The 49ers maintained their place atop the NFC West on Sunday night time with a prime-time 20-10 win at Levi’s Stadium over the visiting Atlanta Falcons.
The protection, taking part in with out injured captains Fred Warner (ankle) and Nick Bosa (knee), slowed down Bijan Robinson and the Falcons offense, and Christian McCaffrey led the crew in dashing (129 yards, two touchdowns) and receiving (seven catches, 72 yards).
Tatum Bethune assumed Warner’s position in the midst of the protection and led the 49ers with 10 tackles.
Mac Jones had a second consecutive muted recreation rather than the injured Brock Purdy, finishing 17-of-26 passes for 152 yards and a tipped interception. That was all nicely and good as a result of the protection bottled up Robinson (40 dashing yards) and the Falcons.
Right here’s what the 49ers needed to say after the win:
Kyle Shanahan
On the win:
I challenged the crew, saying I’d prefer to get 40 runs referred to as. However that’s not simply an offensive factor. As a way to try this, you bought to play protection like we did tonight. You bought to play particular groups like we did tonight.
On Chase Lucas:
You realize he needed that decide six however hell of a job, simply being prepared, dropping Stout late within the week, being prepared for his op.
On Tatum Bethune:
Tatum’s an actual good linebacker. We have been excited to get him out of faculty, we have been excited having him all final yr when he made the crew and we’ve been enthusiastic about this offseason. So that you by no means know when your op’s going to return. And sadly, his got here with a nasty damage to fred, however he’s been prepared for this second for some time and nobody doubted him in any respect.
On Warner making an look:
I liked having Fred right here. I noticed him on the scoreboard up there. It was cool. He received an enormous cheer from the gang. He had an enormous surgical procedure this week, and we noticed him on Saturday when he received again within the constructing.
On slowing Bijan Robinson:
He’s pretty much as good as there may be, everybody is aware of that. You want 11 guys swarming to the ball. That man will get an excessive amount of house, it’s simply laborious to the touch him. I assumed we restricted the house he received.
On Kittle’s blocking:
It at all times helps having Kittle again, pretty much as good of a blocker as there may be. Different guys have been doing good too, although, so to not take something away from them when it comes to the run recreation.
On McCaffrey’s key catch late:
He really tried to return out on the play. He by no means got here out various thimes within the recreation. We by no means despatched him again as soon as, apart from that play. I checked out him and stated “go back, as long as you’re not hurt.” And he went again. It was a hell of a play, hell of a throw.
On what he noticed because the o-line pulled McCaffrey for a rating:
I noticed a pile, and I noticed the pile shifting throughout the purpose line. So I used to be glad.
Tatum Bethune
On his confidence:
I’ve been taking part in in huge video games since a bit child, man. Solely factor I thought of was having Fred’s again and simply be certain I play to the usual, man.
On filling in for Warner:
I simply wish to be Tatum Bethune. Fred’s carried out a lot on this protection and made so many performs, and I wish to do the identical factor. I don’t wish to be Fred, however I additionally wish to to make performs the identical manner he does, and it’s inspiring. You don’t see linebackers try this across the league and he’s considered one of a form. I’m simply excited to have the ability to study from him for a yr and a half, and now it was my likelihood to study and have the ability to make these varieties of performs.
On his recreation:
I used to be emotional earlier than the sport. I even cried earlier than the sport as a result of I’m thanking God for this chance. It’s unlucky Fred received harm but it surely’s additionally alternative for me to have the ability to broaden and get higher whereas I can earlier than he will get again.
On the 49ers’ commonplace:
That violent soccer, run and hit. You realize, 49ers are taking part in, particularly video games like this, Sunday Evening Soccer, we present out. And I simply needed to ensure he had that very same vitality Fred brings to the protection and I suppose we confirmed it tonight.
On the Warner jerseys:
Shout out to Dee Winters. Two days earlier than, he informed me he received a shirt for me. He wore the 54 jersey and it was an awesome concept for me to put on the 48 rookie jersey.
On Warner:
He confirmed up in a gathering room, stunned us. When a man will get surgical procedure, they don’t present up for some time.
Christian McCaffrey
On his key catch late:
I used to be about to return off the sector after which got here again in. Referred to as that. Mac did an awesome ball, completely on time. … Yeah, I figured it was one thing. But it surely was an awesome name and a good time primarily based on the protection that they’ve been taking part in within the crimson zone.
On the o-line backups stepping up:
I don’t know what number of rotations we had right now, however all people who got here in and stepped up did such an awesome job.
On Connor Colby pulling him into the tip zone:
That’s an enormous pressure play for a man like that, who’s in there, busting his ass, man. And people are the type of performs which are simply character performs.
On the backups stepping in nicely:
It’s a testomony to the management. You’ve gotten guys like Fred or Bosa come out and you bought younger guys and guys who haven’t been in that place step up the way in which they’ve.
On Bethune’s recreation:
Whenever you sat behind the most effective linebackers to ever play, you get to see how he practices, how he prepares, how he research tape, that’s an enormous deal for a younger man to return in. And what a present to have.
On Bethune and Winters:
They run and hit, you realize, and that’s one thing that’s preached all through your entire protection.
George Kittle
On his message to Connor Colby:
I stated that was an awesome job and we’re going to get just a bit bit higher each single day. And that I anticipate to see him at our physique upkeep on Mondays and Tuesdays as a result of he doesn’t kknow learn how to maintain his physique but as knowledgeable athlete.
On Colby serving to McCaffrey rating:
Pulled him in there, didn’t he? Implausible. That’s Iowa man. Find it irresistible.
On the run recreation and his blocking:
My purpose this week was CMC NFC participant of the week. If I really referred to as that, that is likely to be the perfect guess of all time. However I believe 200 yards and two touchdowns has a shot for it.
On the defensive tradition of the crew:
The protection was a lot enjoyable to observe right now as a result of they have been simply flying round. … In the event you don’t play protection like that, you type of stand out like a sore thumb.
On returning to the sector:
I had a lot enjoyable taking part in soccer. It’s Sunday Evening Soccer in Levi’s Stadium. I principally informed the crew. I used to be like “If you don’t have fun tonight, then you don’t have a pulse and you shouldn’t be in this locker room.”
On his zero-catch efficiency:
I assumed with the sport plan, primarily based on the walkthrough, I assumed I used to be going to have 150 yards and two touchdowns (laughs). So sorry, fantasy coaches and anyone that guess on me, my unhealthy. Blame Kyle Shanahan, not me. … I might like to get the soccer. I really like catching the ball. I really like hitting individuals. I really like operating in open house. however like I stated, if different guys are profiting from the chance and so they’re profitable their one-on-ones, I’ll take it.
On Fred Warner:
He’s the aura-farming king (laughs). How about Fred Warner being proven on the scoreboard and we nearly needed to go on a silent depend as a result of we couldn’t hear a play name. How egocentric of Fred Warner, goodness gracious.
On giving a crew speech earlier than his return recreation:
I don’t wish to give the speech each single time. We’ve loads of leaders on this crew. We’ve loads of voices on this crew and I’ll communicate after I have to however now we have loads of voices on the crew that must be heard and that may encourage individuals.
Mac Jones
On George Kittle:
George had an awesome influence within the run recreation. Clearly, wish to get him some extra footballs right here, however we’ll get that going.
On backup middle Matt Hennessy:
It was humorous, we have been speaking this week about revenge week this week as a result of he was in Atlanta after which certain sufficient, early within the recreation, he’s like “here we go.”
On Christian McCaffrey:
He positively owes me some cash (laughs). He fell down on these passes like that on the 2-yard line, so he needed to run them in, however he did an awesome job. He’s an superior, superior competitor
On his knee and indirect accidents:
I positively felt higher. nonetheless really feel like there’s some limitations to be trustworthy however I’m working via it.
On discovering success in his time spelling Purdy:
It means loads. I believe all people on this crew has had my again, Brock included, and simply been so enjoyable to work with Brock and everybody within the quarterbacks room. I’ve been lucky to have some wins right here, and now we have been lucky to have some wins.
On having enjoyable at apply:
It’s crucial I believe that’s why you play, proper? You play to have enjoyable and win, and when you are able to do each, it’s actually owesome. And even if you’re dropping, you continue to need to go on the market and benefit from the week of apply, benefit from the course of.
