The San Francisco 49ers are back on the road this week, heading to New Jersey to face the New York Giants. The game is on national TV thanks to a Sunday Night Football date, kicking off at 5:30 p.m. PT. That means we get Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth in the booth. The 49ers are coming off a third straight bad defeat, and will look to rebound in some kind of way. The defense was awful in Weeks 2 and 3, while the offense was awful in Weeks 3 and 4. Maybe they both click in Week 5? Or I suppose they could revert back to Week 3's combined ugliness.
We're back with another prospector's guide. The 49ers get their media schedule going Wednesday morning with Jim Tomsula's first press conference, at 10:30 a.m. Giants head coach Tom Coughlin follows on a conference call with Bay Area media at 10:45, and then Eli will speak with Bay Area media at 11:00. Colin Kaepernick and Thomas McGaughey will then be at the podium starting at 11:45. The locker room is open from 12 to 12:45, and practice is set at 2 p.m. We'll get the practice participation report sometime later in the afternoon.
On Thursday, the coordinators speak, with Eric Mangini and Geep Chryst scheduled for 11:45 a.m. The locker room is open after that until 12:45, and then practice is set for 2:40 p.m. On Friday, Jim Tomsula speaks at 10:35 a.m., practice is set for 11:20 a.m., and the locker room will be open after practice. There is no word yet on if the 49ers will depart on Friday or Saturday.
The 49ers and Giants have plenty of significant history. They have played eight playoff games dating back to 1982. In six of those eight seasons, the winner of this playoff matchup ended up winning the Super Bowl. And of course, they have had some crazy games during that time. The Giants won in January 1991 and January 2012 thanks to Roger Craig and Kyle Williams. The 49ers won in January 2003 on a wild comeback capped by a non-call on a Giants field goal.
This year, the Giants are 2-2, having won their last two. Eli Manning will be looking for Odell Beckham Jr., and trying to get Rashad Jennings and company going on the ground. The 49ers defense will look to build on last week's very solid effort against the Packers, while trying to get their offense back on track in some way. Traditional stats rank the Giants defense No. 1 against the run, and No. 32 against the pass. Using DVOA, Football Outsiders ranks the Giants run defense No. 1, and their pass defense No. 14. For the 49ers, it will once again come down to getting the offensive line together, and Colin Kaepernick making some good decisions. If those things happen, the 49ers can win this game. If they don't happen, the 49ers will probably not win this game.
Matchups: 38
Series Record: Series is tied 19-19
49ers Away Record vs. Giants: Giants lead series 10-8
First Meeting: 11/9/52, Giants win 23-14, at NYG
Last Meeting: 11/16/14, 49ers win 16-10, at NYG
Current Streak: Won 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): 49ers win 44-3, at SF (d)
Most Giants Points: 49 (1/4/87): Giants win 49-3, at NYG (d)
49ers Shutouts: 1 (11/23/80), 49ers win 12-0, at SF
Giants Shutouts: None
(d) - NFC Divisional Playoff
S Antoine Bethea
- In 3 career games vs. NYG, has registered 17 tackles and 4 PDs.
WR Anquan Boldin
- As a member of the Arizona Cardinals, caught 1 TD and recorded game highs in receptions (11) and receiving yards (87) vs. NYG (11/23/08).
- As a member of the Baltimore Ravens, recorded game-highs with 7 receptions and 93 receiving yards vs. NYG (12/23/12).
LB NaVorro Bowman
- Led the team with 17 tackles vs. NYG (11/13/11). Also recorded 1 special teams stop and 1 TFL.
RB Reggie Bush
- As a member of the New Orleans Saints, rushed for a game-high 126 yards and 1 TD on 20 carries at NYG (12/24/06).
- Registered a 7-yard TD run vs. NYG (10/18/09) while with New Orleans.
- Recorded a game-high 103 yards on 15 carries as a member of the Miami Dolphins at NYG (10/30/11).
TE Vernon Davis
- Hauled in a 31-yard TD pass in the 4th qtr. vs. NYG (11/13/11), leaping over a defender on his way into the end zone. The TD reception ranked him t-1st in franchise history for the most TD receptions among TEs (Brent Jones), with 33 career TDs.
- Notched 3 receptions for 112 yards and 2 TD receptions vs. NYG (NFC-C) (1/22/12). Was on the receiving end of a 73-yard TD pass by QB Alex Smith in the 1st qtr. The 73-yard completion tied Davis' career-long [73t at StL (1/3/10)] and marked the fourth longest postseason reception in 49ers postseason history.
K Phil Dawson
- Successfully converted all 3 FG attempts in a 16-10 win at NYG on 11/16/14.
LB Aaron Lynch
- Brought down Giants QB Eli Manning for 1.0 sack on the first drive of the 3rd quarter at NYG (11/16/14).
FS Eric Reid
- Registered 3 tackles, 1 INT and 2 PDs as the 49ers defense held the Giants to 10 points at NYG (11/16/14).
WR Torrey Smith
- As a member of the Baltimore Ravens, recorded 88 yards and 1 TD on 5 receptions vs. NYG (12/23/12).
LB Michael Wilhoite
- Recorded 7 tackles and intercepted Giants QB Eli Manning for his first career INT at NYG (11/16/14).
2015 Statistics
| 49ERS (rank) | GIANTS (rank) | |
| 1-3 (4th NFCW) | Record | 2-2 (t-2nd NFCE) |
| 12.0 (32nd) | Points per game | 25.5 (9th) |
| 289.0 (31st) | Total Offense | 335.8 (22nd) |
| 130.3 (5th) | Rushing Offense | 93.0 (24th) |
| 158.8 (32nd) | Passing Offense | 242.8 (19th) |
| 29:!4 (19th) | Possession Avg | 28:20 (24th) |
| 27.5 (t-18th) | Points allowed/gm | 20.5 (11th) |
| 377.3 (23rd) | Total Defense | 386.0 (26th) |
| 114.0 (20th) | Rushing Defense | 69.8 (1st) |
| 263.3 (21st) | Passing Defense | 316.3 (32nd) |
| 9 (t-9th) | Sacks | 5 (t-28th) |
| 44.3 (22nd) | Punting Avg (Gross) | 43.5 (26th) |
| -5 (30th) | Turnover Differential | +6 (t-2nd) |