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49ers pass rush should have big day vs. Eli Manning, Giants in Week 10

By Peter Panacy

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 22: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants throws a pass under pressure against Isaac Sopoaga #90 of the San Francisco 49ers during the NFC Championship Game at Candlestick Park on January 22, 2012 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 22: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants throws a pass under pressure against Isaac Sopoaga #90 of the San Francisco 49ers during the NFC Championship Game at Candlestick Park on January 22, 2012 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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The San Francisco 49ers get another favorable matchup against the one-win New York Giants on Monday Night Footballl, and the Niners’ pass rush should have a big day versus quarterback Eli Manning.

The San Francisco 49ers added eight sacks in Week 9 against the Oakland Raiders to their previously measly season totals, bringing that number all the way up to 24 on the season.

While it seems skewed after going up against a porous, banged-up Oakland offensive line, the Niners’ sack total for 2018 is now at 24 — tied for seventh best in the NFL.

Whether or not Week 9 was an anomaly or a proverbial “clicking of a unit” will receive a good deal of evidence on Monday Night Football when San Francisco hosts the one-win New York Giants and veteran quarterback Eli Manning.

No other signal-caller has taken more sacks this season than Manning (31). And despite numerous changes and some reshuffling of the Giants O-line before and during the regular season, Manning has regularly found himself under pressure over the course of 2018.

And he hasn’t thrived under it at all.

Here are some numbers and stats for you. According to Football Outsiders, New York’s O-line ranks 26th with an adjusted sack rate of 9.1 percent. And Pro Football Focus is giving the Giants an overall pass-blocking grade of 61.4, which ranks 31st in the lead and just ahead of the Arizona Cardinals.

One of the Giants’ big free-agent acquisitions on the year, left tackle Nate Solder, has given up a team-leading six sacks on the year. But right tackle Chad Wheeler has allowed a whopping 21 hurries, which is the most of all New York up-front blockers.

This spells some good news and opportunity for defensive tackle Arik Armstead, who failed to record a sack during the 49ers’ Week 9 win over the Raiders but already surpassed his career high in sacks this season (3.0). And it’s safe to say SAM linebacker Dekoda Watson made a huge difference after starting off the year on injured reserve. He had 1.5 sacks against an arguably better Oakland O-line last week.

Manning hasn’t exactly handled the pressure well this season. Also per PFF, Manning’s passer rating under pressure drops all the way to 61.9 from 103.1 without it. And half of his six interceptions tossed this year have come from being under pressure.

For a Niners defense struggling with defensive takeaways, this is yet another bonus to look for in Week 10.

If San Francisco can come close to replicating the pass-rush pressure and sack production against New York, along with Manning continuing to have his issues dealing with it, the Niners should have little trouble pulling off the prime-time home win on Monday night.

The 49ers and Giants kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET on Nov. 12 from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

Next. 3 Giants players Nick Mullens needs to target in Week 10. dark

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