26 Sep Week 3 Preview – New York Giants

Limping out of a dominant victory against the Jets, the Niners (1-1) return to MetLife Stadium to take on the New York football Giants (0-2). Not the whole team, of course, a large number of starters on offence and defense will be resting and watching. Last week saw Nick Bosa carted off the field with an ACL tear, to be followed two plays later by Solomon Thomas. The Niners will start without Garoppolo, Kittle, Mostert, Coleman and Deebo. On offence. The defence will be without Bosa, Thomas, Ford, Sherman, Witherspoon and Greenlaw. All starters. Fans across the league are sick of hearing “Next Man Up”, but none more so than the Faithful. The Giants will be without Sterling Shepard and star RB Saquon Barkley, as well as a familiar name in Adrian Colbert.

All the starters will tell you how deep the team is, and the second half against the Jets last week looked pretty good, with the D Line creating good pressure with DJ Jones, Street, Givens and Kerry Hyder all getting involved supporting an invigorated Armstead and Kinlaw.

Nick Mullens took over from Jimmy in the second half, and looked pretty sharp, although he didn’t get much time to go through progressions, missing a wide open Aiyuk for what would have been an easy 6. Hopefully the O line gels a bit better this week and pass protection and run blocking are more effective.

Week 3 matchups to watch:

Daniel Jones vs 49ers Pass Defense

Jones has thrown 4 interceptions so far this season, and the Niners D will be hungry to get their hands on the ball. Look for aggressive plays on the ball and pressure forcing Jones to throw out of tempo.

Evan Engram vs Warner & Tartt

The Giants’ TE and his backup, one time 49er Kaden Smith, will look to get involved in the game to help Jones settle down at QB. Warner is the best in the league at defending the pass from the LB spot, and with SS Tartt rotating down to the box, it’ll be rough sledding for underneath receiving routes.

The Trenches

The Giants are having problems with the left side of the O line. The niners with the right side. 

Pressure without blitzing will come from Dexter Lawrence with will heavily test McGlinchey & Brunskill. The 49ers will be hoping rookie Jason Kinlaw shows up big, and that Armstead continues to ball out. DJ Jones was a huge part of the disruption of the other New York team’s interior O Line. Much of the game’s final outcome will depend on the play in the trenches.

James Bradberry vs 49ers WRs

Bradberry is playing at an elite level, holding Bears WR Allen Robinson to just one catch on 6 targets. Per PFF he leads the NFL in forced incompletion percentage at 39%. Without Deebo again, it’s not known how the depth chart looks, but one has to imagine Kyle will be looking to involve Sanu and Aiyuk more.

With all the injuries to the backs, the Giants signed Devonta Freeman in the week, and the 49ers promoted training camp star JaMycal Hasty from the practice squad, to back up McKinnon and fan favourite Jeff Wilson. The Giants are looking for their first W of 2020, whilst the 49ers look to stay competitive in the strongest division in football, already a game behind the Seahawks, Rams and Cardinals.

Prediction: 34 – 29

MVP: McKinnon