The San Francisco 49ers increased their current winning streak to 7 by defeating the New York Giants 27-20. The game between two fellow NFC division leaders may have been a preview of things to come in January.
The first half started with an exchange of field goals and ended with an exchange of interceptions. The New York Giants showed on their first possession of the game that they came to the Bay Area to win. They drove 75 yards downfield in 8:33, though they had to settle for a 23-yard field goal from Lawrence Tynes.
San Francisco’s first drive was no less impressive. In 6:02 they overcame 62 yards to tie the score on a 36-yard field goal from David Akers. After one drive apiece there were only 25 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Giants regained the lead with another time-consuming drive of 6:20. The G-Men gained 63 yards in 13 plays but San Francisco’s red zone defense denied them to reach the end zone. Lawrence Tynes hit his second field goal from 25 yards.
The 49ers were once again in New York’s half when a pass interference call against WR Michael Crabtree put them out of field goal range and gave them a 2nd and 17 at New York’s 47-yard line. The situation didn’t get any better when RB Frank Gore lost 4 yards on the next play but a 17-yard pass to WR Braylon Edward got the Niners back into field goal range. David Akers made the field goal attempt from 52 yards, his fifth from 50 or more yard this season, to tie the score at 6.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh had a little surprise in store on the ensuing kick-off. He called an onside kick, which caught the Giants off guard. TE Delanie Walker made an easy recovery at San Francisco’s 47-yard line. The 49ers moved to New York’s 25-yard line but a sack on Alex Smith for a loss of 8 yards made it impossible to reach a first down. Another David Akers field goal from 37 yards gave the 49ers a 9-6 lead with 1:53 left.
QB Eli Manning’s two-minute offense lasted exactly four seconds when CB Carlos Rogers intercepted a pass intended for WR Victor Cruz.
With 1:28 left in the first half the 49ers got the ball back at New York’s 43-yard line. The 49ers were at New York’s 24-yard line two plays later, when a pass to WR Ted Ginn Jr. was intercepted by CB Corey Webster.
The 49ers started the second half by adding yet another field goal to the score sheet. San Francisco gained 70 yards on 6 plays but got stuck in New York’s red zone. David Akers had to kick again and was successful from 28 yards for a 12-6 lead.
The New York Giants had to punt for the first time after RILB Patrick Willis sacked Eli Manning for a loss of 9 yards on 3rd and 4 but the 49ers responded with a three-and-out straight away.
Probably tired of trading field goals the New York Giants tried a different approach. Eli Manning drove the offense down to San Francisco’s 13-yard line, from where he connected with WR Mario Manningham on a touchdown pass.
The fourth quarter had quite some playoff flair. TE Vernon Davis, who had little involvement in the receiving game to this point, scored a 31-yard touchdown and WR Michael Crabtree caught a pass on the two-point conversion to give the 49ers a 20-13 lead.
Two plays later Carlos Rogers intercepted another pass from Eli Manning for the first multi-interception game of his career. This time the 49ers took immediately advantage of the turnover when RB Kendall Hunter rushed for a 17-yard touchdown to give the Niners a commanding 27-13 lead, or so it seemed.
The New York Giants needed to score and they did. WR Hakeem Nicks caught a 32-yard pass for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 7, with 8:37 to go.
After a three-and-out from San Francisco the Giants got the ball again with 6:35 left in the game. Eli Manning moved the offense down the field to San Francisco’s 10-yard line and converted two fourth downs along the way. With 0:37 left the Giants had another fourth down but RE Justin Smith batted down a pass intended for TE Jake Ballard to secure the 27-20 win for the Niners.
Game Tidbits
Alex Smith completed 19 of 30 passes for 242 yards and threw 1 touchdown and 1 interception. His passer rating was 85.7.
San Francisco’s leading tackler LILB NaVorro Bowman recorded 10 tackles and now has 73 on the season.
Carlos Rogers has 5 of San Francisco’s 12 interceptions this season. He never had more than 2 interceptions in a season.
The Niners were outrushed by 93 yards to 77 yards.
Frank Gore’s streak of 5 games with 100+ yards rushing came to an end. He left the game with a knee injury. He had 0 yards on 6 attempts.
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