Falcons wing past 49ers, 20-16

Atlanta defenders DeAngelo Hall (21) and Lawyer Milloy (36) go for an interception as San Francisco receiver Vernon Davis (85) gets turned the wrong way in the second half. Milloy intercepted the ball in the 20-16 Falcons win. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

The Falcons actually won another game, even though most of their fans didn't get to see it.

Warrick Dunn became the first Atlanta back to run for 100 yards this season, Ovie Mughelli had the first TD rushing of his career and the Falcons won a matchup between two of the league's worst teams, holding off the San Francisco 49ers 20-16 Sunday.

The game was blacked out locally the first time that's happened in Atlanta since 2001. The Georgia Dome was far from packed after 56 consecutive sellouts, the city clearly losing interest in a losing squad that no longer has Michael Vick to liven things up.

Dunn rushed for 100 yards on 27 carries, including a 9-yard touchdown. Mughelli, a fullback who essentially serves as another offensive lineman, scored on a 1-yard plunge with just his third carry of the season. Morten Andersen handled the rest of the scoring for the Falcons (2-6) with a couple of fourth-quarter field goals.


Falcons QB Joey Harrington (13) runs for a first down as he is pursued by San Francisco defenders Patrick Willis (52) and Derek Smith (50) in the fourth quarter. Atlanta won 20-16. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

San Francisco (2-6) lost its sixth in a row with another dismal offensive performance. Leading rusher Frank Gore (sore ankle) didn't play and Alex Smith, playing with a taped-up throwing shoulder, completed only 17 of 38 passes for 149 yards, with three interceptions.

(The Associated Press)