49ers vs. Giants: A prospector's guide

The 49ers and Giants square off for the third time in eleven months this Sunday, in a series that has currently tied at 18 games apiece. The 49ers hold an 11-8 edge at Candlestick Park. The 49ers are coming off a record-setting offensive performance last week against the Buffalo Bills. The 49ers set a franchise-record with 621 net yards of offense, and became the first team in NFL history to accrue 300 yards of rushing and 300 yards of passing in the same game.

Alex Smith registered arguably the best game of his career, completing 18 of 24 pass attempts for 303 yards, 3 touchdowns and a QB rating of 156.2. Along with Smith, Frank Gore (106 yards rushing), Michael Crabtree (113 yards receiving) and Vernon Davis (106 yards receiving) all put together strong performances. It marked the first time since 1951 that the San Francisco 49ers had a 300-yard passer, 100-yard rusher and two, 100-yards receivers in the same game.

The 49ers are putting up some pretty crazy numbers, with the rushing offense in particular looking rather filthy. The 49ers are averaging 6.1 yards per carry, which is the highest mark in franchise history since 1954 when they averaged 6.4 yards per carry through the same stretch. The last NFL team to average that many yards was the 2008 New York Giants.

Some highlights through five games include:

• Average starting field position at their own 30.8 yard line (3rd NFL)
• +81 scoring differential (1st NFL)
• The 49ers have gained 4+ yards on 60% of their first downs, (1st NFL)
• The defense has allowed 3.98 yards on opponents' first down plays (1st NFL)
• The defense has allowed only 35.9% of running plays to gain 4+ yards (1st NFL)
• The defense has allowed opponents to score on just 22.2% of their possessions (3rd NFL)
• The defense has allowed just 3 points off of turnovers (1st in NFL)

Coaching Connections

• 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh and Giants running backs coach Jerald Ingram were teammates at the University of Michigan while Giants linebacker coach Jim Hermann was on the Wolverine coaching staff in 1983. Ingram joined the Michigan coaching staff as a graduate assistant in 1984 while Harbaugh was still on the team.
• 49ers assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Brad Seely was on the New England Patriots staff from 2001-08, coaching the Patriots special teams while Giants assistant special teams coach Larry Izzo was a linebacker for the Patriots
• 49ers secondary coach Ed Donatell served as a special assistant for the New York Jets in 2007, while Giants running backs coach Jim Hermann was the linebackers coach
• 49ers OL coach Mike Solari held the same position with the Chiefs from 2001-05 while Giants secondary/corners coach Peter Glunta was the DB coach for the Chiefs
• In 1994, 49ers assistant secondary Greg Jackson played for the Philadelphia Eagles while Giants secondary/corners coach Peter Glunta served as tjhe Eagles DB coach
• 49ers OL coach Tim Drevno coached the OL at San Jose State while Giants ST coordinator Tom Quinn was the LB/TE/ST coach for the Spartans

Giants-Nor Cal Connections

• Giants ST coordinator Tom Quinn coached at SJSU from 1999-01 and at Stanford from 2002-05
• Giants C David Baas was drafted by the 49ers in the 2nd round (33rd overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft and played 6 seasons with SF from 2005-10
• Giants QB David Carr played for the 49ers in 2010
• Giants TE Bear Pascoe was originally a 6th round (184th overall) draft choice by the 49ers in 2009

49ers-NY/NJ area connections

• 49ers assistant head coach/ST coordinator Brad Seely was the Jets special teams coach in 1994
• 49ers OC Greg Roman is from Ventnor, NJ
• 49ers secondary coach Ed Donatell held the same position with the Jets from 1990-94 adn returned to the Jets as a special assistant in 2007
• 49ers QB coach Geep Chryst attended and played linebacker at Princeton University from 1981-84
• 49ers assistant secondary coach Greg Jackson was a safety for the Giants from 1989-93
• 49ers senior offensive assitant Paul Wulff was an OL for the Jets in 1990 and the NY/NJ Knights of the NFL World League in 1992
• 49ers C Jonathan Goodwin played for the jets from 2002-05
• 49ers OT Anthony Davis was born and raised in Piscataway, NJ and attended Piscataway HS before starring collegiately at Rutgers
• 49ers CB Tarell Brown was born in New York City

Collegiate Connections

• Mississippi Magic - Patrick Willis was teammates with Eli Manning in 2003 at Ole Miss
• Michigan Men - Mario Manningham and Giants DB Stevie Brown both played for the Wolverines from 2005-07. Jonathan Goodwin and Giants C David Baas were teammates at Michigan in 2001
• Hurrican Homies - Frank Gore played his entire collegiate career with Giants S Antrel Rolle at the University of Miami (FL) from 2001-04. Tavares Gooden and Giants S Kenny Phillips played for the Hurricanes from 2005-07
• Thundering Herd - C.J. Spillman played at Marshall with Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw from 2005-06

Series Highlights
Matchups: 36
Series record: Tied 18-18
49ers home record vs. Giants: 49ers lead series 11-8
First Meeting: 11/09/52, Giants win 23-14, at NY
Last Meeting: 1/22/12, Giants win 20-17 (OT), at SF (NFC-C)
Current Streak: Lost 1
Longest 49ers win Streak: 6 (9/6/92 - 1/5/03)
Longest Giants win Streak: 5 (10/15/72 - 10/14/79)
Most 49ers Points: 44 (1/15/94), 44-3, at SF
Most Giants Points: 49 (1/4/87), 49-3, at NY
49ers Shutouts: 1 (11/23/80), 49ers win 12-0, at SF
Giants Shutouts: None

2012 Statistics