Hey, it can’t be any worse than last season’s visit to NorCal

PAUL SCHWARTZ’S BIG BLUE PLAYBOOK

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — This is mostly a new Giants team, but those who remain have no interest in allowing déjà vu to enter their psyches as they embark on the second half of a season already gone haywire.

A year ago, the Giants were 1-7 when they hit the road for a cross-country trip to Northern California. The 49ers were 0-9. The Giants lost 31-21 and it was even worse-looking than that — they scored a meaningless touchdown with 62 seconds remaining. The Giants fell to 1-8 for the first time since 1980 and lost to a team winless after nine games for the first time in 51 years.

So, forgive the Giants, again 1-7, if they do not dwell on any unpleasant memories as they enter Levi’s Stadium — where air quality could be compromised because of the California wild fires — to face the nearly-as-dreadful 49ers (2-7).

“It was definitely a disappointing position to be in then, but we’re going out there with another opportunity to win a game and that’s our goal,’’ second-year tight end Evan Engram said. “Not really dwelling on the past or dwelling on how we feel about where we are right now. We know it sucks, we know we’re pissed, but we’re going out there trying to get a win and get some of this feeling out of our mouth.’’

There is little at stake in the standings, other than the early roll call for the 2019 NFL Draft. General manager Dave Gettleman and his top assistant, Kevin Abrams, were in Salt Lake City on Saturday night, scouting Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert, who could be the No. 1 pick April 25.

And so, all this has immense ramifications for Eli Manning, put on notice by new head coach Pat Shurmur that everyone — including the 37-year-old franchise quarterback — must perform at a higher level and contribute to winning some games in order to keep hold of their starting jobs. It sure sounded like an ultimatum. “I don’t look at it that way,’’ Shurmur said a few days after his initial announcement. “He’s done a lot of good things, but I think you always talk to the quarterback individually, and certainly the head coach and the coordinator do that. So I don’t see it quite that way. But again, I’m not going to try to tell other people what to believe. Eli’s going to be our quarterback and I expect him to play winning football.”

The best way to ease the load on Manning and the ever-struggling offensive line is to run the ball and get a lead. Enter Saquon Barkley. The Giants view him as an offensive weapon, but need to remember he is called a running back. Handing him the ball is not the only answer, but it is a smart place to begin this reclamation project. He is averaging 13.9 rushing attempts per game and his season-high (18) came in the opener.