Offense
Got to feel good for Eli Manning (19-of-31, 188 yards, 3 TDs) after he notched his first comeback, game-winning drive of the season. Odell Beckham Jr. was targeted 11 times and came away with only four receptions for 73 yards. He had his first two-touchdown game of the season. Pass protection was better (only one sack) but run-blocking remains an issue, as Saquon Barkley on a career-high 20 rushing attempts managed just 67 yards. Evan Engram (4-46) and Sterling Shepard (2-9) were afterthoughts — until the last drive.
Grade: B-
Defense
B.J. Goodson did not have an interception in his first 30 NFL games and came up with two, both on deflections. Plenty of difficulty containing Matt Breida (17-101) on the ground and TE George Kittle (9-83) in the air. Good thing for the Giants they were going against novice QB Nick Mullens. LB Alec Ogletree was abused in coverage, badly trailing play after play. Breida easily ran by him for an 11-yard TD. Ogletree later had a 15-yard personal foul for nailing Marquise Goodwin after a catch. Active night for rookie LB Lorenzo Carter (seven tackles, three tackles for loss).
Grade: B
Special Teams
A 23-yard punt return allowed early in the game gave the 49ers great field position. Nate Stupar was hit with a holding penalty on a kickoff return. Riley Dixon dropped a 45-yard punt on the 49ers 8-yard line. Corey Coleman burst through a hole on a kickoff return out to the 42-yard line, but it was called back by a holding penalty on Scott Simonson — essentially a loss of 30 yards in field position. Coleman later had a 51-yard kickoff return. Impressive. Aldrick Rosas sent the second-half kickoff out of bounds, which simply cannot happen.
Grade: C
Coaching
Pat Shurmur clearly wanted to establish Barkley in the running game. Good idea, although the handoff at the 3-yard line was not exactly inspired. The Giants do play to the bitter end for Shurmur and finally were rewarded. James Bettcher’s unit could not generate much heat on Mullens, who was not sacked and had the time he needed to scan the field. This would not have worked against a more experienced quarterback.
Grade: B+
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