The 49ers head to the Georgia Dome in position to sweep this always-interesting NFC West rivalry for the third time in 4 years.

Three weeks ago at 3Com Park, Atlanta totaled 105 yards of total offense while 49ers' RB Charlie Garner rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown as Steve Mariucci's team snapped an eight-game losing streak thanks to a 26-7 victory.

Including playoffs, San Francisco now owns a 41-24-1 advantage in the series standings thanks partly to a dominating stretch which has seen them triumph in 9 of the last 12 meetings (Falcons' 3 wins by a combined 15 points, 49ers' 9 wins by a combined 216 points) -- posting an imposing 24-7-1 mark vs. the Falcons dating back to 1984.

In fact, since being swept by the Falcons in 1991, 49ers are 12-4 vs. Atlanta (including playoffs) -- scoring an astounding 554 points (34.6 PPG) in the 16 games (30 or more points in 11 of those games, 40 or more points 5 of those outings and 50 or more points in 2 of those games).

As for the 49ers' last regular-season appearance at the Georgia Dome (Week 11 of '98), Falcons RB Jamal Anderson rushed for 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns and the Atlanta defense harassed Young (4 sacks) all afternoon as Dan Reeves' club raced to a 24-6 fourth-quarter edge and held on for a 31-19 triumph.

As for the Niners' last visit to the Georgia Dome, Anderson rushed for 113 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Falcons jumped out to a 14-0 second-quarter advantage and held off the Niners, 20-18, in the 1998 NFC Divisional Playoffs at the Georgia Dome as the Atlanta defense picked off Young 3 times on the afternoon.

Including playoffs, the 49ers are 4-4 lifetime at the Georgia Dome dating back to 1992.

Numbers: Including playoffs, the 49ers and Falcons have produced 1,010 points, an average of 53.2 points per contest, in the last 19 meetings dating back to the teams' second encounter in 1990. In 27 games vs. the Falcons (including playoffs), 49ers WR Jerry Rice has totaled 163 receptions for 2,561 yards (15.7 avg.) and 26 touchdowns, has rushed 9 times for 128 yards and three touchdowns, completed 2-of-4 passes for 55 yards and a touchdown (41 yards to WR J.J. Stokes at Atlanta in 95) and recovered a fumble for a score. The 49ers have committed two turnovers in four wins, 29 turnovers in 11 losses in '99. The 49ers have limited the opposition to fewer than 100 yards rushing in 3 straight games.

From 1988-93, Falcons QB Chris Chandler owned a combined 15-24 record as a starter with the Colts, Buccaneers and Cardinals, throwing 34 touchdown passes and 48 interceptions. From 1994-99 (including playoffs), Chandler is a combined 38-35 as a starter with the Rams, Oilers and Falcons, throwing 102 TD passes and 57 interceptions. Including playoffs, the Falcons are 25-17 with Chandler as the starter while Falcons' backup quarterbacks are 2-6 dating back to 97...Falcons own a minus-18 turnover differential (17-35) in 15 games in '99, this after leading the NFL with a plus-20 turnover differential (44-24) in 16 games in '98. The Falcons have recovered 5 opponent's fumble in 15 games in '99, this after leading the NFL with 25 opponent's fumble recoveries in '98. The Falcons have forced 11 turnovers in 4 wins, 6 turnovers in 11 losses in '99. They have committed 2 or more turnovers in 10-of-15 contests in '99.

Things to look for: The last time we saw the 49ers and Falcons in the Georgia Dome, Steve Mariucci's and Dan Reeves' teams were battling each other in the playoffs. Now both disappointing teams are just looking for their forgettable seasons to end as quickly as possible. Given the play of a pair of struggling defensive units, QBs Jeff Garcia and Chris Chandler should have little problem putting up big numbers.

Etc.: The 49ers are 4-11, their most losses in a season since finishing 2-14 in 1979 under since-departed head coach Bill Walsh, his first season with the team. The 49ers are making their third of 3 Monday night appearances this season (1-1 in 99) and are 34-19 lifetime on Monday Night Football (24-8 on Monday night since 1988), including 15-10 on the road. The Falcons are making their third of 3 Monday night appearances this season (0-2 in '99) and are just 5-17 lifetime on Monday Night Football, including just 4-8 at home. The Falcons have lost a record 10 straight games on Monday Night Football dating back to 1981 (outscored a combined 306-116 in those 10 contests. This marks the third time the 49ers and Falcons have collided on Monday Night Football and the first time since 1996, with San Francisco owning a 2-0 advantage in the previous encounters by a combined score of 75-10 (41-3 in 1992, 34-10 in 1996), both games at the Georgia Dome. The 49ers are playing in the final Monday night game of the season for the sixth time in the last 9 years (1991-99) and the eighth time in the history of the series (1970-99). The Falcons have played 4 Monday night games at the Georgia Dome and are 0-4, losing by a combined score of 161-47. In 37 Monday night appearances, 49ers WR Jerry Rice has caught 205 passes for 3,234 yards and 30 touchdowns, plus rushed for 2 touchdowns. With his appearance in this game, Rice will tie Dan Marino (38) for most games played on Monday Night Football. Rice has caught at least 1 pass in an NFL-record 208 straight games. The 49ers have lost five straight road games. They have not been shutout in an NFL-record 353 consecutive games. Including playoffs, the 49ers are 51-19 vs. NFC West foes since 1990 (2-5 in 99). Falcons PK Morten Andersen has scored at least 1 point in an NFL-record 253 straight games. Falcons FS Eugene Robinson (56) needs 1 interception to tie Bobby Boyd, Johnny Robinson, Mel Blount and Everson Walls (57) for 9th place on the NFL's all-time interception list.