49ers at Atlanta Falcons

Jeff Garcia threw three touchdown passes and Terrell Owens caught nine for 183 yards and three touchdowns and the 49ers crushed the Atlanta Falcons 37-31 at Candlestick Park. Garcia finished 27-of-41 for 332. Hearst ran for 28 with a touchdown. Garcia ran for 70 with a touchdown. The defense intercepted Chris Chandler. The 49ers improved to 4-0.[1][2][3]

Terrell Owens caught nine passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns Sunday afternoon at Candlestick. The 49ers' WR1, in his career-best receiving day of the year so far, produced the kind of statement performance the year's identity tape has been building toward. The 49ers crushed the Atlanta Falcons 37-31.

Jeff Garcia was 27-of-41 for 332 with the three touchdowns to Owens. Garcia added a rushing touchdown with 70 yards on the ground. Hearst ran for 28 with a touchdown. Chris Chandler threw for 268 with two touchdowns. Maurice Smith ran for 50 with a touchdown. The defense produced an interception of Chandler.

4-0. The kind of home rematch where Terrell Owens's three-touchdown game, the kind of WR1 dominance the year's identity tape has been promising, produced the year's signature performance. The Chicago Bears in Week 7. The kind of October where the 49ers' competitive identity, at 4-0 entering the bye, has the kind of unbeaten season arc the playoff race requires.

49ers 37, Falcons 31. Margin: +6. Four-game record: 4-0, +21 differential.

* Jeff Garcia: 27-of-41 for 332, 3 TDs (Owens x3), 0 INTs.
* Jeff Garcia (rushing): 14 carries for 70, 1 TD.
* Garrison Hearst: 14 carries for 28, 1 TD.
* Terrell Owens: 9 catches for 183, 3 TDs.
* Chris Chandler: 19-of-36 for 268, 2 TDs, 1 INT.
* Maurice Smith: 20 carries for 50, 1 TD.
* 49ers D: 1 INT of Chandler.
* 49ers 4-0 (heading into Week 6 bye); Falcons 1-3.

A 37-31 home rematch win over the Atlanta Falcons at Candlestick. Terrell Owens's three-touchdown receiving game. The 49ers improve to 4-0.

How it unfolded

The 49ers scored on their opening drive with a Garcia touchdown to Owens to make it 7-0. Atlanta answered with a Chandler touchdown to tie at 7-7. The 49ers added a Garcia rushing touchdown to push the lead to 14-7. Chandler added a second touchdown to tie at 14-14. The second quarter was Owens's second touchdown to make it 21-14. The Falcons added a touchdown to tie at 21-21 at halftime. The second half was a Garcia third touchdown to Owens to push the lead to 28-21. The Falcons added a touchdown drive to tie at 28-28. The 49ers added Hearst's short touchdown and a Wade Richey field goal to push the lead to 37-31. The defense closed it out.

The turning point

Terrell Owens's third touchdown of the day. With the score tied 28-28 and the year's identity tape on the verge of producing the kind of statement performance, Owens's third TD gave the 49ers the kind of two-score buffer the defense closed out.

By the numbers

Garcia 332 passing on 41 attempts with three TDs plus 70 rushing on 14 carries with a TD. Hearst 28 rushing on 14 carries with a TD. Owens 183 receiving on 9 catches with three TDs. Chandler 268 on 36 attempts with two TDs and an INT. Maurice Smith 50 rushing with a TD.

Personnel watch

Terrell Owens's three-touchdown receiving day, the kind of WR1 dominance the year's identity tape has been promising. Jeff Garcia's three-touchdown passing day plus a rushing touchdown. Garrison Hearst's productive rushing. The defense's interception of Chandler. The kind of home rematch where the year's identity tape produced the year's signature offensive performance.

What it means

4-0 with the bye in Week 6. The kind of home rematch where Terrell Owens's three-touchdown game gave the year's identity tape the kind of WR1-dominant performance the playoff race requires. The Chicago Bears in Week 7 after the bye.