Giants (1-7) at 49ers (2-7)
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California TV: ESPN
Danny Sheridan’s line: by 2
Giants’ keys to victory: The Giants have to get their playmakers the ball. RB Saquon Barkley and WR Odell Beckham Jr. are both well-equipped to torch a porous, banged-up 49ers defense. But the Giants rank No. 31 in red-zone scoring percentage, so they have to devise ways to punch in touchdowns against the No. 24 scoring defense. On defense, they have to find ways to confuse San Francisco’s quarterback, Nick Mullens or C.J. Beathard, with heavy blitzes. Their pass rush has generated only 10 sacks this season, but if LB Olivier Vernon and DE Kerry Wynn can at least hurry the 49ers quarterback, their inexperience should lead to a few turnovers and short fields for the Giants offense.
49ers’ keys to victory: Getting after Giants QB Eli Manning the way it harassed Raiders QB Derek Carr will be the biggest key for the 49ers defense. A pass rush boosted by DE Cassius Marsh and OLB Dekoda Watson hid many of the 49ers’ deficiencies on defense vs. the Raiders. It should do the same against New York. On offense, Mullens or Beathard has to be careful with the football and trust TE George Kittle and WR Marquise Goodwin to make plays.
Matchup to watch: 49ers TE George Kittle vs. Giants SS Landon Collins. It would behoove the Giants to have their best coverage man take the 49ers’ budding star. Denying Kittle, who has 41 receptions this year, takes away a huge chunk of the 49ers’ passing attack.
Who wins? The Giants’ biggest weaknesses won’t allow them to take advantage of the areas that make the 49ers a truly bad team.
49ers, 24-16 49ers GIANTS SCHEDULE
L ....... Jacksonville ....... 20-15 L ........... at Dallas ........... 20-13 W ....... at Houston ....... 27-22 L ....... New Orleans ....... 33-18 L ........ at Carolina ........ 33-31 L ...... Philadelphia ...... 34-13 L ........ at Atlanta ........ 23-20 L ....... Washington ....... 20-13 Nov. 4 ................ Bye ................ Nov. 12 ..at San Fran. .. 8:15 Nov. 18 ....... Tampa Bay ....... 1 Nov. 25...at Philadelphia...1 Dec. 2 .......... Chicago .......... 1 Dec. 9 .... at Washington .... 1 Dec. 16 ....... Tennessee ....... 1 Dec. 22 or 23 ..at Indy ..TBD Dec. 30 ........... Dallas ........... 1
L ..... at Minnesota ..... 24-16 W .......... Detroit .......... 30-27 L .... at Kansas City .... 38-27 L ....... at Chargers ....... 29-27 L ........... Arizona ........... 28-18 L ..... at Green Bay ..... 33-30 L ........ L.A.Rams ........ 39-10 L ........ at Arizona ........ 18-15 W ........... Oakland ........... 34-3 Nov. 12 ... N.Y. Giants ...8:15 Nov. 18 .............. Bye ............. Nov. 25 ...at Tampa Bay ... 1 Dec. 2 ..... at Seattle ..... 8:20 Dec. 9 ....... Denver ....... 4:05 Dec. 16 ...... Seattle ...... 4:05 Dec. 23 ..... Chicago ..... 4:05 Dec. 30 .at L.A. Rams .4:25