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SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- San Francisco coach Steve Mariucci spent time reviewing films of the 49ers' two games against Atlanta this season and saw the best and worst of his team.

	Steve Mariucci says the 49ers played one of their worst games of the season in the loss at Atlanta.

"We didn't play very well there," Mariucci said Tuesday as the 49ers (13-4) began preparing for Saturday's divisional playoff at Atlanta (14-2). "I mean, maybe there was a game or two where we played worse than that. I don't know. Here, we played them extremely well. I mean, we were up on them 31-7."

The 49ers coasted to a 31-20 victory at San Francisco on Sept. 27, but the Falcons got the upper hand in the Nov. 15 rematch at the Georgia Dome, winning 31-19.

And in a way, the regular season split reflected the way San Francisco has played this season.

The 49ers haven't lost this year at home and advanced to the divisional playoff by beating Green Bay in thrilling fashion in Sunday's NFC wild-card game.

On the road, they were 0-4 against playoff teams this season. The 49ers haven't beaten a winning team on the road since a 25-15 decision at Pittsburgh on Dec. 15, 1996, and haven't won away from home in the postseason since a 28-3 victory at Chicago in the NFC Championship on Jan. 8, 1989.

"We've got to get over the emotional (Packers) win, which I think we have, and really turn the page and focus all our energies on Atlanta because this is a bigger game than last week, in a different environment, with more at stake," Mariucci said.

"So, we've got to be right. We've got to be better at handling that road environment, a hostile environment, and the only way I know how to do that is mature as a team."

San Francisco safety Tim McDonald said the 49ers used tough, emotional play to come back against Green Bay, and it's going to take a similar effort against the Falcons, who like the 49ers were unbeaten at home during the regular season.

"We've got to play with the same kind of emotion," McDonald said. "That's definitely a key for us. We have to make sure we take nothing for granted."

San Francisco defensive tackle Brentson Buckner said the Falcons have developed a winning attitude at home, and it showed the last time the teams met. Atlanta's victory snapped a five-game losing streak against San Francisco and came in front of the first sellout crowd at the Georgia Dome since 1995.

"They had that look in their eyes like, 'We're in our own backyard. We're going to do what it takes to win,' and they just kept doing it," Buckner said. "The more success they had, the more it built their confidence. They're on top of their game right now."

San Francisco will have to contend with another capacity crowd at the Georgia Dome on Saturday. To help get ready, the 49ers have installed huge speakers to blare music as they practice this week.

"I think the crowd will be geeked up," Atlanta safety Eugene Robinson. "For them, the 49ers have always been on top. Now that we have a chance to be on top, the fans are basking in the glory. The players are like, 'We have the monkey off our back.' But we don't get credit for winning the game early. We get credit for winning this game. This is the most important game we have. It's going to be an all-out war."