49ers-Giants preview: QB Nick Mullens key to victory on Monday Night Football
By Chris Wilson
49ers QB Nick Mullens
While the Giants made a conscious effort over the offseason to focus their 2018 offense around their rookie Barkley, the outcome of tonight’s matchup will be determined by a fellow youngster who had no part in the 49ers’ offensive plans when the 2018 season began.
Prior to Week 3, quarterback Nick Mullens was merely a practice squad afterthought in the minds of 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch. After trading for starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and drafting backup QB C.J. Beathard, San Francisco believed they were set at the position, as Mullens was relegated to the practice squad despite outplaying Beathard during the preseason.
However, after a Week 3 ACL injury to Garoppolo, and extensive poor play by Beathard, Mullens was given the starting nod last week. Whether Beathard’s hand injury was the reason behind the quarterback change, or was merely the excuse used to stop the bleeding caused by their second-year QB, the 49ers reaped the benefits of their decision, as the Niners rode Mullens’ historic debut to a 34-3 victory over the Raiders:
| Passing | Rushing | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Date | G# | Age | Tm | Opp | Result | GS | Cmp | Att | Cmp% | Yds | TD | Int | Rate | Sk | Yds | Y/A | AY/A | Att | Yds | Y/A | TD | Fmb | FF | FR | Yds | TD | |
| 1 | 2018-11-01 | 9 | 23.225 | SFO | OAK | W 34-3 | * | 16 | 22 | 72.73 | 262 | 3 | 0 | 151.9 | 0 | 0 | 11.91 | 14.64 | 4 | -3 | -0.75 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 |
Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
After playing close to a perfect game in his first NFL action, tonight’s matchup will be telling for Mullens’ future, as the Giants have the advantage of a week’s worth of game film from the previously unknown QB. Mullens has the confidence to play at the next level; if he displays the decision-making skills and arm strength necessary to defeat New York tonight, then the 49ers’ starting quarterback job will be his to lose for the remainder of the 2018 season.