Niner Noise takes a look at some overreactions following the SF 49ers domination of the NY Giants Week 3.
The SF 49ers played against the NY Giants without their starting quarterback, starting and backup running back, starting wide receiver, starting tight end, starting center, starting left defensive end, starting right defensive end, backup defensive end, strongside linebacker, and starting cornerback.
Did you get all that?
During the game, the Niners lost their second starting cornerback, their new starting running back, their new starting tight end, and their long-snapper had the yips.
That’s more than a dozen injuries, if you’re keeping count.
More than a dozen injuries for the SF 49ers, playing on a field they disliked and against a team with an above-average run defense that could take away their primary offensive attack, and they absolutely decimated the Giants, winning 36-9 in decisive fashion.
Sure, the first half was a struggle. San Francisco’s offense lacked cohesion, and the offensive line was abysmal in both pass protection and run blocking. Backup quarterback Nick Mullens was jittery and off-balance, and the potent rushing attack had no teeth.
However, the 49ers managed to do enough to get to field-goal position every time, with kicker Robbie Gould making two of his three attempts in the first half. The defense played well enough against the Giants to slow them down. New York’s quarterback, Daniel Jones, didn’t have his best performance by any means, including an ugly fumble the 49ers pounced on.
The game flipped on a two-drive stretch where the Niners scored on a Jerick McKinnon rushing touchdown and then got an interception courtesy of linebacker Fred Warner.
After that, the momentum was firmly in the hands of San Francisco.
From there the SF 49ers dominated. The offense got loose, the defense tightened up, and everyone was smiling.
A game like this needs the obligatory “but it was only the Giants,” but the 49ers had less players than last week and were playing a better opponent than last week, yet won by more than last week. But with so many backups playing against such a bad team, and it being only one game, there’s a bevy of overreactions to be had. Some of them may even have merit.
So I’ll find five hot takeaways from this game and determine if they are overreactions or indicative of some greater truth.