The Falcons head west to 3Com Park looking to end their losing ways at San Francisco as these NFC West rivals renew acquaintances once again.

Including playoffs, San Francisco still owns a 40-24-1 advantage in the series standings thanks partly to a dominating stretch which has seen them triumph in eight of the last 11 meetings (Falcons' 3 wins by a combined 15 points, 49ers' 8 wins by a combined 197 points) -- posting an imposing 23-7-1 mark vs. the Falcons dating back to 1984.

In fact, since being swept by the Falcons in 1991, the 49ers are 11-4 vs. Atlanta (including playoffs) -- scoring an astounding 528 points (35.2 PPG) in the 15 games (30 or more points in 11 of those games, 40 or more points 5 of those outings and 50 or more points in 2 of those games).

However, Atlanta prevailed in two of the teams' three overall encounters in 1998, including the clubs' first-ever postseason battle, as these combatants split their regular-season series for the first time since 1995. In Week 4 at 3Com Park, 49ers QB Steve Young threw for 387 yards and three touchdowns (1 INT), plus added 50 yards rushing as San Francisco bolted to a 31-7 halftime edge enroute to a 31-20 victory.

Seven weeks later at the Georgia Dome (Week 11), Falcons RB Jamal Anderson rushed for 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns and the Atlanta defense harassed Young (4 sacks) all afternoon as Dan Reeves' club raced to a 24-6 fourth-quarter edge and held on for a 31-19 triumph.

Eight weeks later in the 1998 NFC Divisional Playoffs at the Georgia Dome, Anderson rushed for 113 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Falcons jumped out to a 14-0 second-quarter advantage and held off the Niners, 20-18, as the Atlanta defense picked off Young three times on the afternoon.

The Falcons have lost seven straight at San Francisco dating back to 1992 and have been outscored a combined 288-115 in those seven contests (56-17, 37-30, 50-14, 41-10, 39-17, 34-7 and 31-20).

Numbers: In 26 games vs. the Falcons (including playoffs), 49ers WR Jerry Rice has totaled 161 receptions for 2,544 yards (15.8 avg.) and 26 touchdowns, has rushed nine times for 128 yards and three touchdowns, completed 2-of-4 passes for 55 yards and a touchdown (41 yards to WR J.J. Stokes at Atlanta in '95) and recovered a fumble for a score.

From 1988-93, Falcons QB Chris Chandler owned a combined 15-24 record as a starter with the Colts, Buccaneers and Cardinals, throwing 34 touchdown passes and 48 interceptions. From 1994-99 (including playoffs), Chandler is a combined 37-34 as a starter with the Rams, Oilers and Falcons, throwing 101 TD passes and 56 interceptions. The Falcons have recovered five opponent's fumbles in 12 games in '99, this after leading the NFL with 25 opponent's fumble recoveries in '98. They own a minus-12 turnover differential (15-27) in 12 games in '99, this after leading the NFL with a plus-20 turnover differential (44-24) in 16 games in '98. The Falcons have committed two or more turnovers in 8-of-12 contests in '99. They have totaled three or more sacks in 26 of their last 44 contests dating back to '97.

In their last eight games (0-8), the 49ers' offense has scored seven touchdowns, while their defensive unit has scored four touchdowns. The 49ers have allowed 40 or more points in 4-of-12 games in '99. They have committed two or more turnovers in three straight games.

Things to look for: A year ago, the Falcons and Niners combined for 26 wins and battled each other in the playoffs. Now, they square off twice in the next four weeks just hoping to avoid 10 losses this season. Both clubs' offenses showed some life last week and we could be in for a shootout, but look for both teams to revert back to earlier form, meaning the Atlanta or San Francisco defenses might have to score.

Etc.: The Falcons are 3-9, and with a loss can become only the second team to lose at least 10 games following a Super Bowl appearance. The only previous club was the 1990 Denver Broncos (coached by current Falcons' head coach Dan Reeves), who finished 5-11 in '90 after reaching Super Bowl XXIV the previous season.

The 49ers have lost eight straight games for the first time since 1980, when they dropped 8 straight games enroute to a 6-10 finish under since-departed head coach Bill Walsh. They are 3-9, and are guaranteed their first losing campaign since they finished 3-6 during the strike-shortened season of 1982, and their first losing season in a non-strike campaign since 1980.

Falcons PK Morten Andersen has scored at least 1 point in an NFL-record 250 straight games. The Falcons have lost three straight road games. FS Eugene Robinson (56) needs one interception to tie Bobby Boyd, Johnny Robinson, Mel Blount and Everson Walls (57) for 9th place on the NFL's all-time interception list.

The 49ers have lost four straight home games. They have not been shutout in an NFL-record 350 consecutive games. 49ers WR Jerry Rice has caught at least one pass in an NFL-record 205 straight games.