Niners Outlast Falcons To Advance To Super Bowl

Julio Jones's 20 yard touchdown catch, his second of the game, had pulled the Falcons to a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter, against the 49ers. That score looked to put the game out of reach as Falcons fans were going outrageous in the Georiga Dome. Following Julio Jones's touchdown, the 49ers were gonna change up there game plan on offense to erase the 17 point deficit. That's when Colin Kaepernick, Frank Gore, Vernon Davis took over the game. Instead of Kaepernick running for his life on the field, he stayed calm in the pocket and found his recievers, for good chunks of yardage. Kaepernick lead the Niners downfield leading to a 15 yard scamper by rookie RB LaMichael James. That TD had boosted ther Niners confidence as Colin Kapernick hooked up with TE Vernon Davis, on a 6 yard score, to pull within 3. Then Falcons QB Matt Ryan passed through the 49ers defense to put the Falcons back up 10, just before halftime. While the first half was all Atlanta, the second half would be a different story. Led by the legs of Frank Gore and their punishing defense, the 49ers knocked on the Falcons door 2 more times, to complete the comeback. RB Frank Gore's 5 yard touchdown run in the third quarter had pulled San Fransisco within 3 points. Then in the fourth, Gore 's 9 yard touchdown run put the 49ers up 28-24, and that's how it stayed. While the Falcons were so concerned about Kaepernick running the ball in the second half, they forgot about Frank Gore. Gore had pounded the Atlanta defense with 2 TD runs in the second half, which would put the 49ers up for good. Matt Ryan had killed the 49ers defense in the first half, throwing for 271 yards and three touchdown passes. In the second half, Ryan had killed 2 key Falcons drives, with an interception and losing a fumble, while throwing for 125 yards. Aldon Smith's sack and strip against Matt Ryan lead to the game winning touchdown. The Falcons did do a good job containing Colin Kaepernicks running ability, but couldn't cover a TE for the second straight game. Vernon Davis hauled in 5 passes for 106 yards and a TD. Despite the fact the Falcons offense had outgained the 49ers offense 477-373, the two second half turnovers were a killer. They never had a balanced attack on offense wither, which was one reason why the 49ers had a better job adjusting there first half blown coverages, to second half tight coverages. The Falcons did have one last chance, but ILB NaVarro Bouwman broke up Roddy White's pass for the upset. While Jim Harabugh will face his brother in the Super Bowl, Matt Ryan's playoff record has fell to 1-4, and the Falcons have again ended there season in disbelief.