Geoff JohnsonThe San Francisco 49ers look for their first Super Bowl appearance since 1995 and the Atlanta Falcons for the second overall, and first since 1998. Both will clash at Georgia Dome this Sunday 3 PM ET.
“You’re already amped up for the game, but guys get a little more amped up for championship games,” San Francisco defensive lineman Ray McDonald told the team’s official website. “When you’re growing up, these are the kind of games you want to be in.”
The Falcons know that stopping Colin Kaepernick abilities to run and pass could define the game early. “These young guys, they are athletic, and they can run,” defensive coordinator Mike Nolan said. “That creates a whole new set of problems.”
“It doesn’t change the competitive nature of the game and what we’re doing,” Nolan added.
San Francisco plans to run the ball not only with their quarterback, but also with their running back Frank Gore, who’s probably the best of the four remaining.
“We all know it’s hard to get back to this point, but we did it,” said running back Frank Gore. “We also know how that feeling was when we didn’t get the job done last year. We’ll try our best to not get that feeling again.”
The 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh is the fourth coach to reach the AFC or NFC Championship Game in each of his first two seasons as an NFL head coach; he will bring lots of pressure ti Matt Ryan and the Falcons offense.
“Our goal is not to win one playoff game,” said Matt Ryan. “Our goals are still in front of us. We still have two more games to go. That’s the mindset I have. That’s the mindset this team has.”
Atlanta is the biggest home underdog in a championship game since the 1979 season; they are four point dogs.
