It was not a spectacular game, but San Francisco gave one of the biggest surprises of the NFL Week 9, with their 17-16 victory over an Atlanta team that has been disappointing in recent weeks. Apparently The QB change worked for Jim Tomsula.
He did not have a -again- spectacular performance, but the debut of Blaine Gabbert as 49ers QB was pretty good (at least for the San Francisco offensive standards in 2015). Although threw two interceptions, Gabbert knew how to move his offensive and gave a new spark the team needed for the past two weeks. Gabbert finished with 185 passing yards and two TDs.
Dan Quinn cost the Falcons a chance of victory, in one of the most conservative decisions this season. Atlanta, losing by 4 points with 3 minutes to play in the San Francisco yard 1 decided to kick a FG to get only one point behind the score. The Falcons did not touch the football afterwards and got their third defeat of the season.
Everyone was surprised by the decision to not to go for the victory TD when the Falcons have one of the most dynamic weapons this season with Devonta Freeman. If they fail their touchdown opportunity they would have left the 49ers in a very complicated situation and locked in their territory, with a better chance to get the ball.
During the game the protection on Gabbert was spectacular, in fact it was the first game with the Niners in more than a year in which they don’t allow any sacks, that is in part because of the speed by which Gabbert gets rid of the ball.
The promising season start of the Falcons is far away. In the last 4 weeks they have lost 3 games and the win against the Titans was a miracle. The offensive reaches 20 points per game and the defense has not played badly. What really worries are the turnovers and the ineffectiveness in the red zone.
It is true that their mentality has changed a bit and the team looks better than in recent weeks, but it is also true that there is a lack of talent and they have complicated games down the road against Seattle, Arizona, Cincinnati and St. Louis. Despite that we think they can finish the season with some dignity despite all the losses.
