NFL Analysis: Week 3 49ers vs Giants

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The San Francisco 49ers showcased why they might be Super Bowl favorites in “Thursday Night Football,” cruising to a 30-12 win over the New York Giants and covering a -10 spread easily in BUSR’s NFL Lines. 

Quarterback Brock Purdy dazzled, setting a regular-season career high of 310 passing yards, accompanied by two touchdowns. The 49ers’ cast, including Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel, collectively amassed over 240 yards and two touchdowns. Interestingly, 2023 seventh-round rookie, Ronnie Bell, also marked his entry with a touchdown on his first-ever NFL reception.

Despite a Thursday night fixture, which often means limited preparation time, San Francisco countered the Giants’ aggressive defensive strategy brilliantly. New York’s intense blitz approach was matched with Purdy’s adaptable game. Pivoting from long passes, he switched to a short screen game, handling the ball securely and effectively. The highlight was Purdy’s pinpoint 27-yard touchdown pass to Samuel.

The 49ers Great Defensive Wall

On the other end, the 49ers’ defense remained rock-solid. The Giants could only muster a single touchdown and were restricted to 3.3 yards per play. The Giants’ strategy to employ a quick-passing game to thwart the 49ers’ defense fell flat, with Nick Bosa and Javon Hargrave registering sacks. Daniel Jones, the Giants’ quarterback, found little space to maneuver, ending with a mere five yards on two carries.

Despite a shaky start with missed long passes, Purdy’s ability to progress the ball was evident. The Giants’ relentless blitzing only led him to chalk up 310 passing yards. Additionally, in the absence of Brandon Aiyuk due to injury, Ronnie Bell stepped up. Showcasing his preseason form, Bell’s touchdown catch and subsequent crucial red zone grab uplifted the 49ers.

How did the Injured Giants Do? 

The Giants, however, avoided an ugly blowout. Missing four vital players, including Saquon Barkley and Andrew Thomas, their performance was acceptable. While Barkley’s absence crippled their run game, Jones tried compensating with his arm strength, managing one touchdown via an 8-yard run from Matt Breida. 

Their game wasn’t the anticipated 49ers whitewash, but synchronization issues were evident. Jones struggled to link up with tight end Darren Waller, and potential game-changer Jalin Hyatt went untargeted. The looming presence of Bosa, often drawing triple-teams, forced Jones to opt for quicker releases.

A critical metric underlining the 49ers’ dominance was the time of possession. Retaining control for over 39 minutes, San Francisco outpaced New York, accumulating 441 yards compared to the Giants’ 150. This victory, highlighted by star performances and strategic counterplays, reinforces the 49ers’ prowess in the current season.

NFL Odds Results

Given the final score of 30-12 in favor of San Francisco, the betting predictions were largely accurate. 

The spread, which favored the 49ers by 10 points, was surpassed as San Francisco won by an 18-point margin. The moneyline also accurately reflected the game’s outcome, as it significantly favored the 49ers. However, when looking at the total set at 44.5 points, the combined score of 42 points meant that the game went “under” the expected total, which is due to the Giants’ being able to resist a blowout by the superior 49ers.