49ers @ Giants: Live Updates and Analysis
This is the live blog for the San Francisco 49ers Week 3 road game against the New York Giants. I will update this information and analysis from my living room.
7:50 Deebo Samuel will return to practice next week, according to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, but likely will not play against the Philadelphia Eagles Week 4. The earliest he will return probably will be Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins.
It makes sense the 49ers are being cautious with Samuel. It seems they pushed him to play Week 1 and he suffered a setback. If they push him again, he could suffer another one -- foot injuries are tricky. And wide receivers need their feet 100-percent healthy to be effective. The 49ers must be careful with Samuel.
7:54 Nick Bosa will have surgery this week for two things, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter: A torn ACL, plus cartilage damage in his knee. The 49ers don't believe the cartilage damage will affect the recovery time, but we'll see.
The good news for Bosa is he tore his ACL in high school and clearly made a full recovery. The bad news for Bosa is he now has torn both ACLs and he isn't even 23-years old yet. He also has torn his groin. Will he always have injury issues? Or will he become an iron man like Frank Gore, who tore his ACLs in college and yet has been one of the most durable running backs in NFL history? Stay tuned.
8:35 Here are the 49ers inactives:
No Witherspoon means Jason Verrett likely will start at cornerback.
10:02 The Giants win the toss and defer, so the 49ers get the ball first. They start at their 25-yard line.
FIRST QUARTER
10:09 On third and five from the 34-yard line, Mullens throws a short pass which hits Kendrick Bourne in the face and falls incomplete. Robbie Gould makes a 52-yard field goal.
49ers 3, Giants 0.
10:17 Daniel Jones fumbles a pitch and Dion Jordan recovers for the 49ers at the Giants 42-yard line. That's the 20th fumble of Jones' career.
10:29 On third and goal from the 4, Mullens throws a touchdown pass to Jerick McKinnon, but it doesn't count because Daniel Brunksill commits an illegal hands-to-the-face penalty. Next play on third and 14, Mullens throws a perfect pass to Jordan Reed in the back of the end zone but Reed can't get his second foot in bounds, plus he twists his left ankle.
10:32 Robbie Gould makes a 32-yard field goal.
49ers 6, Giants 0.
10:35 The Giants will face second and 4 from their 44 when the second quarter starts.
SECOND QUARTER
10:42 On third and 7 from the 49ers 34-yard line, Robert Saleh calls a blitz with man-to-man coverage behind it -- aggressive. Giants quarterback Daniel Jones throws a low-percentage deep pass to Darius Slayton, who is covered tightly by Jason Verrett. Incomplete. Great coverage. Great call.
10:42 Giants kicker Graham Gano makes a 52-yard field goal.
49ers 6, Giants 3.
10:51 On third and 6 from the Giants 37, Mullens hits Kendrick Bourne in the hands but Bourne drops the ball. Seems like the 49ers have dropped four of five so far.
10:51 Robbie Gould misses a 55-yard field goal attempt wide right.
10:58 On third and 9 from the 49ers 24, Javon Kinlaw bats down Daniel Jones' pass.
10:58 Gano makes a 42-yard field goal and the game is tied.
49ers 6, Giants 6.
11:18 On first and goal from the 10, Jerick McKinnon bounces around the left side and runs into the end zone.
49ers 13, Giants 6.
11:19 Mullens had four long completions during that drive: a 14-yarder to Bourne, a 17-yarder to Bourne, a 20-yarder to Ross Dwelley and a 14-yarder to Dwelley. Bourne and Dwelley are Mullens' best receivers right now and they're stepping up. Dwelley is playing out of his mind.
11:22 On second and 10 at the Giants 25, Fred Warner intercepts Jones. The 49ers get the ball at the Giants 32.
11:29 Gould makes a 26-yard field goal with three seconds left in the first half.
49ers 16, Giants 6.
11:56 On third and 9 from the 49ers 29, K'Waun Williams blitzes and forces Jones to throw an incomplete. Next play, Gano makes a 47-yard gield goal.
49ers 16, Giants 9.
11:57 Daniel Jones has rushed for 49 yards. The only way the 49ers lose if they let him keep running for big games.
12:06 On second and 10 from the Giants 19-yard line, Brandon Aiyuk runs an end around and scores a touchdown. He also caught three passes for 38 yards on that drive.
49ers 23, Giants 9.
FOURTH QUARTER
12:16 On fourth and 1 from the Giants 30, Jones sneaks up the middle and Azeez Al-Shaair stops him for no gain. The Giants turn it over on downs deep in their territory.
12:24 On second and 11 from the Giants 19, Mullens throws a screen pass to Jeff Wilson Jr. who trots into the end zone. But Kyle Nelson snaps a terrible ball during the extra point attempt and the kick doesn't even happen.
49ers 29, Giants 9.
12:32 On third and 10 from the Giants 38, Fred Warner blitzes and crushes Jones as he throws incomplete. The Giants punt.
12:49 On first and goal from the 2, Jeff Wilson Jr. runs into the end zone easily. The Giants defense is gassed because the Giants offense has held the ball for fewer than 20 minutes.
49ers 36, Giants 9.
12:54 Nick Mullens' stat line: 25 of 26 for 343 yards and one touchdown. He's a starting-caliber quarterback and a good one.
1:01 On second and 5 from the Giants 41, Darius Slayton fumbles and the 49ers recover. The 49ers win. Stay tuned for their grades.
