Jaxson Dart frustrated by how Giants were outplayed by Eagles
Jaxson Dart takes losses hard, and the Giants’ rookie was accountable, acknowledging he knows he plays a position that is judged by wins and losses.
Here’s a closer look at Sunday’s game between the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers:
San Francisco 49ers (5-3) at NY Giants (2-6)
Sunday, 1 p.m.
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Giants vs 49ers line, spread
49ers by 2.5 (via BetMGM)
Giants vs 49ers TV channel, streaming info
TV: CBS
Watch Giants vs 49ers live on Fubo
49ers’ keys to victory
The 49ers fell flat in what amounted to an early morning kickoff in Houston, and now they will come to New Jersey for another one, which is essentially a 10 a.m. kick against the Giants.
The speculation this week will be about the status of QB Brock Purdy, who has missed four games with a toe injury. QB Mac Jones will start if Purdy can’t go. WR Ricky Pearsall and Brandon Aiyuk are also on the road back from injury, but the 49ers start the week uncertain if one or both will be available.
TEs George Kittle and Jake Tonges (team-high 4 TD catches) could exploit the Giants’ ILB and S matchups. RB Christian McCaffrey will test the Giants’ run defense, which was gashed by Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby and the Eagles.
Giants’ keys to victory
Jaxson Dart is the first rookie QB in NFL history with at least eight TD passes and at least four rushing TDs through his first five career starts. He’s minimized the turnovers and galvanized a Giants’ offense that has lost star WR Malik Nabers (torn ACL) and most recently rookie RB Cam Skattebo (dislocated ankle vs. the Eagles).
The Giants’ offensive line has played solid in recent weeks behind LT Andrew Thomas and RT Jermaine Eluemunor, and that should continue against the 49ers’ pass rush, which is all sorts of banged up. Expect RB Tyrone Tracy to step up in Skattebo’s absence. The injury status of S Jevon Holland and CB Paulson Adebo – both of whom missed Sunday’s game – will be worth watching.
Giants vs 49ers matchup to watch
Giants OLB Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter vs. 49ers RT Colton McKivitz: Burns is tied for the NFL lead in sacks with 10, while Thibodeaux is playing the best of his career and Carter, the sensational rookie, is among the league leaders in QB pressures despite having just 0.5 sack. McKivitz struggled against Texans star Will Anderson Jr., who had a sack and three QB hits on Sunday.
Giants vs 49ers prediction
The Giants were on the short end of a tough whistle in Philadelphia, and after winning the first meeting, the defending Super Bowl champions flipped the script and were the more physical football team on both sides of the ball. That can’t happen Sunday.
Dart is undefeated in two games at home as the starting QB, beating the Chargers and the Eagles. A year after winning just once at the Meadowlands, Big Blue has found a groove and comfort in playing there.
If the Giants get off to a fast start, which they have done in every game since Dart took over as QB1 except the Eagles, they could surprise against the 49ers. We’ll see what former Jets head coach and 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh can cook up to test Dart, even with a depleted group on that side of the ball.
Giants 28, 49ers 24