New York Giants - San Francisco 49ers Gameday Blog & Community Discussion

The Giants and the 49ers are set to battle in a test of resiliency.

The 0-2 Giants are coming off a gut-wrenching week, having fallen 17-13 to the Chicago Bears last week while also losing running back Saquon Barkley for the year to a torn ACL, and receiver Sterling Shepard to a turf toe injury.

Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers are coming off a win against the Jets, but it was a costly one as they suffered a slew of injuries that will drastically change the team's complexion starting this week.

Quarterback Jimmy Garroppolo, tight end George Kittle, defensive linemen Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas, running backs Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman, defensive lineman Dee Ford, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, and cornerback Richard Sherman will all be out for San Francisco. Bosa and Thomas both suffered torn ACLs last week. Garroppolo suffered a high ankle sprain and Mostert a knee injury.

But don't expect the Giants to feel sorry for their visiting guests. New York is staring at the possibility of an 0-3 start for the first time since their dismal 3-13 season in 2017 unless they can capitalize with a winning effort at home to give head coach Joe Judge his first win.

For the Giants, it will take overcoming the loss of the injuries on offense. The Giants have struggled to get their running game going to help out quarterback Daniel Jones, but last week Jones loaded the team on his back and very nearly brought them back from what looked like a shutout loss at halftime.

Jones won't have to go at it alone this week, and he's confident that those players left standing after the losses of Barkley and Shepard will come ready to deliver the goods.

"We have a lot of guys who can make plays. It's about everyone doing what they have to do to execute as an offense," Jones said.

"That's the way we are going to be most effective. It's not any one guy; it's not a couple guys. It's all of us."

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Pregame

One of the biggest questions looming over the Giants in today's game is who they will lean on in the running game with Barkley out.

The Giants have a multi-faceted running back core with veterans Dion Lewis and Devonta Freeman, and fourth-year man Wayne Gallman. Each one brings a unique skill set as the offense will try to utilize a combination of them to emulate Barkley's role.

Giants coaches are still all over Devonta Freeman in pregame warm-ups fine-tuning his techniques and understanding of the playbook.
— Tom Rock (@TomRock_Newsday) September 27, 2020

However, Gallman is projected to see the lion's share of carries as the starter in today's game.

Of all the Giants' running backs, Gallman brings the most power as a North-South runner. Gallman's ability to run between the tackles it the style that fits offensive coordinator Jason Garrett's system and style, as most of the Giants runs so far this year have been out of the I formation.

The Giants will have to get the running game going considering what they're up against on the edge.

A masked-up John Mara is on the #NYGiants sideline as pre-game warmups begin. Chatting up one of the officials at the moment.
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) September 27, 2020

In place of the injured Bosa and Thomas, veteran defensive ends Ziggy Ansah and Dion Jordan, two former top-five draft picks whom San Francisco signed this week, will be making their 49ers debut.

Ansah and Jordan only combined for 4.5 sacks in 2019, but the Giants offensive line can't view any pass rushers as easy matchups.

The Giants' offensive line has given up the second-most pressures in the NFL so far in 2020, and their faults in pass protections have gone a long way in why the Giants have the lowest-scoring offense in the NFL so far this year.

With Barkley out, their improvements in pass protection will be critical for quarterback Daniel Jones, as the Giants have committed to being a pass-first offense so far in 2020.

Vegas has the Jets and Giants as underdogs today https://t.co/qvGQyHypCt pic.twitter.com/YVae3ceqBS
— SNY (@SNYtv) September 27, 2020

Meanwhile, the Giants' official list of inactive for today's game is as follows: Cornerback Brandon Williams (groin), safety Adrian Colbert (quad) along with healthy scratches linebacker TJ Brunson, offensive tackle Jackson Barton, tight end Eric Tomlinson and defensive tackle RJ McIntosh.

Another Giants player that will be looking to make an impact in his first start is cornerback Isaac Yiadom, who is warming up with the first-team defense as the second boundary corner opposite of James Bradberry.

Yiadom was acquired via trade from the Denver Broncos less than two weeks before the start of the season. Now after a couple weeks of learning the defensive playbook, the Giants coaching staff is going to take a chance with the third-year cornerback as they continue to try to find solutions in their depleted secondary.

Yiadom has allowed two completions so far in his first two games as a reserve corner, and his first test as a Giants starter will come against 49ers backup quarterback Nick Mullens.

Before kickoff, 18 Giants players and one coach are on a knee during the national anthem.

First Quarter

The 49ers' first-two plays on offense feature some trickery, as they try to run the ball on a jet sweep and a toss with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, but the Giants defense is prepared and shuts down the run.

However, Mullens' first pass goes to tight end Trent Taylor for a 20-yard gain and the Giants' defense blows an opportunity to get off the field on third down.

Giants Linebacker Blake Martinez has his first sack as a Giant, coming up through the middle untouched on a blitz to bring Mullens down for a nine-yard loss.

Martinez last played against the 49ers as a Packer in the NFC championship game, but his role for the Giants has been notably more significant than the one he filled in Green Bay.

49ers kicker and former Giant Robbie Gould connects from 52-yards out to give the 49ers the first points of the game with an opening drive field goal. Mullens did just enough on the first drive against a stingy Giants' defensive effort, and now Jones will get his chance to answer.

Giants defensive back Jabrill Peppers had to walk gingerly to the sideline after the play.

49ers lead 3-0.

Jones is set to lead the first opening drive of the season without Barkley in the backfield. Gallman said he prepared all training camp as the starter and now he will have his opportunity to make that preparation pay off.

Jones' first pass of the game is a strike to veteran wide receiver Golden Tate.

Poor ball handling costs the Giants on a trick play of their own as Jones' toss to Evan Engram is fumbled and the 49ers recover inside of Giants' territory.

Peppers is questionable to return with an ankle issue, which means veteran special teams ace Nate Ebner has been inserted into the starting defensive lineup.

New Jersey native and former Rutgers standout wide receiver Mohamed Sanu has a nince-yard catch for a 49ers first down at the Giants' five-yard line.

Yiadom, in his first start, makes a big play in the endzone to bat a would-be touchdown pass away from McKinnon to bring up third down. Yiadom is starting to solidify that second cornerback spot.

San Francisco could be down another tight end after Jordan Reed came down awkwardly trying to pull-down a third-down touchdown pass in the back of the endzone. Reed stepped out of bounds so there is no score, and Reed is unable to get up under his own power.

Devonta Freeman's first run as a Giant is up the middle for six yards and gives the Giants a much better-than-average run than what they've gotten so far this season.

Second Quarter

Jones picks up 19 yards on a quarterback keep and delivers a hit on 49ers safety Jaquiski Tartt, who then has to leave the field with an apparent injury.

The Jones runs puts the Giants in range for kicker Graham Gano to hit a 52-yard field goal and cut San Francisco's lead to 3.

49ers lead 6-3.

Bradberry continues to make huge plays in the secondary, knocking the ball out of the hands of 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne.

Another play by Bradberry on third down combined with a missed 55-yard field goal by Gould gives the Giants the ball back with good field position still just trailing by three.

Jones leads another drive that gets stalled on third down, as Gano connects from 42-yards to tie the game.

Giants tie it 6-6.

Without seemingly any running game, Mullens continues to move the ball with his arm, completing 10 of 18 passes for 119 yards. The Giants' defense has prioritized stopping the run and are forcing San Francisco's offense to go through Mullens in this game.

Giants rookie cornerback Darnay Holmes commits an illegal contact penalty which wipes out a third-down stop on 3rd-and-22.

The Holmes penalty ultimately proves to be the difference for the Giants defense between a stop and giving up a touchdown, as 49ers running back Jerrick McKinnon scores on a 10-yard touchdown run.

49ers lead 13-6.

Jones throws his fourth interception of the season and the 49ers take over inside of Giants territory with one minute left in the half.

The Giants defense holds again, but thanks to Jones, the 49ers were in range for a field goal regardless as they extend their lead to the longest of the game before the half.

49ers lead 16-6.

Halftime

Jones is out of excuses.

The Giants are trailing by two possessions at halftime because of the two turnovers that he committed and lack of third-down efficiency.

The defense has played well, especially against the run, and has put Jones in position to take the lead on multiple occasions.

If Jones can't pick up his game and continues to turn the ball over, the Giants won't have a chance to be competitive today or any game moving forward.

Third Quarter

The Giants' opening drive of the second half features a gutsy decision to go for it on 4-and-2 from midfield. The offensive line picks up a 49ers blitz and gives Jones time to pick dunk the ball to tight end Evan Engram for a huge fourth-down conversion.

Daniel Jones picked up 30 rushing yards on this drive, and is leading the team in rushing today with 49 rushing yards, while the Giants running backs only have 17 rushing yards combined.

The Giants once again put together a deep drive into 49ers territory but fail to convert on third down and have to settle for a 47-yard Gano field goal to cut the lead back down to one possession.

49ers lead 16-9.

The 49ers respond with an eight-play 70-yard touchdown drive, taking advantage of a lack of discipline on defense by the Giants. The Giants committed two penalties, inlcuding a facemask on the PAT attempt when the Giants could have gotten away with preventing an extra point.

49ers lead 23-9.

Giants veteran offensive tackle Cameron Fleming gives up a sack on Jones. Fleming has been an issue for the Giants' protection throughout the season already.

A Giants' fourth-down conversion attempts fails on a Jones quarterback sneak that comes up short as the 49ers take over in Giants territory.

Fourth Quarter

The 49ers start the quarter with a screen pass to running back Jeff Wilson for a 19-yard touchdown as the Giants defense is starting to show signs of quit. The 49ers miss the PAT on another low snap.

49ers lead 29-9.

The Giants defense is fading here in the fourth quarter. After starting the game with a strong effort, it is simply going away quickly and allowing the 49ers to move the ball at will.

Mullens has arguably put together his best performance as a professional, completing 24 of 35 passes for 325 yards and one touchdown.

The 49ers put together another long touchdown drive, running 12 plays for 86 yards and chewing up another 6:45 off the clock.

49ers lead 36-9.

Giants rookie offensive tackle Andrew Thomas is slow to get up and has to walk over to the sideline. Fellow rookie offensive tackle Matt Peart, a third-round pick out of UConn, comes into the game.

Thomas comes back in.

As one last act of ineptitude, Slayton fumbles a 22-yard reception and 49ers recover.

It's a fitting end for the effort the Giants put up today as the 49ers offense comes back onto the field and kneels out the clock.

49ers win 36-9.