Niner Noise
FanSided

The 5 toughest quarterbacks the San Francisco 49ers face in 2017

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 02: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys changes a play at the line of scrimmage during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on October 2, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 02: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys changes a play at the line of scrimmage during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on October 2, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – OCTOBER 14: Quarterback Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants calls signals against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on October 14, 2012 in San Francisco, California. The Giants won 26-3. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – OCTOBER 14: Quarterback Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants calls signals against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on October 14, 2012 in San Francisco, California. The Giants won 26-3. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Eli Manning, New York Giants

The 49ers host the New York Giants in Week 10, and this is probably a contest the Niners have no business winning.

New York could easily run away with the NFC East, and one of the primary reasons is because of its defense. This is a legit unit, perfectly capable of shutting down everything San Francisco can do on the offensive side of the ball.

Yet one of the bigger storylines to watch here is how the Niners contend with wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall.

Engineering those two Giants players’ impact this season is, of course, quarterback Eli Manning.

At 36 years old, Manning’s effective days in the NFL are numbered. Until proven otherwise, though, he’s one of the better signal-callers in the league right now.

If there is some hope, historically speaking, the 49ers have held him to a 79.4 passer rating over his career — the lowest among any of Manning’s opponents in the NFC West.

Why It’s Difficult for the 49ers

San Francisco is hurting for effective man-on-man cornerbacks. Outside of No. 1 corner Rashard Robinson, the Niners haven’t exactly established someone to take over on the opposite end of the field.

And even Robinson looked shaky in the preseason.

This presents all kinds of problems covering receivers like Beckham and Marshall, who could have big days in Week 10, further padding Manning’s stats against San Francisco.