Vin+ 3,121 Posted January 17, 2013 Back in the NFC championship game, the San Francisco 49ers are confident they can take that next step this year behind multi-threat quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The top-seeded Atlanta Falcons look at their first playoff victory under coach Mike Smith as nothing more than clearing the first hurdle on the way to achieving the ultimate goal. The conference's top two teams meet Sunday at the Georgia Dome with a berth in Super Bowl XLVII on the line. "You're already amped up for the game, but guys get a little more amped up for championship games," San Francisco defensive lineman Ray McDonald told the team's official website. "When you're growing up, these are the kind of games you want to be in." It's no great surprise Atlanta (14-3) and San Francisco (12-4-1) have reached this point as both were among the favorites to represent the NFC in New Orleans on Feb. 3. The Falcons cruised to the South title while securing the conference's best record for the second time in three seasons. Second-seeded San Francisco had to wait until Week 17 to clinch the NFC West, but they're back in the title game after suffering a mistake-filled 20-17 overtime loss to New York last season. This postseason, coach Jim Harbaugh has the versatile Kaepernick under center instead of Alex Smith, who threw five touchdowns without an interception in last season's playoffs and was one of the league's highest-rated passers until suffering a concussion in Week 10. Kaepernick has a 98.7 passer rating while going 6-2 as a starter since taking over, and his overall performance in last Saturday's 45-31 divisional round victory over Green Bay seemingly makes San Francisco a more dangerous opponent than it was a year ago. The second-year pro rushed for a quarterback playoff-record 181 yards with a pair of touchdowns and overcame an early interception returned for a TD by throwing for 263 with two scores. "It feels good," Kaepernick said. "We're one step closer to where we want to be. I feel like I had a lot to prove. A lot of people doubted my ability to lead this team." The burden of trying to stop Kaepernick falls on the shoulders of Atlanta defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, who went 18-37 as 49ers head coach before being fired in the middle of the 2008 season. "It doesn't change the competitive nature of the game and what we're doing," Nolan said of the reunion, his first with San Francisco. Versatile quarterbacks have given the Falcons trouble this season. Carolina's Cam Newton threw for 502 yards with four TDs and no picks while rushing for 202 and two scores in two games against them in 2012. In last Sunday's 30-28 win over Seattle, Seahawks rookie Russell Wilson passed for 385 yards with two TDs and an INT while running for 60 and a score on seven carries. "These young guys, they are athletic and they can run," Nolan said. "That creates a whole new set of problems." Atlanta surrendered 5.90 yards per play this season - 29th in the league - and allowed the Seahawks to average 7.44 in the divisional round. Backed by Kaepernick and one of the NFL's best defenses, the 49ers are eager for the chance to avenge last season's championships game loss and return to the Super Bowl for the first time since beating San Diego 18 years ago. "We all know it's hard to get back to this point, but we did it," said running back Frank Gore, who rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries against the Packers. "We also know how that feeling was when we didn't get the job done last year. We'll try our best to not get that feeling again." That won't be easy considering the 49ers' postseason road woes. They'll try Sunday to snap a five-game road playoff skid that dates to a 28-3 conference title game win at Chicago on Jan. 8, 1989 - one of only two postseason victories away from home in franchise history. "It's a big task," said Harbaugh, who was a member of that Bears team that lost to San Francisco. "(The Falcons) had a great season. They're solid in every regard." Atlanta, which blew leads of 20-0 and 27-7 against Seattle before Matt Bryant kicked a game-winning 49-yard field goal with eight seconds left, does not expect anything to come easy again Sunday. "We were very fortunate to make the plays there at the end of the game and get the win," Smith said. "It means we have an opportunity to play again. I think our guys understand the challenge this week is going to be big." With the chance to reach their first Super Bowl since losing 34-19 to Denver at the end of the 1998 season, the Falcons are not satisfied with simply reaching this point. "Our goal is not to win one playoff game," said Matt Ryan, who was 24 of 35 for 250 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions against the Seahawks. "Our goals are still in front of us. We still have two more games to go. That's the mindset I have. That's the mindset this team has." Though the Falcons possess one of the game's top passing offenses behind Ryan, Roddy White, Julio Jones and future Hall-of-Famer Tony Gonzalez, it was a running game that averaged 87.3 yards - 29th during the regular season - that played a key role last weekend. Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers combined to run 24 times for all but five of Atlanta's season-high 167 yards. Atlanta could have a hard time duplicating that success against a 49ers defense that ranked fourth in the NFL by allowing an average of 94.2 yards on the ground during the regular season. The Falcons have won four in a row against the 49ers, most recently 16-14 in 2010. Atlanta also won the teams' only previous playoff meeting, 20-18 at home Jan. 9, 1999. Ryan has completed 64.0 percent of his passes for 602 yards with three TDs and three INTs while going 2-0 against the 49ers. White has 18 receptions for 369 yards and two scores in three career victories against them. Copyright 2013 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted January 18, 2013 Haven't decided who I am going with in this one yet. This is gonna be one hell of a game though... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piggly Wiggly 960 Posted January 18, 2013 I wouldn't be shocked if Atlanta won, but I'm rolling with the Niners. 23-17, Niners. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos 2,847 Posted January 18, 2013 (edited) I saw what Cam Newton did to the Falcons defense both games. Kaepernick is going to rip them apart. 30 20 Edited January 18, 2013 by Thanatos19 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glanvilles Grits 142 Posted January 20, 2013 It was on two long runs mostly. Take those away and that's around 90 yards you can strip away. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted January 20, 2013 Dunno if yo noticed, but Kaep is fully capable of busting out the long runs. I realize they don't happen all the time, and I think the Falcons will win this game... But if you give him the space, he will take advantage. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted January 20, 2013 4.5 point home underdogs? Yeah, Falcons win. If the Falcons pound us (like they did Seattle) on the ground it's going to be a long day. 27 34 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted January 20, 2013 I'm going with the 49ers here. Wouldn't surprise me at all if the Falcons won though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glanvilles Grits 142 Posted January 20, 2013 Swag 100 baby! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted January 20, 2013 27 24 Akers hits a GW FG as time expires Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted January 20, 2013 Niners D hasn't been as great as we have come to expect, so I have to go with Atlanta. Although, if Matt Ryan wants to lose like he obviously wanted to last week, the Niners will capitalize and run away with this thing. Because of that, I think Kaep is going to have to do much of what he did last week. He has to be VERY good running the ball. He has to be VERY good throwing the ball. He doesn't need the same totals, but he needs to be as effective and as efficient. 24-21 Atlanta. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted January 20, 2013 Michael Crabtree is active and will start on Sunday versus the Falcons in the NFC Championship game. Crabtree was questioned by San Francisco Police late this week in his connection to an alleged sexual assault last weekend, but he traveled with the team to Atlanta and was never in serious doubt to miss the game. The 49ers inactives: QB Scott Tolzien, LB Cam Johnson, S Trenton Robinson, RB Jewel Hampton, DT Tony Jerod-Eddie, OG Joe Looney, and DT Ian Williams. John Abraham (ankle) is active for Sunday's NFC Championship game versus the 49ers. Abraham will look to play more than the 15 snaps he played in last week's win over the Seahawks after "re-tweaking" the ankle. The Falcons declared QB Dominique Davis, OG Phillipkeith Manley, OG Harland Gunn, OT Lamar Holmes, DE Lawrence Sidbury, WR Tim Toone, and DT Travian Robertson inactive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted January 20, 2013 lol at the 49ers. The Falcons coming out hot once again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted January 20, 2013 If you are content making it to the NFCCG, you won't be getting any further. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted January 20, 2013 Wow. I don't believe it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shotgun 442 Posted January 20, 2013 What an awesome ending to the game. It looked like it might end up being a blow out in the first quarter but the 49ers put on a good show. Congratulations to all the 49ers fans, especially if you didn't experience their Superbowl wins in the 80's/90's. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch 874 Posted January 20, 2013 That was a great game. A very fun watch. Congrats to the 49ers. A well deserved win. The Falcons now have a new identity. They are no longer known for being one and done. They are now known for only playing 30 minutes of football. Disappear in the 2nd half. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted January 20, 2013 Falcons came out to hot a start, but the 49ers really settled down and we're able to come back and make it a game. Congrats 49ers fans. I still feel bad for Gonzo though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted January 20, 2013 Matt Ryan in the 2nd half is as existent as Manti Te'o's GF 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos 2,847 Posted January 20, 2013 That was awesome. Thank you San Francisco, and so long Dirty Birds. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piggly Wiggly 960 Posted January 20, 2013 Suddenly, Bware wants everyone to forget about his prediction. Great game. 'Grats 49er fans. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted January 20, 2013 Everyone was saying how 1 good half wouldn't cut it again for the Falcons. And they were right. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted January 20, 2013 27 24 Akers hits a GW FG as time expires I was off by 1 point. Was completely wrong with Akers though. He shanked a 38 yarder. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
