The San Francisco 49ers run defense has been awful this season, so it is fitting they set an ignominious franchise record. The 49ers entered Week 15 having given up 2,220 rushing yards. On Sunday, they gave up 248 yards and have now given up 2,448 yards on the season. Their previous season high was 2,365 yards back in 1978.
The 49ers also gave up 139 rushing yards to Falcons running back Devonta Freeman. He is the 11th opposing running back to surpass 100 yards rushing against the 49ers. Tevin Coleman added 58 yards and Terron Ward had 52 yards in the fourth quarter.
It is worth noting the 49ers defense suffered several losses that did not make the task of the Falcons running backs any easier. Gerald Hodges was a healthy scratch for what GM Trent Baalke described as a rules violation. Nick Bellore was lost in the first quarter to an elbow injury. And, Jimmie Ward was lost to a shoulder injury. The 49ers were going to get run over even with all three of them, but again, it did not make the task any easier.
The 49ers close out the season facing Todd Gurley and the Los Angeles Rams, and then Thomas Rawls and the Seattle Seahawks. They shut down Gurley in Week 1, and were run over by Christine Michael when they faced the Seahawks in Week 3. It’s safe to say the 49ers have time to put some serious distance on this record.