SAN FRANCISCO (Nov. 19, 2000) — Believe it or not, the San Francisco 49ers are winning with defense.
Rookie cornerback Jason Webster returned an interception 70 yards for the game's only touchdown as the 49ers' rapidly improving young defenders dominated Atlanta and beat the Falcons 16-6 Sunday.

Charlie Garner had 135 total yards, and Wade Richey emerged from a lengthy slump to kick three field goals, but the 49ers struggled to move the ball and had 85 yards in penalties.

For the second straight week, San Francisco (4-8) got a spirited, exciting performance from its league-worst defense, which sacked Chris Chandler four times and held Atlanta to 211 total yards.

The 49ers, who beat Kansas City 21-7 last week, held consecutive opponents under 10 points for the first time since the third and fourth weeks of the 1997 season. By contrast, eight of San Francisco's first 10 opponents this year scored at least 30 points.

Atlanta (3-9) suffered its third straight loss and eighth in the last nine games.

The Falcons, who beat San Francisco 36-28 in Week 1, haven't won on Candlestick Point since 1991. Jamal Anderson was held to 76 yards rushing, and Chandler was blanketed by a heavy pass rush.

Trailing 6-3, the Falcons got a break midway through the third quarter when Gerald McBurrows recovered Tai Streets' fumble at the 49ers 25. On third down, Chandler passed up two open receivers across the middle and tried to throw a screen pass to Anderson.

Webster intercepted it, broke Anderson's tackle and ran 70 yards for his first career TD, pumping his fist four times in the end zone before being mobbed by his teammates.

Webster and fellow rookie Ahmed Plummer have taken criticism as the starting cornerbacks in the league's worst pass defense, but both have improved as the season progressed.

With Terrell Owens out of action with turf toe, the 49ers had a poor offensive game. Jeff Garcia made no big mistakes and finished 16-of-31 for 210 yards, while Garner had 59 yards rushing and 76 yards receiving, but never got San Francisco into the end zone.

Richey, who had made just two of his last six field-goal attempts entering the game, was perfect from 32, 30 and 26 yards.

Last week, he guaranteed reporters he wouldn't miss another kick all season.
Both teams played without key veteran offensive lineman. Falcons offensive tackle Bob Whitfield's franchise-record streak of 123 consecutive starts ended when he was deactivated with a strained nerve in his right arm, while the 49ers lost Ray Brown to a sprained knee shortly after halftime.

Falcons defensive end Brady Smith was ejected after the final play of the third quarter when he knocked 49ers tackle Matt Willig to the ground with a blow to the head after a play. The penalty set up Richey's third field goal.