The Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers will renew a formerly bitter rivalry from the days of the NFC West, when they were in the same division prior to re-alignment in 2002. As a result of being matched in the same division from 1967-2001, Atlanta and San Fran have met a lot in their respective histories, with the Niners owning a 48-32-1 advantage in head-to-head meetings. It’s fitting that Atlanta showcase the red helmets for this game — the Niners are an opponent the Birds faced as much as anyone else during that era.
After winning three straight division titles and then watching the Las Angeles Rams own the West in the ‘70s with seven consecutive titles, the Niners absolutely owned the division throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, winning it a record 13 times between 1981-1997.