49ers vs Falcons: Playoff berth there for the taking

The San Francisco 49ers host the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football in Week 16. The 49ers are 10-4 and look to close out Candlestick Park with a win and a playoff berth. The 49ers can clinch a spot in the postseason with a win. Furthermore, a win moves them a game up on the Saints for the No. 5 seed, and a game back of the Seahawks in the NFC West. The Falcons are 4-10, and even with two wins in three games, they remain in the draft pick sweepstakes.

The 49ers are 14-point favorites. They covered against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, although that final score was a bit deceiving. The Bucs cut the game to a six-point deficit before a ten point swing put it out of reach. The 49ers dominated time of possession, but they got tripped up by the Bucs hurry-up offense. We'll see if the Falcons bust out some hurry up.

This will be your first quarter game thread, and we'll be back with a new thread each quarter. We'll wrap things up with a recap thread.

Site Decorum: It's off for game threads. No personal attacks, but swearing is allowed (try not to go overboard).

Date: December 23, 2013
Time: 5:40 p.m. PT
Location: Bill Walsh Field @ Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA
Odds Shark Spread: 49ers -14
Weather: 56 degrees, N 3 mph
TV Broadcast: ESPN - Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters
Radio: 107.7 The Bone, 810 KGO - Ted Robinson, Eric Davis
Westwood One: Kevin Harlan, Dan Fouts, Tim Ryan
Spanish Radio: KTRB 860 - Erwin Higueros, Jesus Zarate
Falcons Coverage: The Falcoholic

GO NINERS!