The New York Giants host the San Francisco 49ers at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. EDT.
The Giants’ offense has looked better with Jaxson Dart under center, but the defense hasn’t played well, especially over the last two games. The 49ers are coming off their third loss of the season and haven’t had Brock Purdy in the lineup since September 28. Both teams need a win, albeit for different reasons.
Let’s take a look at six keys to the Giants getting a win over the 49ers in Week 9.
All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner and star defensive end Nick Bosa are both on injured reserve. Bryce Huff and four other defensive linemen are questionable, and their linebacking crew has limited depth. San Francisco’s front seven is vulnerable right now, and the Giants have to take advantage of that with explosive interior runs, short passes, and sustaining drives.
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Christian McCaffrey is, by far, the Niners’ biggest offensive threat. He leads the team in rushing yards (140 carries for 490 yards and three touchdowns) and receiving yards (56 receptions for 559 yards and three touchdowns), and his touchdowns are almost half of all touchdowns scored by the 49ers. He ranks second in the NFL in scrimmage yards, and, historically, he has dominated the Giants. He’s a huge threat out of the backfield, so the Giants’ defensive front must tackle at the point of contact to limit his yards per touch.
Incorporate 12-personnel packages offensively
San Francisco tends to run lighter box defenses, which the Giants can take advantage of with their tight ends. Leaning on two-tight end sets with throws to Theo Johnson and Chris Manhertz/Thomas Fidone will result in increased yards after the catch, and shorter yards-to-go for first downs.
Leverage home-field and early kickoff edge
The 49ers have to travel literally from the other side of the country and across three time zones. The early start time could exacerbate the 49ers’ road problems (they’re 1-2 away from the West Coast), plus they will be fatigued from traveling. Combine that with the potential November chill, winds, and shadows at MetLife, and it might take a quarter or more for the California residents to adjust. The Giants must start fast and get ahead on the scoreboard to give them a better chance of success.
Avoid self-inflicted errors
Are we tired of this broken record every week in this article? Well, it’s still a problem. For both teams, actually. Both the 49ers and Giants rank among the worst in penalties and turnovers, but the Giants really can’t afford mistakes right now. Snaps must be clean, no false starts on a loud home-crowd day, and disciplined play-calling keeps games close. Defensively, tackling has to be on point, with no missed tackles, no blown assignments, and no penalties.
Sustain the ground game
Tyrone Tracy is likely to get the start this week, but Devin Singleterry will also see time on the field. The Giants need their running backs to combine for at least 120 yards on the ground to control the clock and keep them in third-and-manageable situations. They need to utilize play-action, and they have to prevent Dart from taking too many sacks and hits. This means that Dart has to slide, he has to learn when to throw the ball away, and he has to know when to move his feet. The line has to do its part, too, in supporting both Dart and helping the running backs sustain drives.
