San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers didn't always make it look easy, and the final score didn't necessarily reflect the challenges they faced. Despite a short week and the absence of injured wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk due to a shoulder injury, San Francisco persevered. Meanwhile, the Giants, dealing with their own short-handed situation during their second West Coast game in a row, should acknowledge the 49ers' hard-fought victory, which propelled San Francisco to a 3-0 record for only the second time in the past 25 years.
Deebo Samuel propels the 49ers to victory against a depleted Giants team.
This win underscored the importance of Aiyuk to the Niners. The Giants came into this game known for their aggressive blitzing, leading the league in blitzes since the beginning of 2022. They lived up to this reputation by constantly sending extra rushers at 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.
These blitzes proved effective in the first half, not only putting pressure on Purdy but also disrupting his accuracy. As a result, Niners coach Kyle Shanahan had to rely more on screen passes and quick throws, deviating from the intermediate routes he typically prefers.
In the latter half of the game, Deebo Samuel, a fellow wide receiver with six catches for 129 yards and a touchdown, along with tight end George Kittle, who had seven receptions for 90 yards, stepped up to fill the void. The 49ers' defense also displayed dominance against the Giants.
Certainly, the decision to rest Aiyuk on Thursday night was a wise move, especially considering the team's desire to secure a contract extension for him in the offseason. This break will allow him to recover fully for the upcoming challenges in the long season ahead. However, Aiyuk's absence only emphasizes just how highly the 49ers value him for the remainder of this season and beyond.
Quarterback Analysis:
Despite facing a lot of pressure from the opposing defenders, Purdy had a somewhat unusual night, but his final statistics ended up looking pretty good. He completed 25 out of 37 passes for 310 yards and threw two touchdowns, giving him a passer rating of 111.3. Purdy did take some risks with the ball a few times and was lucky not to lose possession in the first half, but he performed exceptionally well on third-down plays and improved as the game went on. While it wasn't his best performance, it's worth noting that Purdy is now one of only four quarterbacks to start their career with at least eight consecutive regular-season wins in the Super Bowl Era (since 1966).
Purdy faced a high number of blitzes, with 74% of his dropbacks being blitzed, which is the highest rate since Colin Kaepernick in 2013 (who faced 88% blitz rate against the Cardinals). He dealt with 29 blitzes in this game, which was more than double his previous highest number of 14. Purdy's 236 passing yards against the blitz were the most by any quarterback since Aaron Rodgers in 2021.
Concerning Trend:
The 49ers had entered the game tied for the fifth-most penalties in the league, and their performance did little to alleviate these concerns. They ended up with six penalties for a total of 71 yards, including two costly penalties for 37 yards that set up the Giants' first touchdown.
Impressive Stat:
After scoring a four-yard run in the first half, 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey now has a touchdown in 12 consecutive games, including playoffs, tying him with Jerry Rice for the longest streak in franchise history. The record for the most consecutive games with a touchdown, including playoffs, is held by Lenny Moore at 17.
New York Giants:
This game wasn't as one-sided as their 40-0 loss to Dallas in the opener. The Giants managed to keep it close until the fourth quarter, but ultimately, they couldn't beat the more talented 49ers, especially with some unfavorable bounces and penalties going against them. However, it wasn't due to a lack of effort. The Giants were playing without four starters (running back Saquon Barkley, left tackle Andrew Thomas, left guard Ben Bredeson, and outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari), and winning on the road in prime time against a strong team like the 49ers was a tough task. They now face a crucial home game against the Seattle Seahawks on October 2nd, which was likely on their radar as a game they needed to win.
Key Play:
A significant play in the game was a roughing-the-passer penalty called on Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams with 1:51 left in the second quarter. At that time, San Francisco had a third-and-12 while leading 10-3 and were at the Giants' 20-yard line with just under two minutes remaining in the half. Williams hit Purdy as he released the ball, and the penalty was likely called because Williams landed on Purdy with his full weight. This call turned the game, giving San Francisco a first-and-goal instead of a fourth down, and McCaffrey scored a six-yard touchdown on the very next play, extending the 49ers' lead to 17-3.
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Deebo Samuel propels the 49ers to victory against a depleted Giants team.
Bold Prediction for Next Week:
The Giants play on Monday night, giving running back Saquon Barkley and his high ankle sprain an additional 11 days to recover. However, it's doubtful that he will be ready to return. Barkley tends to be eager to play and pushes for an earlier return, but it's in his best interest, as well as the team's, to ensure he is fully healed before returning to the field.
Remarkable Stat:
During the second quarter, the 49ers converted a third-and-15 and a third-and-13 on screen passes during the same drive, which resulted in a nine-yard touchdown pass to Ronnie Bell, giving them a 10-3 lead. In the first two weeks of the season, there were 25 screen passes attempted on third-and-10 or longer, and only one had been converted for a first down until Thursday night.