49ers at New York Giants

Eli Manning threw two touchdown passes and the New York Giants beat the 49ers 33-15 at Giants Stadium. Brandon Jacobs ran for 107 yards and a touchdown. Trent Dilfer threw two touchdowns to Arnaz Battle but added two interceptions. Frank Gore ran for 88. The Giants' defense produced multiple sacks. The 49ers fell to 2-4 with the loss.[1][2][3]

Brandon Jacobs ran for 107 yards and a touchdown Sunday morning at Giants Stadium. The New York Giants beat the 49ers 33-15 in the kind of cross-conference road loss where the bye-week reset, with Trent Dilfer at quarterback and the offense in transition, ran into a Giants team that has been the kind of late-season NFC contender.

Dilfer threw two touchdowns to Arnaz Battle. Frank Gore ran for 88. Vernon Davis caught one for 12. Battle was the only receiver to break through. The defense surrendered 33 to a Giants offense that was not yet at its late-season Super Bowl ceiling.

2-4. The kind of road loss where the bye-week reset did not actually produce the kind of football the staff was hoping for. The New Orleans Saints come to Candlestick next Sunday in another cross-conference matchup. The Drew Brees Sunday game is the kind of week where the year's offensive identity gets to either rebuild or fade.

Giants 33, 49ers 15. Margin: -18. Six-game record: 2-4, -57 differential.

* Eli Manning: 18-of-31 for 146, 2 TDs, 1 INT.
* Brandon Jacobs: 18 carries for 107, 1 TD.
* Trent Dilfer: 23-of-38 for 209, 2 TDs (Battle x2), 2 INTs.
* Frank Gore: 14 carries for 88.
* Arnaz Battle: 6 catches for 57, 1 TD (plus one not listed but counted).
* Plaxico Burress: receiving production.
* 49ers 2-4; Giants 4-2.

A 33-15 road loss at Giants Stadium. The 49ers fall to 2-4 in the first game back from the bye.

How it unfolded

The Giants scored on their opening drive with a Brandon Jacobs touchdown to make it 7-0. The 49ers answered with a Joe Nedney field goal. The Giants added a Manning touchdown to push the lead to 14-3. Dilfer threw a touchdown to Battle to make it 14-9. The Giants added a field goal to make it 17-9 at halftime. The third quarter was a Manning second touchdown to push the lead to 24-9. The fourth quarter was a Giants field goal and another touchdown to make it 33-9. The 49ers added a late field goal and Dilfer hit Battle for the second touchdown to close it 33-15.

The turning point

Eli Manning's third-quarter touchdown that pushed the lead to 24-9. With the 49ers down 17-9 and the offense looking for a second-half rally, the Giants' answering touchdown drive turned a one-score game into a two-score deficit the offense did not have the personnel to overcome.

By the numbers

Dilfer 209 passing on 38 attempts with two TDs and two INTs. Gore 88 rushing on 14 carries. Battle 57 receiving on 6 catches with two TDs. Vernon Davis 12 receiving. Manning 146 passing on 31 attempts with two TDs. Jacobs 107 rushing with a TD.

Personnel watch

Arnaz Battle's two-touchdown game, the kind of veteran-receiver production the year had been missing. Trent Dilfer's two-INT game, the kind of result the bye week was meant to prevent. Frank Gore's productive day. Patrick Willis with another high-tackle game. The defense surrendering 33 to an offense that was not yet at Super Bowl form.

What it means

2-4 with the Saints at home next Sunday. The kind of bye-week-following road loss where the offensive identity did not actually reset. The Smith shoulder injury continues to be the year's defining ongoing absence. The home schedule still allows a credible second half, but the bye-week reset has now been authenticated as a failure.