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GAME DAY PREVIEW Game time: 9:00pm ET San Francisco (4-11-0) at Atlanta (4-11-0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Records
But no one could fault the folks at ABC. After all, the Niners are the closest version to a sure thing in the NFL after 16 consecutive seasons of at least 10 wins and five Super Bowl titles. Except this time, the Niners collapsed after star quarterback Steve Young went down with a concussion in Week Four. The Atlanta Falcons were Super Bowl participants last season, but faltered after 1998 NFC rushing champion Jamal Anderson went down with a torn ACL in Week Two. Instead, this may turn out to be the final game for Jerry Rice, the NFL's most prolific receiver, as a 49er. After last week's 26-20 overtime loss to Washington, Rice said he would like to come back and help the team rebound from a dreadful year. "I'm still staying positive, but it's up to the organization," Rice said. "Whatever they choose to do, I'll go with, but hopefully I'll be back." Niners general manager Bill Walsh has indicated he may have to let Rice go due to salary cap considerations. No Super Bowl team has ever lost 12 games the following season. The Falcons can avoid that dubious distinction with a win against San Francisco. Atlanta has tied the 1990 Denver Broncos (5-11) for the most defeats by a Super Bowl club. Ironically, that Denver team was coached by current Falcons mentor Dan Reeves. The Falcons had a back go over 100 yards for the first time this season when Byron Hanspard gained 102 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries in Atlanta's 37-14 rout of Arizona last week. Charlie Garner ran for 107 yards and a touchdown and Fred Beasley added a pair of short scoring runs in San Francisco's 26-7 triumph over the Falcons on December 12. San Francisco leads the series, 41-24-1.
Records source: STATS, Inc. Copyright 1999 STATS, Inc. Commercial distribution without the express written consent of STATS is prohibited. | ALSO SEE NFL Scoreboard San Francisco Clubhouse Atlanta Clubhouse Monday preview: 49ers at Falcons
War Room preview: 49ers at Falcons
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