The San Francisco shockingly lost at home to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, and the game-winning score was only counted thanks to a big review.
The 49ers were leading 22-17 with 8 seconds left when Matt Ryan threw a pass into the end zone for Austin Hooper. The 5-yard play was initially ruled a touchdown catch that would have given them the lead. However, a replay review reversed the call and said it was an incomplete pass. That call was correct.
On the next play, replay was needed yet again.
Ryan threw for Julio Jones by the goal line with two seconds left. The call on the field was that Jones was short of the goal line. However, a replay review showed that Jones did break the plane of the goal line for a score, so the call was reversed to a touchdown.
JULIO CROSSES THE PLANE. THE @AtlantaFalcons WIN! @juliojones_11 #InBrotherhood pic.twitter.com/b7lzYrF4iY
— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2019
The touchdown put Atlanta up 23-22, and they missed the two-point conversion attempt.
As if that weren’t enough, San Francisco’s desperate play on the kick return resulted in a fumble that Atlanta recovered in the end zone for a touchdown to win 29-22.
The shocking loss was not what the 49ers wanted, but it’s not a problem as long as they take care of business moving forward. San Francisco still controls its own destiny due to head-to-head wins over the Packers and Saints. If the Niners win their next two games, they will still be the #1 seed in the NFC.
