Spokesman-Review
National Football League
San Francisco 34, Atlanta 24
When: 8:40 PM ET, Monday, December 23, 2013
Where: Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California
Temperature: 60°
Head Official: Walt Coleman
Attendance: 69732

49ers 34, Falcons 24: Colin Kaepernick passed for one score and ran for another and NaVorro Bowman took an interception 89 yards for a touchdown with 1:10 left to seal San Francisco's win in what could have been the final game at Candlestick Park.

Kaepernick went 13-of-21 for 197 yards and added 51 yards on six carries for the 49ers (11-4), who clinched a playoff spot with their fifth straight win. Frank Gore rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown, Michael Crabtree caught five passes for 102 yards and Anquan Boldin added six catches for 72 yards and a score for San Francisco.

Matt Ryan finished 37-of-48 for 348 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and Roddy White caught 12 passes for 141 yards and a score for the Falcons (4-11). Tony Gonzalez also had a touchdown grab and Steven Jackson rushed for 53 yards and a score.

Atlanta made an unlikely rally in the fourth quarter as Ryan hit Gonzalez for a 2-yard TD to pull within 27-24 then recovered an onside kick just before the two-minute warning. But Ryan's pass for Harry Douglas was broken up and Bowman snagged the deflection and raced up the right sideline.

The Falcons led 10-3 at halftime on the strength of Jackson's 2-yard touchdown run and Matt Bryant's 35-yard field goal, but San Francisco's offense came to life in the second half. The 49ers scored three touchdowns and a field goal on their four offensive possessions after the break.

GAME NOTEBOOK: San Francisco can win the NFC West and earn a first-round bye with a win at Arizona and a Seattle loss against St. Louis next week. … The 49ers improved to 12-0 when Kaepernick starts and has a rating of 100 or better. … The Falcons dropped to 6-1 in games played on the West Coast under coach Mike Smith.

Top Game Performances
Rushing
Atlanta   San Francisco
Steven Jackson Player Frank Gore
16 Attempts 21
53 Yards 97
3.3 Avg Yards 4.6
1 Touchdowns 1
9 Long 17
Receiving
Atlanta   San Francisco
Roddy White Player Michael Crabtree
12 Receptions 5
141 Yards 102
11.8 Avg Yards 20.4
1 Touchdowns 0
39 Long 47
Team Stats Summary
 
  Yards Scoring Defense
Team Tot Rus Pas TD FG INT Sck FF
Atlanta 402 61 341 3 1 0 3.0 0
San Francisco 379 199 180 4 2 2 1.0 0
Upcoming Games
  • San Francisco will play their next game on the road against Arizona. The 49ers have a W/L % of .818 after a win and .500 after a loss.
  • Atlanta will play their next game at home against Carolina. The Falcons have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .364 after a loss.