Falcons vs. 49ers 2013, Week 16: San Francisco closes out Candlestick with playoff clinching win

James Brady of Niners Nation is thrilled to come out of the game with win, despite some early adversity:

• NFL Mock Draft: The silver lining to your team’s misery

Bowman raced into the open field and toward the end zone, sending the crowd into a vintage Candlestick roar. The 49ers pulled away with a 34-24 win, clinched a playoff spot and made Candlestick Park’s final Monday Night Football game one of its best.

With one play, Bowman added to the list of memorable primetime MNF moments in San Francisco.

The NFL couldn’t have asked for a crazier setup for the final weekend of the regular season.

Playoff standings are not set in either conference, there’s a three-way tie for the final wild card spot in the AFC, and the final week of the NFC schedule will feature two play in games for division championships.

Candlestick Park is closing after a Monday Night Football win by the 49ers over the Falcons -- unless they host a playoff game -- which is a momentous event, causing San Franciscans to say goodbye to their dump.

And to properly say goodbye, they picked the world’s best group of individuals to do the deed: Boyz II Men.

Jim Harbaugh’s tried to explain his point to the ref through body language. He really did kind of an admirable job of it too.

His acting influence really is those scripted network gumshoe shows.

The Falcons were set up at the San Francisco 10-yard line but Ryan’s pass attempt bounced off the hands of Harry Douglas. Bowman was there to corral it, then raced 89 yards for a touchdown to seal the game.

The teams then went back and forth, each putting together long touchdown drives. San Francisco got the scores it needed to stay in front, but Atlanta never quit and continued to put the pressure on up until Bowman’s interception.

At 11-4, San Francisco still has an outside shot to catch Seattle in the NFC West. The 49ers need to beat Arizona next week and have St. Louis upset Seattle on the road. If both things happen, the 49ers would take the NFC West and clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC and home-field advantage. Seattle would drop to the No. 5 seed.

Arizona remains on the outside of the playoff picture. With San Francisco clinching a spot, the Cardinals need to beat the 49ers next week and have Tampa Bay beat New Orleans. If that occurs, Arizona would jump the Saints and New Orleans would miss the playoffs. If the Saints win or Arizona loses, the Cardinals will be eliminated. New Orleans would clinch a playoff spot with a win and could still win the NFC South if Carolina loses to Atlanta.

Things were starting to heat up in the Monday Night Football season finale between the 49ers and Falcons, the last ever regular season home game for San Francisco in their longtime stadium. The Falcons had closed the gap to 27-24 on a Tony Gonzalez touchdown, and a personal foul on the play allowed them to attempt an onside kick and recover. They were moving the ball needing just a field goal to tie, and then ...

WELP

Eddie DeBartolo drinks local brews in a garish sportcoat. Arthur blank nerdily pumps his fist in an equally garish sportcoat. And that’s why the NFL isn’t as fun as used to be.

Oakland has whatever you call the assortment of creatures in the Black Hole, while across the bay, San Francisco has … a menacing band of 49er frontiersmen?

Ryan and the Falcons ran a successful 2-minute drill to close the first half, coming away with a field goal to make it a 10-3 game.

There is plenty on the line for San Francisco. With a win, the 49ers would clinch a playoff spot and remain in contention for the NFC West title and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. If the 49ers lose, they will play Arizona next week in a win-or-go-home scenario for San Francisco.

Peters has been one of Atlanta’s top defensive players this season. He has four sacks and has been one of the few bright spots on the Falcons defensive line.

• NFL Mock Draft: The silver lining to your team’s misery

I’ve used the same bottle opener since I was a sophomore in college. It used to have the letters of my fraternity on it, but they have long since worn away. It takes me a little second, since I like to preserve the structural integrity of the cap, but its a skill I’ve mastered and mastered and mastered over the years, while other people often fiddle and flail when I hand them the opener.

Former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo needs to get himself a favorite bottle opener:

Here are the complete inactive lists for both teams.

TE Derek Carrier, LB Nick Moody, OG Ryan Seymour, DT Quinton Dial, OG Joe Looney, WR Mario Manningham, WR Jon Baldwin

Game Date/Time and Location: Monday, Dec. 23, 8:40 p.m. ET at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, Calif.

TV schedule and distribution map: ESPN; The506.com

For one, the 49ers are the only ones in the playoff picture, looking to clinch a spot this week. Atlanta is 4-10 on the season, and struggling at every turn. The Falcons have significant issues on both sides of the ball, and injuries have not been kind to them this year.

But it should still be a solid matchup. Let’s take a look at both teams below, starting with the home team:

• NFL Mock Draft: The silver lining to your team’s misery

• NFL Week 16: Scores, news and GIFs | Playoff picture | Draft order

The 49ers are averaging 24.93 points per game while allowing 16.29 points to opponents. The 49ers are 9-4-1 against the spread this season, while being just 4-3 at home. However, San Francisco is 6-8 with the over/under this season, while just having a 2-5 record at home.

The Falcons are scoring 22.07 points per game while surrendering 27.71 points per game to opponents. The Falcons are 5-9 against the spread and are 2-5 on the road with the line. The Falcons have a positive record with the over/under at 8-6, while going 3-4 on the road with total points.