The Falcons seemingly solved every problem that had emerged in the first three games of the season during their Week Four bye. Atlanta bounced back after a week of rest and a close self-examination, pummeling the 49ers, 45-10 in San Francisco on Sunday. The Falcons set a franchise record by scoring 35 points in the first half and became the first team to beat the 49ers when QB Shaun Hill starts at home. Hill was previously 7-0 as a starter at Candlestick Park.

Much of the attention is going to the Falcons' offense, which exploded for 477 yards vs. the Niners, and deservedly so. Matt Ryan threw for a career-high 329 yards, WR Roddy White set a club record with 210 receiving yards and RB Michael Turner gained 4.4 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns. Although Atlanta's offense wasn't humming heading into the bye, it wasn't surprising to see an offense with that much talent have a huge day.

What shouldn't get lost in the glow surrounding the offense, however, is that the Falcons' defense really raised its play from where it was prior to the bye. While playing with a big lead in the second half, Atlanta didn't give up a single point and held San Francisco to 126 total yards.

The PFW spin

A subtle change on the defensive line could be one of the best moves the Falcons have made this season. The Falcons went with a rotation of Thomas Johnson and Trey Lewis at nose tackle in Week Three, but neither filled the void left by first-round pick Peria Jerry, who underwent season-ending surgery on his knee after suffering an injury in Week Two. The Falcons were gashed for 168 rushing yards and did not sack Tom Brady in a Week Three loss to the Patriots.

Sensing that Johnson and Lewis wouldn't be the answer, head coach Mike Smith made a key change during the bye. The Falcons opened Week Five with Kroy Biermann, who played as a nickel defensive end this season, at nose tackle, and he moved outside in passing situations while the starter at left end, Jamaal Anderson, bumped inside to D-tackle.

Biermann and Anderson both flourished in their altered roles. Biermann, a second-year veteran, made his third sack of the season, tying him for the team lead with John Abraham, on a 3rd-and-7 play in the second quarter, which knocked the 49ers, who only trailed 14-10 at the time, out of field-goal range. San Francisco had to bring on the punting unit instead and the Falcons began a streak of 31 unanswered points on their ensuing possession. Anderson, who has struggled to get pressure on quarterbacks since being selected eighth overall in the '07 draft, had two quarterback hits.

The Falcons shouldn't be considered a shut-down defense just because of Sunday's performance. Anderson is still a disappointment and Biermann has a ways to go before he's considered a quality pass rusher. But Sunday served as a peek into what this "D" is capable of when it plays with a big lead. The message going forward to Atlanta's opposition is don't expect to come back after falling behind.