This matchup really depends on the health of Garrison Hearst. He hasn't played well on the artificial surface, averaging only three yards per carry with no touchdowns, but he's been a great player for the 49ers this season. He probably has been their MVP. But I don't how healthy he is. On the turf at the Georgia Dome, he could re-aggravate that hamstring. The Falcons, meanwhile, are very good against the run. They are stout up front and have a great middle linebacker in Jessie Tuggle. The advantage goes to the Falcons because they're geared up, and they know the 49ers offense will go as Hearst goes. Steve Young might have to use his feet more this week than in past weeks because the Falcons have a gambling defense. The Georgia Dome crowd will make a huge difference in not allowing Young to audible like he's used to.

This is a clear edge for Atlanta. The 49ers are low on defensive bodies. Charles Haley will give them a little bit of a presence up front, but he'll have more of an effect against the pass than against the run. The Atlanta offensive line has done a good job. The Falcons have the second-best running back in football in Jamal Anderson. He should get MVP votes. He's a workhorse who's fast and strong, and he'll punish people. That's a huge edge for Atlanta.

Ray Buchanan is really good at one corner for Atlanta, and Falcons safety Eugene Robinson has made a big difference. He's one of the smartest defensive players in the league, and he'll position the defense where it needs to be. That will be half the battle against the 49ers receivers -- Terrell Owens, Jerry Rice and J.J. Stokes. I don't expect the Falcons to make a lot of mental errors. But the 49ers wideouts are the second-best threesome in the league behind Minnesota's. They always have the advantage against a secondary. And the 49ers have Young, the most accurate passer who has ever played. I wouldn't be surprised if Young threw for 400 yards. He is a special football player. I still don't think he gets as much credit as he deserves, especially when compared to his predecessor, Joe Montana. People make think this is crazy, but Young makes as many plays as Montana did.

This is almost a mirror image of the advantage the 49ers have with their passing game. Tony Martin has been huge for the Falcons. He takes the pressure off Terance Mathis, who has exceptional speed downfield. O.J. Santiago is a very good tight end. In the 49ers secondary, safeties Merton Hanks and Tim McDonald are as experienced as any in the league. Between the hash marks, they will make plays. But the 49ers cornerbacks haven't made enough plays on the outside. In a one-on-one matchup with Martin and Mathis, the Niners will have problems. The 49ers have to get to quarterback Chris Chandler with Haley, Chris Doleman and Roy Barker. When he's healthy, Chandler's one of my favorite quarterbacks in the league, especially in the red zone. He finds a way to make good decisions, and he won't make many mistakes.

Morten Andersen is one of the most consistent kickers in the league. Indoors, all four kickers for both teams should perform well. But the continuity and consistency hasn't been that good in San Francisco, especially with kicker Wade Richey. He had a nice game last week, however, with three field goals. I have to give Andersen the respect because he's won a lot of games.

Do you take the experience of Dan Reeves over a young, bright mind like Steve Mariucci? I don't think there's an advantage. The 49ers have a young staff with offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and quarterbacks coach Greg Knapp, and you might as well throw backup QB Ty Detmer in there. He's as smart as any of them. However, defensive coordinator John Marshall and offensive line coach Bobb McKittrick have been around a while. For the Falcons, there's Reeves, defensive coordinator Rich Brooks and offensive line coach Art Shell, who all have been head coaches. Robinson is like a coach on the field in his safety spot. The players will be the difference in this game. Both staffs have great strengths. The veterans on Atlanta's staff have helped allow the Falcons to move on and evolve, whether Reeves is in the booth or on the sidelines.

I hate going against the 49ers because they somehow always find a way to win. But I think this might be different. I don't like the distractions going on in San Francisco. Mariucci has had to deal with that a lot this year. Anderson will be too much for the 49ers to handle. I don't know if they're a team of destiny, but the Falcons are young, hungry and fired up, and they have a nasty home-field advantage.