49ers feel better about win in N.J. 2nd time around
Not all blowout wins in East Rutherford, N.J., over bottomfeeder teams inspire the same emotions.
On Sept. 20, after the 49ers stomped the Jets 3113, their mood was somber. It was nice to get a win, but what about all the injuries?
On Sunday, after they stomped the Giants 369, their mood was celebratory. It was nice to get a win, then ponder what else might be accomplished after their injured players return.
“I think we all know how it felt after that Jets win,” quarterback Nick Mullens said after Sunday’s game. “I really didn’t feel any sense of excitement.”
And right tackle Mike McGlinchey provided the emotional update after the retooled squad didn’t have to punt, didn’t allow a touchdown and didn’t commit a turnover.
“We had a lot of guys step in at a lot of different positions,” McGlinchey said Sunday. “That kind of brings the excitement back.”
Yes, the defending NFC champions might have sent a message with Sunday’s win: The revenge tour has not been canceled.
The 49ers’ path back to the Super Bowl unquestionably became more difficult to navigate when Pro Bowl pass rusher Nick Bosa suffered a torn ACL against the Jets. However, among the eight other starters who were sidelined against the Giants, it’s possible that the 49ers will have at least six back when the seemingly easier part of their schedule ends with a visit from the Rams on Oct. 18.
Before that, they will host the Eagles (021), a discombobulated 2019 playoff team coming off a tie with the Bengals (021), and the Dolphins (12), losers of 33 of their past 52 games.
The 49ers (21) should have a few reinforcements before hosting Philadelphia, but they probably would feel confident with the crew that scored the game’s final 20 points against the Giants.
“We showed today that we have a lot of depth,” inside linebacker Fred Warner said Sunday. “We knew that we were coming in with a lot of injuries. But we wanted to prove to everyone that we’re all we got and we’re all we need.”
The 49ers received huge contributions from backups. Mullens threw for 343 yards, running backs Jerick McKinnon and Jeff Wilson combined for 146 total yards and three touchdowns, and No. 3 tight end Ross Dwelley had a careerhigh 49 receiving yards.
On defense, Jason Verrett and Dontae Johnson, who were the Nos. 4 and 5 cornerbacks at the start of the season, were part of a secondary that limited quarterback Daniel Jones to the secondlowest completion percentage (53.1) and thirdlowest passer rating (56.6) of his 15start career. The 49ers had two sacks, one from Kerry Hyder, their No. 3 defensive end in Week 1, the other from Dion Jordan, who was promoted from the practice squad Wednesday.
Despite their attrition, the 49ers still were able to trot out eight firstround picks among their 22 starters Sunday.
“We have a good team here,” McGlinchey said. “We have guys from top to bottom of our roster that are capable of excelling. … And I think that showed today.”
Before the 49ers get too carried away with their good vibes, this should be noted: The Jets (03) and Giants (03) weren’t expected to be playoff contenders, have indevelopment 23yearold QBs and were dealing with their own significant injuries.
The Jets didn’t have Pro Bowl running back Le’Veon Bell or Jamison Crowder, their leading receiver in 2019. And the Giants didn’t have Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley and Sterling Shepard, their leading receiver from last year.
In that sense, the 49ers have caught a break. Their earlyseason injury toll has been brutal, but their schedule is kind. Their first five opponents have a 3111 record. Their final 11 games, a slate that includes two games against both the Seahawks (30) and Rams (21), are against teams that are 189.
“We’ve had two good games here in a row,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “And I think our team does have a lot more confidence (about the injury situation). … Hopefully, we keep playing this way and slowly but surely get a lot of these guys back as we move forward.”