Live blog: 49ers vs. Giants

SAN FRANCISCO — This is the live blog for the 49ers Week 10 game against the New York Giants. I will be updating this from the Candlestick Park press box frequently throughout the game.

The 49ers inactive players are: Shawntae Spencer, Scott Tolzien, Brett Swain, Moran Norris, Daniel Kilgore, Mike Person, Ian Williams.

So, Ray McDonald is active. On the depth chart he’s still listed a starter, for what it’s worth.

For the Giants, WRs Hakeem Nicks (hamstring) and Mario Manningham (knee) are both active.

First Quarter

1:16 On first down from the 20, Brandon Jacobs runs up the middle for a gain of two yards. I don’t expect to see that play again any time soon from the Giants.

1:17 Next play, Jacobs runs around the left tackle for a gain of two.

1:17 On third and six Manning lines up in the shotgun and completes an out pass to Nicks. Gain of nine yards.

1:18 On first down Manning completes a screen to Jacobs for a gain of one.

1:19 Next play Manning fakes a handoff to Jacobs, reads the whole field and throws a check down to Jacobs, who picks up 16 yards.

1:20 Next play, Manning completes another out to the right, this time to Manningham, this time for a gain of 14 yards. Rogers got beaten in coverage.

1:23 Second and six from the SF 9, Jacobs runs up the middle and gains nothing.

1:24 Manning completes a pass to Cruz for a gain of four. Whitner hits him, stop his forward progress and then strips the ball. The Niners want to challenge but that was an unchangeable play. You cannot challenge forward progress.

1:26 Lawrence Tynes makes a 23 yard field goal. 3-0 Giants with 6:27 left to play in the first quarter. 14 play drive.

1:28 On first down Alex Smith rolls right and completes a running pass to Delanie Walker for a gain of 11 yards.

1:29 Next play, Joe Staley jumps for the false start. First and 15 from the 26.

1:30 Next play, Smith completes a pretty back shoulder pass to Braylon Edwards on the right sideline. Gain of 21.

1:30 On first down Smith takes a shot at Vernon Davis deep down the middle, but Smith floats the ball and Davis gets the pass knocked away.

1:31 On second down Gore takes a handoff from Smith in a shotgun formation and runs up the middle for a gain of three.

1:32 On third and seven, Smith completes a 14 yard pass to Ted Ginn Jr. over the middle. Beautiful pass, beautiful play.

1:32 On first down Gore gets hit in the backfield and loses two.

1:33 On second down Smith completes a quick pass to Braylon Edwards on a curl route seven yards.

1:34 On third down Smith completes a pass to Gore in the left flat, and Gore picks up eight yards.

1:34 On first and ten from the 22, Smith throws a quick pass to Crabtree on a hot route, but Crabtree wasn’t looking and the pass fell incomplete.

1:35 Next play, Smith gets his pass tipped at the line of scrimmage, and it falls incomplete.

1:36 On third and ten Smith completes a quick, short out to Vernon Davis, who is flipped as soon as he catches the ball. Gain of four.

1:36 David Akers makes a 36 yard field goal. 3-3 with 25 seconds left in the first quarter. It’s interesting that the Niners came out mostly passing on the drive. Does that mean Gore’s ankle is limiting him?

1:39 Touchback. The Giants will start at their 20.

1:39 I’m sitting next to former 49ers announcer Joe Starkey in press box. It’s like I’m getting my own personal vintage play-by-play. I love listening to Starkey describe football action.

1:41 Jacobs runs up the middle for a gain of six. The Niners haven’t been as stout at the line of scrimmage as they’ve been all season. The Giants O-line is pushing Sopoaga and Smith and McDonald back.

Second Quarter

1:45 On first down Manning completes a quick slant to Cruz, who beats Rogers in the slot and picks up 21 yards.

1:45 Next play Jacobs runs up the middle for no gain. Willis and Sopoaga stopped him.

1:45 On second down Jacobs tries to run up the middle again, and Willis tackles him again, this time after a one yard gain.

1:46 On third and long, Manning makes a difficult, perfect pass to Manningham, who barely beat Brown on the left sideline. Gain of 13.

1:47 Next play, Manning completes a quick slant to Manningham on the right for a gain of 14. The Giants are having no problems passing.

1:48 Next play, Manning misses Bear Pascoe in the flat – throws it right over his head. First bad pass of the day for Manning.

1:48 On second and ten, Manning completes a quick pass to Pascoe, picking up nine yards.

1:49 Timeout Giants. They have a third and one at the SF 15. You’d have to assume they’re going to pass on this play.

1:51 Bad assumption. Jacobs runs up the middle for a gain of four, easy. First and ten from the 11 for the Giants.

1:52 Manning throws a strike to Manningham in the left flat, but the receiver drops the pass. Good break for the Niners. Second and ten.

1:53 Next play, Jacobs runs up the middle and almost hits a big whole, but Justin Smith wraps up his legs from behind. Gain of one.

1:53 Next play, Manning completes a short pass to Ballard in the left flat, but Rogers flips him immediately. Gain of three. Here comes Tynes to attempt a 25-yarder.

1:54 He makes it. 6-3 Giants. The Niners red zone defense is top notch, but it doesn’t seem like they can stop the Giants between the 20s. So, the Niners are probably going to have to score more than 20 to win today.

1:56 On first down Ted Ginn Jr. is in at receiver instead of Michael Crabtree.

1:59 Smith fakes a handoff to Gore, rolls right and completes a running pass to Kyle Williams, who picks up 14 yards.

2:00 Alex Smith throws an interception, but the Giants jumped offside. 1st and five from the 39.

2:01 On first down Alex Smith play fakes again, and this time he completes a 21-yard pass to Crabtree over the middle. Good route by Crabtree. Good pass, too.

2:02 Next play, Gore runs power to the right for a three yard gain.

2:02 Smith completes a pass to Crabtree on the left sideline, but Crabtree blatantly pushed off, so the refs called offensive pass interference. 2nd and 17 from the SF 47.

2:03 The Niners don’t want to pass when they’re “behind the chains,” so Smith hands off to Gore and he gets hit immediately, losing four yards. Third and 21.

2:04 Smith completes a 17-yard pass to Edwards on a deep in. Fourth and four. Akers comes on the field to attempt a 52-yarder. And he makes it. 6-6 game with 5:00 left in the first half.

2:07 David Akers kicks a surprise onside kick and Delanie Walker catches it after it travelsabout 15 yards. Niners ball at their 47 yard line.

2:09 On first down Smith completes a 9 yard pass to Ginn Jr. on the right sideline. Nice catch and footwork by Ginn Jr. on that play.

2:10 Next play, Gore runs up the middle for no gain.

2:10 Harbaugh calls timeout. 3:53 left in the half.

2:12 On third and one, Smith lines up in the shotgun, reads the whole field and then completes an 18 yard pass to Delanie Walker, his second or third read.

2:13 On first down the Niner try a stretch pitch sweep with Gore to the right. He picks up one yard.

2:14 On second down Smith gets sacked by Curtis Joseph, who ran a delayed blitz up the middle. Third and 17.

Two Minute Warning

2:17 Smith scrambles right for a gain of 12 yards. And David Akers is back, this time to attempt a 39 yarder.

2:18 And he makes it. 9-6 Niners with 1:49 left in the half.

2:19 Akers kicks the kickoff into the end zone, Ware runs it out and picks up 38 yards before Akers sticks him on the sideline. The Giants get called for holding, so they’ll start their drive at their 22.

2:22 On first down Manning throws a perfect pass downfield to Cruz who had Rogers beat, but he drops the ball.

2:23 Next play, the Giants run the same play and Manning throws deep to Cruz again, but this time he underthrows him and Rogers makes his fourth interception of the year. SF ball at the NY 43.

2:24 First play of the drive, Smith escapes the pocket and completes a running pass to Vernon Davis in the right flat for a gain of five.

2:24 Next play, Smith steps up in the pocket and scrambles up the middle of the field for a gain of 14 yards. First down at the NY 24 with 45 seconds left in the half.

2:26 On first and ten Smith throws an incomplete pass as he’s getting hit. Second and ten.

2:28 Alex Smith’s first half stats: 12-16 for 151 yards. This is looking like Alex Smith’s breakout game.

2:29 And then he throws an interception. In all fairness, Smith’s pass was on the money. It went right through Ginn Jr.’s hands and hit him in the face. Giants ball at their 22.

2:30 On first down Ahmad Brooks flushed Manning out of the pocket, and he legally grounds the ball. Second and ten.

2:31 Manning completes a screen to Ware for a gain of six.

Halftime

2:47 On first down from the 20, Smith fakes the handoff and completes a nice pass to Walker for a gain of 14.

2:47 Next play, Kendall Hunter runs up the middle for a gain of 11.

2:48 Next play, Smith throws a deep out to Ginn Jr. on the right sideline, and this time Ginn Jr. makes a nice catch. Gain of 16.

2:49 Smith pitches to Anthony Dixon, and he runs a sweep around the left side for a gain of eight.

2:49 On second and short Hunter runs off left tackle for a gain of about two yards. The refs are measuring the spot.

2:50 And he got enough. First and ten for the Niners at the NY 29.

2:51 Smith completes a short pass to Walker on a cross. Walker stiff arms one defender and picks up 18 yards. First and goal from the six.

2:51 On first down Smith tires a fade to Crabtree, but the Corey Webster defends the play well.

2:52 Next play, Smith throws a quick pass to Edwards on a slant, but he leads him a tad too much. Incomplete. Third and goal.

2:53 Smith tries the fade pass against Webster again, this time to Edwards, but the result is the same. Incomplete. Akers is on to attempt a 28 yarder. He makes it. 12-6 Niners with 11:14 left in the third quarter.

2:55 Akers kicks another kickoff out the back of the end zone.

2:57 On first down Manning fakes a handoff, then waits for Cruz to do a double move and sprint deep. He throws the bomb but Donte Whitner breaks it up.

2:59 Next play, Jacobs runs off right tackle for a six yard gain. He’s having a surprisingly good game.

3:00 On third and four, Manning fakes a handoff – a bad play call because Patrick Willis blitzed up the middle. He sacks Manning for a nine yard loss.

3:01 The Giants punt and Ginn Jr. lets it bounce, and the ball almost hits him. The refs say it didn’t hit him, so the Niners will start their drive at their 35.

3:03 The Giants are challenging that play. They say Ginn Jr. touched the ball.

3:05 The refs say the ball didn’t touch Ginn Jr. Niners ball at the 35.

3:06 Hunter runs up the middle for two yards.

3:06 Smith completes a short pass to Walker on the right sideline. Gain of three. Corey Webster is injured on the field.

3:07 Frank Gore has a knee injury and his return is questionable. But he’s in the huddle right now, so I guess his return is certain.

3:09 Third and seven, Smith gets hit as he throws and he unleashes a wobbling pop up, but no one catches it. Andy Lee is on the field to punt his first punt.

3:10 Cruz returns the ball 11 yards to the NY 16 after a 57 yard Lee punt.

3:12 On first down Manning hands off to Jacobs on a draw, and he picks up two yards.

3:12 The Giants run the same play again and this time it picks up one. Third and seven.

3:13 Manning completes a 36-yard pass to Cruz, who beat Rogers badly on the play.

3:14 Next play, Manning forces a pass to Nicks down the left sideline and Goldson intercepts it but cannot get his second foot down in bounds.

3:15 On second and long Jacobs bounces a run out to the left, gets the edge and picks up 15 yards before Tarell Brown pushes him out of bounds.

3:16 And that’s followed by a NY false start. First and 15 at the SF 35.

3:16 Manning completes a pass to a wide open Pascoe, who trucks a few Niners on the sideline before going out of bounds. Gain of 14.

3:17 On first down Jacobs runs up the middle for a gain of four.

3:18 Next play, Jacobs runs around the left tackle and gains one yard. Second and nine from the 16.

3:18 Manning scrambles for three yards. Third and six.

3:19 On third and long Manning throws a perfect pass over Culliver to Manningham in the back of the end zone. The refs are reviewing the play.

3:21 The refs confirm the touchdown. Tynes makes the point after. 13-12 Giants with 2:25 left in the third quarter.

3:23 Ginn Jr. returns the kickoff to the 26. Kendall Hunter is in the huddle, not Gore.

3:24 On first down Smith escapes a sack in the pocket, rolls to the left and tosses the ball out of bounds. Second and ten.

3:25 False start on Iupati. Second and 15.

3:25 Next play, Smith skips a pass to Walker in the flat. Third and 15.

3:26 Smith scrambles left and picks up four before he gets blasted and tumbles out of bounds. Andy Lee is back to punt.

3:27 Lee punts it 51 yards. The Giants get flagged for a block in the back, which the Niners decline, and a hold, which the Niners accept. The Giants will start their drive at the 15.

3:28 On first down Manning throws a pass off Cruz’s hands over the middle. Incomplete.

3:29 Next play, Ware runs up the middle for a gain of six.

3:30 Manning rolls right and finds a wide open Nicks, but he throws the ball at his feet. Horrible pass. Giants have to punt.

3:30 Weatherford punts the ball out of bounds – a real bad punt – and the Niners start at midfield. Huge break.

3:31 On first down Hunter runs around the left end for a gain of six.

Fourth Quarter

3:34 Dixon runs up the middle for a gain of two.

3:34 The Giants get called for a neutral zone infraction. First down.

3:35 Hunter runs a stretch play left, cuts back and picks up six yards to the right.

3:36 Smith completes a short pass to Vernon Davis in the left flat. He’s wide open, and he runs the ball down to the goal line where he leaps over a defender and scores. And the Niners are going for two.

3:37 Smith rolls right and completes a pass to a wide open Crabtree in the end zone. Two point coversion good. 20-13 Niners with 13:22 left in the fourth quarter.

3:40 Aaron Ross takes the kickoff back from eight yards deep in the end zone, and Colin Jones tackles him at the 13.

3:40 Jacobs runs up the middle for three.

3:41 Manning throws a pass over the middle with no receiver in the area – Manningham stopped running – and Rogers intercepts the pass – his second of the game and fifth of the season. He returns the ball to the NY 17.

3:42 Hunter runs off left guard 17 yards into the end zone untouched. 27-13 Niners.

3:44 Giants start their drive from their 20. Ware runs up the middle and he’s tackled by Whitner after gaining four.

3:48 Ware runs up the middle again, this time for three yards. Starkey’s comment: “Good move by the Giants running out the clock here.”

3:49 Manning completes a 17 yard pass to Ballard for the first down.

3:49 Manning throws an uncatchable ball out of bounds but the refs flag Brown for illegal contact before the pass. First and ten at the NY 49.

3:50 Manning completes another nice pass to Ballard, who beat Willis on the play. Gain of 20.

3:51 Ware runs up the middle for five.

3:51 Ware runs an inside handoff and Bowman hits in the backfield for a loss of one.

3:52 Manning throws a perfect pass to Hakeem Nicks, over Brown and right over Nicks’ shoulder. 32-yard touchdown. 27-20 Niners with 8:37 left to play in the fourth quarter.

3:55 Ginn Jr. returns the ball well but C.J. Spillman gets called for holding. Niners will start their drive at their 19.

3:56 On first down Smith completes a check down pass to Hunter over the middle. Gain of four yards.

3:57 Next play, Smith fakes the handoff, rolls right and completes a 2-yard pass to Walker. Third and four.

3:58 Smith gets sacked. There’s a flag and it is on Braylon Edwards for offsides. Lee is in to punt.

3:59 46 yard punt. The Giants get called for holding, so they will start their drive at their 20.

4:00 On first down, Manning completes a check down pass to Cruz for five yards.

4:01 Ware runs up the middle for a gain of six yards and first down.

4:01 Manning completes a short pass to Ware for a gain of seven.

4:01 Manning lines up in the shotgun and hands the ball off to Jacobs, who tries to run parallel to the line going left, and Willis tackles him easily. Loss of four. Third and seven.

4:02 Manning drops back, looks for Ballard who’s covered by Whitner, so he scrambles but Willis tackles him after a gain of one. The Giants are going for it. Fourth and six at their 35 with 3:33 left in the fourth quarter. Harbaugh takes a timeout.

4:04 Manning throws a deep pass off his back foot complete to Manningham for a gain of 18 and a first down. Ball at the SF 47.

4:05 Harbaugh is challenging the ruling on the field of a completed pass.

4:06 I just watched the replay and it looks like a clear-cut catch.

4:07 The ruling stands.

4:07 On first down, Manning flips a short pass to Ware and he picks up five yards.

4:08 Next play, Manningham beats Culliver and sprints towards the end zone. Manning throws it to him perfectly and Manningham drops it.

4:09 Next play, the Niners blitz and Brooks and A. Smith converge on Manning as he throws a wild pass incomplete. Fourth and five.

4:09 Cruz beats Rogers and Manning completes the pass to him. Gain of ten.

4:10 Ware runs up the middle for four. Second and six at the SF 28.

Two Minute Warning

4:12 Manning completes an out pass to Ware who picks up ten yards and first down.

4:13 Manning completes another pass, this one to Cruz for eight yards.

4:14 Manning throws another fade to Manningham in the end zone, but this one is too far out in front and the receiver can’t catch up to it. Third and two.

4:14 Ware runs up the middle for no gain Fourth and two for the game.

4:15 Manning throws to the end zone and Justin Smith bats the pass down at the line of scrimmage. What a huge play. The Niners will win. I’m going down to the field. Be back at you later.

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