NFL game summary for 10/09/1977:
Alfred Jenkins caught a deflected Scott Hunter pass early in the third quarter for the game's lone touchdown as the Falcons picked up their third victory and took over the top spot in the NFC West. Edgar Fields set up the score when he partially blocked a Tom Wittum punt on the previous play and Billy Ryckman recovered the loose ball at the San Francisco 39. Atlanta's defense limited the 49ers to a total of 188 yards offense. They turned the San Franciscans back the only time they crossed the 50 yard line in the second half when Rolland Lawrence intercepted a Scott Bull pass and returned it 29 yards to the Atlanta 47 with 1:34 left in the game.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 138.0 (14) | 162.0 (8) | 300.0 (11) | 3 |
| DEFENSE | 89.7 (4) | 109.0 (6) | 198.7 (2) | 10 | |
 | OFFENSE | 97.3 (23) | 106.7 (26) | 204.0 (27) | 6 |
| DEFENSE | 177.7 (25) | 127.0 (10) | 304.7 (19) | 1 |
Line: 49ers by 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons (3-1-0) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| San Francisco 49ers (0-4-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
( 7- 0) ATL Alfred Jenkins 39 yard pass from Scott Hunter (Nick Mike-Mayer kick)
ATL SF
First Downs: 11 12
Rushes-yards: 44-113 39-153
Yards/rush: 2.6 3.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 9-14-137-0 5-18-70-1
Sacked-yards: 1-7 4-35
Net pass yards: 130 35
Net yards/pass: 8.7 1.6
Total net yards: 243 188
Total plays: 59 (74% run) 61 (63% run)
Yards/play: 4.1 3.1
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 3-0
Turnovers: 0 1
Penalties-yards: 14-110 7-64
Attendance: 38,009
Passing:
ATL: Scott Hunter, 9 of 14 for 137 yards and 1 TD SF: Scott Bull, 3 of 14 for 43 yards (1 int); Jim Plunkett, 2 of 4 for 27 yards
Rushing:
ATL: Haskel Stanback, 22 for 56 yards; Monroe Eley, 8 for 32 yards; Mike Esposito, 8 for 16 yards; Scott Hunter, 5 for 6 yards; Wallace Francis, 1 for 3 yards SF: Bob Ferrell, 10 for 52 yards; Delvin Williams, 10 for 45 yards; Paul Hofer, 9 for 33 yards; Scott Bull, 4 for 13 yards; Wilbur Jackson, 4 for 7 yards; Jim Plunkett, 1 for 3 yards; Kenny Harrison, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Wallace Francis, 3 for 40 yards; Alfred Jenkins, 2 for 59 yards and 1 TD; Haskel Stanback, 2 for 25 yards; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 8 yards; Monroe Eley, 1 for 5 yards SF: Paul Seal, 2 for 30 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 23 yards; Tom Mitchell, 1 for 13 yards; Wilbur Jackson, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Karl Farmer, 1 for 14 yards SF: Paul Hofer, 1 for 15 yards; Bob Ferrell, 1 for 6 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 8 for 15 yards; Billy Ryckman, 1 for 0 yards SF: Tony Leonard, 2 for 14 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 1 for 29 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 8 for 306 yards SF: Tom Wittum, 9 for 314 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Nick Mike-Mayer, 0/1
ATL: Scott Hunter, 9 of 14 for 137 yards and 1 TD SF: Scott Bull, 3 of 14 for 43 yards (1 int); Jim Plunkett, 2 of 4 for 27 yards
Rushing:
ATL: Haskel Stanback, 22 for 56 yards; Monroe Eley, 8 for 32 yards; Mike Esposito, 8 for 16 yards; Scott Hunter, 5 for 6 yards; Wallace Francis, 1 for 3 yards SF: Bob Ferrell, 10 for 52 yards; Delvin Williams, 10 for 45 yards; Paul Hofer, 9 for 33 yards; Scott Bull, 4 for 13 yards; Wilbur Jackson, 4 for 7 yards; Jim Plunkett, 1 for 3 yards; Kenny Harrison, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Wallace Francis, 3 for 40 yards; Alfred Jenkins, 2 for 59 yards and 1 TD; Haskel Stanback, 2 for 25 yards; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 8 yards; Monroe Eley, 1 for 5 yards SF: Paul Seal, 2 for 30 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 23 yards; Tom Mitchell, 1 for 13 yards; Wilbur Jackson, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Karl Farmer, 1 for 14 yards SF: Paul Hofer, 1 for 15 yards; Bob Ferrell, 1 for 6 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 8 for 15 yards; Billy Ryckman, 1 for 0 yards SF: Tony Leonard, 2 for 14 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 1 for 29 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 8 for 306 yards SF: Tom Wittum, 9 for 314 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Nick Mike-Mayer, 0/1