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Bad Falcons have good time against Niners
By Pearl Allison Lo November 4, 2007 |
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The 2-6 Atlanta Falcons regarded as one of the worse in the NFL, using quarterback Joey Harrington who had been just on fumes the last few games, faced the San Francisco 49ers at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, and the Falcons still won 20-17 over the Niners. Harrington threw for 138 yards for 14 completions for no touchdowns and that was good enough to beat the Niners, without running back help from Frank Gore who sat out with an injured ankle. The loss was good or bad enough depending on how you look at for the Niners as they drop their sixth straight ball game, and are now 2-6 going into week nine. Falcons quarterback Byron Leftwich sat out and was listed as the number three quarterback in this contest. Leftwich also was suffering from a left ankle injury after his last start two weeks ago. The Falcons who like the 49ers depend on Gore saw cornerback Walt Harris sit it out with a sprained knee. Ironically, Gore worked out all week and Nolan made the decision by Saturday night that Gore was not going to be risked to further injury. This was advised by the Niners medical staff that Gore needed to rest the ankle, and not risking it for injury. The Niners dropped their record to 2-6 and are now in third in the NFC West. Gore who injured the ankle on October 21st against the New York Giants had played injured in the proceeding game against the Saints, when team doctors took a further look at Gore's swollen ankle and determined that he be observed during practice week. If there were no further improvement after practice, he would have to sit out Sunday's game against Atlanta, which he did. Gore who was critical of 49ers offensive coordinator Jim Hostler for not calling plays that Gore felt that would be in sink for the offense at the right place at the right time didn't comment on Hostler or the coaching after Sunday's game only to say, "I didn't play and I shouldn't say anything especially after not playing." said Gore. Gore still had that look of frustration in the dressing room after the game and it a big loss for the Niners Sunday as back ups Maurice Hicks and Michael Robinson ran for only 81 yards and no touchdowns. The Niners quarterback Alex Smith threw for 149 yards but could not find anyone in the end zone and the running backs Robinson and Hicks could not find any running room to cross the goal line when close. Hicks did find daylight early in the game with a nine-yard carry at 9:10 in the first quarter for the game's first score. The 49ers ground game was something that Monday morning quarterbacks will talk about all day around the water cooler as they and 49ers head coach Mike Nolan will be scratching their heads as to why the Niners couldn't find any daylight. That would have been the difference and the Niners could have picked up a win in this one. 49ers kicker Joe Nedney supplied the rest of the offense with field three field goals two in the third quarter and one in the fourth but it wasn't enough as the Niners after third quarter came up short down 14-13. In the fourth quarter Falcon kicker Morten Andersen kicked for 33 yards at 14:12 to give the Falcons the actual game winning score. Nedney at 7:56 would answer Andersen's boot with a 22 yarder of his own to make it a one-point deficit 17-16 again but Andersen would put frosting on the Georgia Dome cake with a 27 yard boot with 1:10 left in the ball game for the 20-16 difference and the Falcons second victory of 2007. 49er Pearl drops: Alex Smith also was picked off three times and hit 17 receivers in 38 tries for a 44.7% ratio. Smith was sacked twice but got up from that old shoulder injury and still played the whole game. With the 49ers down by a touchdown at half time 14-7 coach Nolan said he told he offense that they can get it close and recapture the lead. Last note: And speaking of notes there were notes and sand timers next to the nozzle of each shower pull at the Georgia Dome when the players went to take a shower after the game everybody has been put on notice that the great peach state of Georgia has asked everyone to take three minutes at the shower stall. The dry drought affecting Georgia has put everyone on notice about taking shorter showers. "Good we can get out of here faster," said an exasperated Frank Gore. The state of Georgia is noted to be out of drinking water in less than three months and will have to ration whatever and wherever they can get the next supply for the state. Needless to say they, could have had the roof open if they could retract the roof on Sunday it was sunny and in the mid sixties in downtown Atlanta for the ball game and not a drop in the sky. Pearl Allison Lo covers 49ers football and co-hosts Sportstalk on 1690 KFSG Sacramento. |
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