The Atlanta Falcons succeeded in upsetting the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints last Sunday, something the San Francisco 49ers were unable to pull off a week earlier.
As a result, the Falcons and 49ers are headed in different directions as they prepare to square off Sunday at the Georgia Dome.
The Falcons (2-1) have dreams of an NFC South title after last week's 27-24 overtime win at New Orleans, and they can thank Saints kicker Garrett Hartley for that. Hartley missed a 29-yard field goal attempt in overtime, setting up Matt Bryant's 46-yard kick to win it.
The 49ers (0-3) have put their thoughts of an NFC West crown on hold and are simply searching for their first win. They nearly got it two weeks ago against the Saints, losing 25-22 at home on Monday night, but the progress shown in that game was wiped out by a 31-10 loss to Kansas City last week.
Now San Francisco is in transition, as offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye was fired Monday and replaced with quarterbacks coach Mike Johnson. The 49ers rank 20th with 310.3 total yards per game, but they're 31st in scoring (12.7 points per game) in large part because they've committed seven turnovers.
Running back Frank Gore has been the most consistent performer on San Francisco's offense. Gore has compiled 396 total yards and is the team's leading rusher (193 yards, 1 TD) and leading receiver (22 catches, 203 yards, 1 TD). Gore had nine catches for a career-high 102 yards last week against the Chiefs.
Things haven't been much better on defense for the 49ers, who are tied for last in the NFL in scoring defense, allowing 29 points per game.
Now they have to face a Falcons offense that has hit its stride the past two weeks after struggling in a season-opening 15-9 overtime loss to the Steelers.
The Falcons' depth in the backfield has paid dividends, as backup Jason Snelling earned NFC offensive player of the week honors two weeks ago in relief of starter Michael Turner, who suffered a groin injury in the first quarter.
Despite missing three quarters of that game, Turner ranks third in the NFC with 231 rushing yards. He returned last week to rush for 114 yards and a touchdown. Turner ran for 97 yards and three touchdowns in the last meeting with San Francisco, helping the Falcons to a 45-10 victory.
But Atlanta has been anything but one-dimensional.
Quarterback Matt Ryan has posted ratings of 117.3 and 108.7 the past two weeks, throwing five touchdowns and no interceptions over that span. Ryan passed for a career-high 329 passing yards in his only start against San Francisco.
Ryan is 14-1 as a starter at home in his career.
Falcons receiver Roddy White is tied for the NFC lead with 25 receptions for 258 yards and two touchdowns. In his last game against the 49ers, White had a career-high 210 receiving yards and two touchdowns, including a 90-yard score.
Ryan finally got tight end Tony Gonzalez more involved in the passing game last week, hitting him eight times for 110 yards and a touchdown. Gonzalez had only five catches for 54 yards through the first two games.
The Falcons have won the past three meetings between the teams.