Sun
Oct 21, 1:00 pm - San Francisco at Giants
Giants(4-2)
vs 49ers(2-3).
Flip-flop. Starting the season,
the Giants dropped two and looked to be on the brink of doom the way they were
playing. The 49ers won their first two and looked to be continuing in the right
direction. The last three years they were 2-14, 4-10, and 7-9. Now the 49ers have
lost three in a row while the Giants have won four straight. In the Giants 31-10
win on Monday night in Atlanta they racked up 491 offensive yards, their most
since January 2002. The Niners are coming off a bye so they had plenty of time
to prepare for the Giants working off a short week. In their last game, a close
9-7 loss to Baltimore, San Francisco was held to a season-low 163 yards. The Baltimore
defense was as tough as the 49ers, but the Ravens won the game scoring just 3
field goals.The state of the
49ers offense.
After winning two important
division games over Arizona and St. Louis, the 49ers traveled to Pittsburgh and
were stopped cold. Running back Frank Gore, playing just a few days after his
mother's funeral, gained just 39 yards on 14 carries. Any state of mind issues
would probably have made no difference though against a Steelers defense that
extended their streak of not allowing a 100-yard runner to 27 games.
It's
never great when you lose your starting quarterback on the third play of the game
against a division rival, and that's what happened to the 49ers in their next
game against Seattle. The Seahawks went on a sack rampage against fill-in quarterback
Trent Dilfer. He couldn't get it going next game playing against Baltimore, the
team he led to its only Super Bowl victory in January 2001. Dilfer went 12-of-19
for 126 yards in his first start with the 49ers. It didn't help to be missing
three offensive starters in that game. TE Vernon Davis has been out since Sept.
23 with a knee injury, missing for the last two games. Davis practiced on a full-time
basis Thursday and should be back.
San Francisco is ranked last in the league
in total offense, and they have totaled just 26 points in the last three games,
averaging just 203 yards a game and have given up 18 sacks. The
state of the 49ers defense.
They know that
the name of the game for the Giants is Eli Manning-to-Plaxico Burress. They'll
hope to put an end to that success by using former Buffalo cornerback Nate Clements,
who they made one of the richest defensive players ever when they signed him this
offseason. Clements plays opposite Walt Harris who had 8 interceptions and was
named to the Pro Bowl last year. Eli Manning spread the ball around on Monday
and got rid of it fast, but still threw 2 interceptions. He has thrown an interception
in the final two minutes of the first half in three of the last four games. Manning
can't make mistakes against this secondary. Rookie Patrick Willis is second in
the NFL in tackles per game. Trent
Dilfer.
It's a little early for Halloween, but the 49ers have sprung
out the ghost of Super Bowl past to haunt the Giants. Trent Dilfer playing in
his 14th NFL season, will start for the second time in place of Alex Smith who
has been out with a separated right shoulder. Niners coach Mike Nolan stated that
although Smith has healed, he's not convinced he's ready to face the Giants. Dilfer
was the quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens in their 34-7 win over the Giants
in Super Bowl XXXV. He became the only Super Bowl-winning quarterback to be cut
in the ensuing offseason. Dilfer is 24-of-52 for 254 yards with 3 interceptions
and 1 touchdown filling in for Smith since he was injured. If preparation counts
(and it does), he's now had more time working with the first unit for this game. Frank
Gore.
Gore led the NFC in rushing last year
with 1,695 yards, and that was also a club record. He averaged 5.4 yards a carry
and also led the team with 61 receptions. This year, Gore has averaged just 3.6
yards per carry, and has yet to have his first 100-yard game after recording nine
of them last season and while averaging 105.9 yards a game.
Giants - Offense.
The Giants got off to
a fast start last week for the fist time since the season opener. Thanks in part
to Eli Manning hitting Plaxico Burress five times in the first half for 89 yards
and 1 touchdown, they were up 21-10 at the half. Manning is eighth in the NFL
with 1,379 passing yards. On the ground, Reuben Droughns gained 90 yards and scored
his third touchdown of the season. Brandon Jacobs had 86 yards and Derrick Ward
had 12 yards and 1 touchdown. They are now the sixth-ranked offense in the NFL.
The state of the Giants
offense.
The Giants are riding high on a
4 game winning streak and feeling no pain. Just look at Plaxico Burress running
around on a bum ankle, jumping around to the tune of 8 touchdowns. Just look at
Brandon Jacobs forced out of the game twice on Monday, first with a neck burner
and later with a sprained ankle. Derrick Ward aggravated an already sprained ankle.
Rookie receiver Steve Smith has missed the past four games (fractured clavicle).
Eli started the season off with an injured throwing shoulder, and don't even look
Jeremy Shockey's way every time he gets up after being tackled. Right now they
are the sixth-ranked offense in the NFL. How long can they last playing through
their injuries? They're hoping to make it for two more games and then will enjoy
a nice fat bye week. The
Mike Nolan - Michael Strahan connection.
Mike
Nolan was the Giants defensive coordinator in 1996. In Strahan's early years he
lined up at right defensive end. Nolan had Strahan switch to left end. "At first,
he was very reluctant," Nolan said. "He hated it. He was mad at everyone. But
he quickly changed his mind." Strahan has been very successful in his position
at left end, Five sacks the first year, 14 the next, and 15 the year after. "He
gave me my start -- threw me in there my second year," Strahan said. "I have all
the respect in the world for him. He's very motivating and smart. He knows what
he's doing." Don't ask a touchy
Coughlin for details.
Who's backing up Eli
Manning these days? It turns out that Anthony Wright is the No. 2 quarterback.
The switch took place weeks ago after Jared Lorenzen was sidelined with a sprained
ankle. "Right now Anthony is two and that is it," Coughlin said. "There has been
no real discussion about it. We kind of look at it on a week-to-week basis."
Plaxico
gets to play - very well in fact - without practice? Quote Tom Coughlin, "If
you can't practice, you can't play. Period. No excuses or exceptions." Coughlin
says about it, "He is in tune with what is going on... He studies. He spends extra
time in the film room. He spends time with just the receivers after practice,
and with the quarterbacks." When pressed Coughlin clarified, "No, it's still
true, that if you don't practice you don't play," he said. "It's just that this
is a special situation and we are not dealing with it the usual way.""
Check
out.
The Team
Giants Store, and see some of the really unique items we put together. There
are some items you certainly haven't seen elsewhere, and each sale helps out our
site.Notes.
Giants Plaxico Burress is seventh in the NFC in receptions (30) and second in
receiving yardage (507)/ Plaxico Burress
is only the second player since 1970 with at least one touchdown reception in
each of the first six games of the season.
Jerry Rice did it in 1987. Giants
had a six-game losing streak (including two playoff losses) to San Francisco until
their last game in 2005. Giants have
won eight consecutive games played in October dating back to 2005. Giants
under Tom Coughlin are on their fourth consecutive 4-2 start. 49ers
linebacker Patrick Willis leads NFL rookies with 50 tackles. Oct
21- San Francisco at Giants 1:00PM on FOX.
Giants Tickets
- Buy or
Sell 200+ Tickets and 20 Parking
Passes! (as of 10/20 - 1:00PM) Next
Game
Giants will leave for England after practice Oct. 25
and arrive at 6 a.m. the next day.
Oct 28- Giants at Miami (London)
1:00PM on FOX.
Giants Tickets -
Buy or Sell
200+ Tickets! (as of 10/20 - 1:00PM)
|
