3 Key Matchups for the 49ers in Week 3 home opener vs. Giants
The 49ers’ home opener against the Giants perhaps offers less intrigue for the neutral than it might have done a few weeks ago. San Francisco is 2-0 after a pair of road wins and the widely held expectation is they will win comfortably against a Giants team missing three offensive starters and coming off a […]
The 49ers’ home opener against the Giants perhaps offers less intrigue for the neutral than it might have done a few weeks ago.
San Francisco is 2-0 after a pair of road wins and the widely held expectation is they will win comfortably against a Giants team missing three offensive starters and coming off a thoroughly unimpressive 1-1 start.
But playing on a short week in primetime on Thursday Night Football, the 49ers can ill-afford to take anything for granted. Let’s look at three matchups that will be crucial for the Niners as they look to stay undefeated.
49ers secondary vs. Daniel Jones
The 49ers’ pass rush didn’t have difficulty pushing the pocket against the Rams but, in the first half, Matthew Stafford was able to negate the pressure by getting the ball out quickly and finding receivers in holes in San Francisco’s zone coverage.
San Francisco tightened things up significantly in the second half and the pressure the 49ers were able to generate eventually had a telling impact. Still, Stafford’s success in the first two quarters potentially provided a blueprint for the Giants as to how to slow the 49er pass rush.
The Giants’ main counter to the 49ers’ aggressiveness is likely to be the mobility of Daniel Jones but, in a game where dominance from San Francisco’s defensive line looks inevitable against a banged-up Giants offensive line absent two starters, Jones may also look to consistently get the ball quickly with short completions to keep the ball moving and tire Steve Wilks’ defense.
But the problem with that approach for New York is that getting rid of the ball has not been Jones’ strong suit. Per NextGen Stats, Jones’ average time to throw this season is 2.92 seconds. Twenty-four quarterbacks have a quicker average.
The key for the 49ers secondary will be to ensure the gaps that were apparent in the first half against the Rams are not as consistently obvious versus the Giants. If the Niners can force Jones to hold onto the ball, they can make it a very long night for the Giants’ offense.
Interior offensive line vs. Dexter Lawrence
San Francisco’s offense is the third-most efficient in football by Expected Points Added per play through the first two weeks of the season.
There appears little on the surface that can hinder the 49ers’ offense in this game. However, of concern is surely the battle between the interior of its offensive line and a strong Giants defensive front.
Right guard Spencer Burford is coming off a rough outing against the Rams, one in which he gave up three pressures, per Pro Football Focus.
After facing Aaron Donald and Co, Burford’s task gets no easier against Giants nose tackle Dexter Lawrence, who already has nine pressures to his name this campaign.
Left guard Aaron Banks has yet to give up a pressure in 2023 while Jake Brendel continues to provide solidity at center. That duo and the less impressive Burford will need to be up to the challenge against Lawrence, Leonard Williams and A’Shawn Robinson to ensure Brock Purdy is not under a level pf pressure that prevents San Francisco from moving the ball efficiently.
Christian McCaffrey vs. Giants linebackers
With Brandon Aiyuk looking set to be a game-time decision because of a shoulder injury, there could be more emphasis on their plethora of other top-tier passing game weapons.
Thankfully, Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey have started the season extremely strongly, combining for 468 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns across the first two weeks.
It is McCaffrey who is the straw that stirs the drink, however, not just with what he can do on the ground but also with his gravity in the receiving game.
The threat of McCaffrey the pass-catcher played a key role in creating favorable looks for Purdy against the Rams, manipulating the linebackers covering the middle of the field and in turn giving the San Francisco quarterback big voids to attack.
New York could be without one of its two starting inside linebackers, with Micah McFadden listed as questionable with a neck injury. McFadden’s absence would promote Isaiah Simmons to the starting lineup.
Kyle Shanahan has plenty of experience in attacking former Cardinal Simmons in the passing game but, even in McFadden is available, the 49ers will almost certainly look to exploit that area of the New York defense to make life easier on Purdy.
McCaffrey maintaining his torment of opposing linebackers will be a massive factor in the 49ers’ hopes of validating their status as heavy favorites and moving to 3-0.
How to watch and stream San Francisco 49ers-New York Giants in Week 3
The 49ers are looking to move to 3-0.
Featured Image Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
