SANTA CLARA, Calif. — There was a degree in Thursday night time’s recreation that it was attainable to attract some encouragement from an undermanned Giants group preventing a loaded 49ers roster. The Giants had scrapped and clawed their approach to inside one rating, 17-12, early within the third quarter.
It felt like the identical script the overachieving Giants adopted final season, after they’d dangle round with groups simply lengthy sufficient to steal a victory. However there was little magic on this 12 months’s model of the Giants.
The 49ers scored the following 13 factors to drag away for a snug 30-12 win. The field rating illustrated San Francisco’s dominance: A 441-150 edge in whole yards; a 26-10 benefit in first downs; a 39:10-20:50 distinction in time of possession.
Sure, the Giants had been with out working again Saquon Barkley (ankle) and left sort out Andrew Thomas (hamstring), in addition to left guard Ben Bredeson (concussion) and out of doors linebacker Azeez Ojulari (hamstring). However for the second time in three weeks, the Giants had been dealt a sobering reminder that they haven’t closed the hole on the NFC’s elite groups.
Except for an impressed second-half comeback win over the Cardinals in Week 2, the Giants have been completely outclassed this season. They’ve been out-scored 70-12 of their two losses to the Cowboys and 49ers. A lot of these lopsided video games weren’t presupposed to occur to a Giants group that made main investments to improve the roster that bought pummeled 38-7 by the Eagles within the NFC Divisional Spherical final season.
“It’s been quite a lot of soccer that we don’t really feel like is reflective of our greatest and what we’re able to and we really feel just like the followers deserve, the group deserves,” tight finish Darren Waller mentioned.
The Giants have time to lick their wounds after taking part in two street video games in a five-day stretch. Their subsequent recreation is a Monday Evening Soccer matchup with the Seahawks on Oct. 2. That’s a pivotal recreation with journeys to Miami and Buffalo after that.
“Two video games in 5 days is hard for anybody,” Waller mentioned. “We will begin game-planning for the Seahawks and deal with profitable at residence. That’s one thing we didn’t do in Week 1. I really feel like that’s a great way to construct some momentum.”
Listed here are three takeaways from the loss:
Utterly hopeless
A makeshift offensive line towards one of the formidable move rushes within the NFL wasn’t a recipe for achievement. The Giants had been fully hopeless with an offensive assault reliant on max safety simply to finish quick passes.
Quarterback Daniel Jones accomplished 22-of-32 passes for simply 137 yards — a minuscule 4.3 yards per try. Jones accomplished simply 2-of-7 passes that traveled greater than 10 yards within the air. His completions traveled a median of three.7 yards within the air.
Javon’s knocking 🚪 @Jay_MostWanted
📺 #NYGvsSF on @NFLonPrime
📱 NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/S7wNKR0k4A— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 22, 2023
On the uncommon cases the Giants had alternatives downfield, Jones and his receivers couldn’t join. Waller, who made simply three catches for 20 yards, dropped a slant late within the first half that will have been a giant acquire. The Giants ultimately settled for a discipline aim to chop their deficit to 17-6 at halftime.
The Giants’ final gasp got here early within the fourth quarter when Jones air-mailed a crossing path to an open Waller from a clear pocket on third-and-11. Trailing 23-12 on the time, the Giants had been compelled to punt, and San Francisco promptly drove for a landing to seal the sport.
“I believe it was a bit bit excessive,” coach Brian Daboll mentioned “It was over-thrown.”
Jones was solely sacked twice, however that was as a result of the Giants’ total recreation plan centered round neutralizing San Francisco’s ferocious move rush. The Giants saved tight finish Daniel Bellinger in to dam on practically each move play. Generally, they saved Waller in as nicely. On some performs, the Giants triple-teamed 49ers defensive finish Nick Bosa, and the reigning NFL defensive participant of the 12 months nonetheless broke by way of to stress Jones.
“He’s a once-in-a-generation participant,” working again Matt Breida mentioned. “He brought about issues, so we did one of the best we will to neutralize him. I believe the following time we play him we’ll have a greater recreation plan.”
Return of the SACK 😤#NYGvsSF on @NFLonPrime
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4nCVJ pic.twitter.com/PLIviSiDC0— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 22, 2023
This matchup didn’t lend itself to deep photographs for huge receiver Jalin Hyatt, who dazzled with two catches for 89 yards in Week 2. Hyatt, who stays fourth within the huge receiver pecking order, didn’t have a goal on Thursday. He bought wide-open as soon as on a deep route within the second quarter, however Jones didn’t see him as he fled the pocket and threw the ball away.
“We known as a good quantity of (deep photographs),” Daboll mentioned. “A few occasions we had them, and the safety leaked. They coated them. It was a fragile steadiness with that line of defense that they’ve bought. You’ve bought to resolve what number of guys you retain in to assist out the safety to ensure you can get off extra vertical routes versus getting it out a bit faster.”
Jones’ night time ended with an interception on a slant meant for Waller. The move arrived concurrently 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward, and the ball popped up within the air earlier than it was snatched by security Talanoa Hufanga. It was the fourth interception of the season for Jones, who threw 5 final season. Three of Jones’ interceptions have come on tipped balls.
Having déjà vu! @TalanoaHufanga#NYGvsSF on @NFLonPrime
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/1llXq6QEAF— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 22, 2023
The passing struggles weren’t a shock contemplating Jones was taking part in behind an offensive line that featured three completely different gamers from the season opener. Nevertheless it was stunning Jones’ legs weren’t extra of a weapon. He had simply two carries for 5 yards towards a 49ers protection that retains its eyes on the quarterback in zone protection and closes to the ball in a flash.
“I used to be stunned that they didn’t use extra schemed-up quarterback runs on us,” 49ers linebacker Fred Warner mentioned. “Possibly they had been simply attempting to guard him. Clearly, you’re giving your quarterback as much as get hit if he’s carrying the ball.”
The Giants didn’t even try a traditional run recreation with Barkley sidelined. Breida had 4 carries for 17 yards, together with an 8-yard landing run within the third quarter. Gary Brightwell had 4 carries for five yards. Rookie Eric Grey didn’t have a carry.
Brightwell had the Giants’ greatest play from scrimmage on their opening drive with an 18-yard catch after Jones purchased time within the pocket (the Giants solely had 10 gamers on the sector for the play once more). However he additionally had a killer drop later within the drive that compelled the Giants to accept a discipline aim.
Daboll continued to sound hopeful on Barkley’s potential availability for a fast return, however the working again’s revelation to Amazon that he suffered a high-ankle sprain might lengthen his timeline.
.@TaylorRooks confirms that it’s certainly a excessive ankle sprain for Saquon Barkley.#TNFonPrime | #NYGvsSF pic.twitter.com/mSnPBV013n
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) September 21, 2023
Taking place swinging
Wink Martindale clearly determined if he was taking place, he was taking place swinging. The blitz-happy defensive coordinator despatched further rushers after Purdy on 33-of-39 dropbacks. That 84.6 % blitz fee is the very best ever recorded by Subsequent Gen Stats.
The aggressive strategy was profitable in making Purdy uncomfortable, however 49ers play caller Kyle Shanahan dialed up efficient counters. The 49ers transformed a pair of back-breaking third-and-longs on screens on a second-quarter landing drive. The 49ers transformed 7-of-10 third downs within the first half. Purdy accomplished 25-of-37 passes for 310 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
“We didn’t execute,” cornerback Adoree’ Jackson mentioned. “We didn’t sort out nicely. That was simply it. We had them in third-and-long conditions. We simply didn’t sort out. We didn’t execute our assignments.”
Pairing the Giants’ poor tackling with the 49ers’ dynamic talent gamers was a recipe for catastrophe. Tackling huge receiver Deebo Samuel (six catches, 129 yards, one landing) and tight finish George Kittle (seven catches for 90 yards) is like wrestling alligators, and the Giants weren’t up for the problem. The 49ers gained 215 of their 310 passing yards after the catch.
.@19problemz however breaking tackles is not one 😤#NYGvsSF on Prime Video
Additionally out there on #NFLPlus https://t.co/qDMTitSHZs pic.twitter.com/HCWOD81gR7— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2023
The Giants managed their first two sacks of the season. Kayvon Thibodeaux completed a stress by defensive lineman DJ Davidson on the sport’s opening drive, and Davidson and defensive lineman Leonard Williams teamed up for a sack within the third quarter.
The Giants nonetheless don’t have a takeaway this season regardless of Purdy seemingly attempting to throw interceptions early. Kittle ought to get credited with a move breakup for flattening a move that was crusing immediately towards Jackson on the opening drive. Rookie cornerback Deonte Banks had an interception undergo his fingers ultimately zone later within the drive, which led to a discipline aim.
The play that greatest summed up the completely different fortunes of the groups got here late within the second quarter when Jackson broke on a move and the ball bought deflected into the air. That kind of play virtually at all times ends in an interception, however as an alternative, 49ers huge receiver Ronnie Bell corralled it for a 15-yard acquire.
Simply how the @49ers drew it up 😅#NYGvsSF on Prime Video
Additionally out there on #NFLPlus https://t.co/qDMTitSHZs pic.twitter.com/w9ddZ98THc— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2023
A couple of drives had been prolonged by pricey penalties, together with a doubtful unlawful contact flag on Thibodeaux within the pink zone within the third quarter. The Giants nonetheless restricted the 49ers to a discipline aim on that drive. A brilliant spot was their red-zone protection, because the 49ers solely scored touchdowns on two of their 5 drives contained in the 20-yard line.
Inside linebacker Micah McFadden performed the sport of his life, recording a team-high 10 tackles. McFadden had 4 tackles for a loss and a powerful move breakup on a wheel path to 49ers working again Christian McCaffrey on the aim line.
Damage replace
Giants huge receiver Wan’Dale Robinson returned to the lineup 10 months after tearing his ACL. Robinson had 4 catches for 21 yards, together with a first-down seize on third-and-4 on the Giants’ first drive. Robinson was on a pitch rely in his debut, however his workload ought to proceed to extend.
Banks left earlier than halftime after getting kneed within the higher arm. The rookie mentioned he was scheduled to get an MRI on Friday. Banks has now failed to complete two of his first three video games, as he left the opener simply earlier than halftime with cramps.
This is not what the Giants had been presupposed to appear to be this season.
We’re three video games in and it might already be a misplaced season for New York who’s paying their QB $40M.@robertmays and @Nate_Tice on the G-Males ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/0Plht9WLKU
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 22, 2023
(Prime picture: Ezra Shaw / Getty Photos)
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