The Falcons, as 11.5-point underdogs, shocked the NFL world Sunday.
Wide receiver Julio Jones caught a 5-yard touchdown with 2 seconds left to give the Falcons a 29-22 win over the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.
The Falcons overcame 11 penalties and an untimely fourth-quarter fumble to pull off the shocker. They needed a 10-play, 70-yard drive for the victory.
The 49ers, who are in the hunt for the NFC’s top playoff spot, dropped to 11-3. The Falcons’ season of despair and disappointment was boosted by the victory as they improved to 5-9.
Jones had 13 catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns to power the Falcons’ offense. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan completed 25 of 39 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns. He finished with a passer rating of 95.
San Francisco tight end George Kittle finished with 13 catches for 134 yards — 91 of them coming after the catch. San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo completed 22 of 24 passes for 200 yards and a score. He finished with a passer rating of 90.3.
Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell led the Falcons with 11 tackles.
With San Francisco leading 13-10 and the Falcons about to get the ball back, San Francisco’s Ross Dwelley knocked the ball away from returner Kenjon Barner. San Francisco’s Kyle Juszczyk recovered. Two plays later, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo tossed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Juszczyk.
The Falcons finished with 11 penalties for 98 yards and some of the untimely variety.
Defensive end Adrian Clayborn had a roughing the passer penalty on third-and-19 that gave the 49ers a first down on the first touchdown drive.
With the score 10-10, the Falcons’ Foye Oluokun recovered an onside kick to start the second half. But the Falcons were called for an illegal formation.
After forcing the punt, Barner broke loose for a 47-yard return, but safety Jamal Carter’s block in the back brought the back to the Falcons’ 8 yard line. It was essentially a 50-yard penalty. Instead of starting at 49ers’ 42, the Falcons started at their 8 yard line.
The ensuing drive was stalled by a delay of game penalty. The Falcons contended that the officials did not reset the play clock.
The Falcons struggled to sustain early momentum.
After three punts to start the game, two by the Falcons, the 49ers went on an epic 21-play touchdown drive that was capped by a 2-yard run by running back Matt Brieda. The 49ers converted four third-down situations and one fourth-down in the 88-yard drive that took 10:43 off the clock.
The Falcons leaned on wide receiver Jones to answer. Ryan completed four passes to Jones for 48 yards in the 11-play, 70-yard touchdown drive, including a 28-yarder and a 5-yard touchdown pass to tie the game, 7-7.
It was Jones’ first touchdown catch in 10 games (since Week 3 against the Colts).
The Falcons’ defense held and forced a punt.
The offense went on the move, working the ball down to San Francisco’s 25. Ryan tossed a potential touchdown pass to Jones in the end zone. The Falcons challenged the apparent pass interference.
The replay board at the stadium clearly showed 49ers cornerback Emmanuel Moseley grabbing Jones’ jersey, but the refs couldn’t overturn the incomplete pass call by rule.
The Falcons had to settle for 43-yard field goal to take a 10-7 lead.
The 49ers, who got a 37-yard run from former Falcons running back Tevin Coleman, drove down to the Falcons’ 4 and had to settle for a 23-yard field goal from Robbie Gould to tie up the game.
Gould made a 46-yard field in the third quarter to put the 49ers up, 13-10.
The Falcons added a 1-yard touchdown run by Qadree Ollison with 5:15 to play to take a 19-17 lead.
The Falcons’ defense needed one more stop, but couldn’t get it as the 49ers drove down the field. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel had a 29-yard reception in the drive.
Gould added a 43-yard field goal with 1:48 left to play.
Ryan and Jones went to work and came up with the winning play.
Atlanta’s Olamide Zaccheaus scooped a fumble on a 49ers desperation razzle-dazzle kickoff return to score the final points.
This article was written by D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution