Going the Distance, Sanders Burns 49ers : NFC: Defensive back’s 100-yard kickoff return keys 39-34 victory. McKyer intercepts two passes.

Deion Sanders’ fancy footwork and Tim McKyer’s successful return to San Francisco helped the Atlanta Falcons win their second consecutive game on the road.

Sanders returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and ex-49er McKyer intercepted Steve Young twice in the fourth quarter Sunday as the Falcons hung on for a 39-34 victory over the 49ers.

After San Francisco had rallied to tie it 20-20 early in the third quarter, Sanders took the ensuing kickoff up the middle, broke to his left and sprinted down the sideline, high-stepping the last 40 yards. The return equaled the longest in Falcon history.

“I love coming here and beating the 49ers,” Sanders said, “because all their fans are (mad) and they’re going to jump off the bandwagon.”

The Falcons (3-3), who beat San Diego on Sept. 15 to end a 19-game road losing streak, ended a five-game losing streak to the 49ers (2-4), who are off to their worst start since the strike-shortened 1982 season.

McKyer, who landed in Atlanta after unhappy stays in San Francisco and Miami, was burned once by Young on a touchdown pass to Jerry Rice but came back to roast his former teammates.

“I kind of predicted I would get burned today, but I kept my confidence and had a good time,” McKyer said. “I’ve proved my ability. I feel satisfied. I got all my frustrations out.”

Falcon quarterback Chris Miller passed for three touchdowns as the Falcons registered their highest scoring total of the season.

Miller completed 16 of 28 passes for 208 yards, giving him 10,100 passing yards in his career. Miller, who entered the game with only five touchdowns passes and nine interceptions this season, passed for three touchdowns in his most productive outing of the year.

The Falcons also got four field goals from Norm Johnson.

“Any time you beat the 49ers at their place, it’s a great win,” Miller said. “It was a great game, a wild game and a heckuva lot of fun.”

The 49ers gave up their most points since a 41-37 loss to San Diego in 1982.

Steve Broussard rushed for 104 yards in 10 carries for the Falcons.

“We didn’t slow them down offensively,” 49er Coach George Seifert said.

“We got ourselves in a position to win the ballgame and then we totally . . . self-destructed. It was totally baffling to me why that happened.”

Young passed for 348 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two others. But he had three passes intercepted.

Young’s second touchdown run, a seven-yard scramble, and Mike Cofer’s extra-point put San Francisco ahead, 34-33, with 12:05 left--but the 49ers couldn’t hold it.

Johnson’s third field goal, a 44-yarder midway through the final quarter, put Atlanta ahead for good.

Johnson added a 30-yard field goal with 1:45 left after McKyer’s first interception. McKyer intercepted Young again in the final seconds.

The 49ers, down 17-0 early in the second quarter, pulled within 20-14 at halftime on Young’s six-yard touchdown run and his 54-yard scoring pass to John Taylor.

Thirteen of Atlanta’s first-half points followed a partially blocked 49ers’ punt, a fumble and an interception.

Miller capped Atlanta’s opening possession with a 27-yard touchdown pass play to Michael Haynes.

Four plays after Brian Jordan recovered Dexter Carter’s fumble on the 49ers’ second play from scrimmage, Miller tossed a seven-yard touchdown pass to Andre Rison.