Yes, the nightmare has been made manifest as the pathetic New York Giants (1-7) travel to Levi’s Stadium to take on the hapless San Francisco 49ers (0-9) Sunday afternoon.
God help us all, this game will be broadcast by the FOX network and its local affiliates at 4:25 p.m. EST and there’s not a damn thing any of us can do about it.
The Game: New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers (+2.5)
O/U: 42.0
The History
The Giants and 49ers have played 39 times since 1952. New York leads the all time series 20-19.
The two teams have met eight times in the playoffs since 1982. They’re dead even at a 4-4 record in the postseason.
They last met up on October 11, 2015 at MetLife Stadium. New York won 30-27 with Eli Manning out-dueling Colin Kaepernick. Manning finished 41 of 54 for 441 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Kaepernick was 23 of 35 for 262 yards and two touchdowns. He added three carries for 23 yards on the ground.
NEW YORK GIANTS (1-7)
How bad can it get for the Giants? How about a 51-17 loss at home to the Los Angeles Rams that wasn’t even that close. New York got its final touchdown in garbage time deep in the fourth quarter playing the Rams deep reserves. It was so ugly that Geno Smith got to take a couple of snaps.
Los Angeles did pretty much anything it wanted against the once vaunted Giants defense. They rang up 473 yards, quarterback Jared Goff threw four touchdown passes and one of them to Sammy Watkins was officially the deepest thrown ball in the league this year. That’s how wide open Watkins was. Goff had to hit him with a moon shot.
Eli Manning’s stat line wasn’t terrible, but that should tell you definitively that stats don’t tell the whole story. Manning was 20 of 36 for 220 yards, two touchdowns and one pick. The problem was the turnovers. New York handed the ball to the Rams three times. Four if you count a blocked punt. The game was a complete disaster.
As for injuries, cornerback Donte Deayon is doubtful and linebackers, B.J. Goodson, Devon Kennard and Keenan Robinson are all listed as out. Olivier Vernon and Johnathan Casillas should suit up after missing last week. Cornerback Janoris Jenkins is back from his one game suspension.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (0-9)
The 49ers are looking at four players who should miss Sunday’s game. Rookie wide receiver Trent Taylor, one of the few bright spots in an otherwise bleak season, is out with a rib injury. Defensive lineman Aaron Lynch, linebacker Elijah Lee and tight end George Kittle will all miss the game as well.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan isn’t quite ready to throw recently acquired quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo into the fire just yet. While I understand that there’s no way Garoppolo can know the offense after just a week and a half with the team, this Giants squad seems like a good time to test him out a little.
Instead it will once again be rookie C.J. Beathard under center. Beathard hasn’t been terrible, but he hasn’t been good either. He’s never led the 49ers to more than 10 points in his three starts. Against the Arizona Cardinals in a 20-10 loss last week, Beathard was 24 of 51 for 294 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. It wasn’t good enough but, hell, it could help the 49ers blow out the Giants this week. This game is a flaming porta-john.
Carlos Hyde had a good game against the Cards, even though he didn’t get into the end zone. He carried the ball 12 times for 41 yards and caught nine passes for 84. Expect more of the same this week.
The Pick
This game is so awful I’m surprised it’s not scheduled for Monday Night Football. There’s nothing to like about New York here other than the fact they’re playing San Francisco. The only subplot worth watching is if Jimmy Garoppolo gets in the game. Giants 20, 49ers 16
This week
Straight up: 1-0
Against the spread: 1-0
Last week
Straight up: 9-4
Against the spread: 11-2
Season
Straight up: 78-54
Against the spread: 69-62
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