2010. The 16-14 win was the 71st meeting between the onetime division rivals. San Francisco leads the series 44-30-1, which dates back to Atlanta's first season in the NFL.

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