San Francisco’s second road game in five days coincides with the Giants’ home opener. The absence of Saquon Barkley is highly likely, along with Daniel Jones’ struggles in prime-time games (1-10 record in night games). Additionally, offensively, the Giants will face the challenge of Nick Bosa against their overmatched offensive line. On paper, the odds may appear to be stacked against the Giants as they take on the 49ers, who have scored 30 points in each of the first two weeks and possess an abundance of playmakers. Despite these circumstances, it would be premature to write off the Giants.
Previously, just a few days ago, the Giants were deemed unlikely to succeed when they found themselves trailing 20-0 and later 28-7. Nevertheless, Jones managed to connect with Jalin Hyatt for a 58-yard bomb on the first play of the third quarter, a touchdown that marked the Giants’ first points of the season. Subsequently, they orchestrated an incredible comeback, securing a 31-28 victory to avoid starting the season at 0-2. It is important to acknowledge that the win came against the lowly Arizona, and the fact that the Giants landed in such a predicament to begin with is troubling.
An area of concern lies within their defense, which has yet to record a sack or force a turnover. This becomes more alarming when facing a well-oiled 49ers offense. The recent ankle injury to Barkley dampened the spirits following the comeback win. However, the Giants can still draw inspiration from their ability to rally when their backs were against the wall. While Barkley’s absence will be felt, the team possesses talent that awaits the opportunity to shine, and the key lies in their execution.
Although Matt Breida is not a replacement for Barkley, the former 49er may find extra motivation facing his old team. In addition, the Giants can rely on Darren Waller’s prowess, benefit from Hyatt’s explosiveness, capitalize on Jones’ dual-threat ability as a runner, and seek guidance from their competent coach, Brian Daboll. To avoid a repeat of a lackluster first half, the Giants must be alert from the start, while the defense needs to step up and create opportunities. It would be overly optimistic to expect an upset against the strong 49ers team, but with Daboll’s strategic game plan, the Giants may provide a closer contest than anticipated.