49ers – Giants Live Blog

This is the live blog for the 49ers Thursday Night Football matchup with the New York Giants at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. I will provide live updates and analysis from the press box throughout the game.

4:05 Here are my five keys to tonight’s game.

4:10 Inactive for the 40ers: Brandon Aiyuk, Ambry Thomas, Brandon Allen, Nick Zakelj, Jalen Graham, Ty Davis-Price, Kalia Davis

With Aiyuk out, this is shaping up to be a big game for rookie wide receiver Ronnie Bell. Bell played in place of Aiyuk last week, making a key block to help Christian McCaffrey reach the endzone for the first score of the game.

Ambry Thomas being out makes it likely we will see Isaiah Oliver back in the slot tonight. The veteran stepped in following the second series last Sunday in Los Angeles. His third quarter interception of Matthew Stafford was key to limiting the Rams to just six second half points.

4:10 Inactive for the Giants: RB Saquon Barkley, CB Cor’Dale Flott, S Gervarrius Owens, OLB Azeez Ojulari, OL Ben Bredeson, T Andrew Thomas, DL Jordon Riley

5:13 Giants win the toss and defer. 49ers will be on offense to start this one.

5:25 Rough opening possession for Brock Purdy, but the 49ers offense picks up 65 yards and Jake Moody hits from 28 yards out to go up 3-0.

Purdy hit on just 3 of 8 for 46 yards. He got lucky when George Kittle knocked away a throw that was going right to a Giants defensive back. Purdy was all over the place with his accuracy.

Kyle Shanahan turning to a heavy offense without Brandon Aiyuk. San Francisco had two tight ends on the field for five of their last six plays on the possession.

5:31 Isaiah Oliver in the slot tonight with Ambry Thomas out. The Giants go right after him on their first third down of the game and convert with a Daniel Jones completion to Wan’Dale Robinson.

5:36 Oliver bounces back, making the tackle on third and seven to hold New York to just a yard. Graham Gano comes on and ties the game with a 44-yard field goal.

San Francisco put some pressure on Jones, but the quarterback was able to avoid the rushers and make positive plays. His two incompletions came on a deep shot down the left sideline and a drop by running back Gary Brightwell.

5:44 The 49ers picked up a first down on a 15-yard completion from Purdy to Kittle. A throwaway and a short completion to Jauan Jennings wasn’t enough for a first down.

So far Kyle Shanahan’s answer to not having Brandon Aiyuk has  been to use two tight ends. They’ve had either Ross Dwelley or Charlie Woerner on the field with George Kittle for eight of their last 11 plays.

5:48 Nick Bosa with his first sack of 2023. New York tried to run a play action and nobody blocked him. New York will face 3rd and 16 from its own four to open the second quarter.

5:51 Wan’Dale Robinson makes a catch, but Oliver and Fred Warner are there to quickly drop him. A good punt from Jamie Gillan pushes Ray-Ray McCloud back to the 28. The 49ers will start from there.

Let’s see if Brock Purdy can get it together on this possession.

6:04 What a throw from Brock Purdy. The quarterback has been off a bit to start, but facing 3rd and 5 from the nine he gets the ball out quick to beat the rush and hits Ronnie Bell for the touchdown. Bell’s first NFL catch is also a touchdown. San Francisco leads 10-3.

Christian McCaffrey was terrific on that possession to get the offense into scoring position. He already has 45 yards rushing on just eight carries and 2 catches for 25 yards.

6:10 Javon Hargrave beats Giants left guard Mark Glowinski for a sack on 3rd and 2 to get the ball back for the 49ers offense. Good pressure by the 49ers front on that series. Dre Greenlaw almost came away with a sack on first down, but Jones was able to toss the ball away before going out of bounds.

6:19 Two minute warning comes with the 49ers at the Giants 13. San Francisco has dominated the time of possession. They’ve held the ball for nearly 19 of the first 28 minutes of this game.

6:25 Christian McCaffrey scores from four yards out to extend the 49ers lead to 17-3. With that run McCaffrey takes over the 49ers franchise record for most rushing yards in the first three games of a season. Big gains on that possession by Mitchell and McCaffrey. Brock Purdy got lucky when he pass to Deebo Samuel ricocheted right to Ronnie Bell for a gain of 15.

6:35 New York moves the ball to the 38. From there the 49ers defense tightens up with solid coverage by Tashaun Gipson and Isaiah Oliver on consecutive plays to make a stop. Graham Gano hits from 57 yards out to make the score 17-6 at the half.

Brock Purdy finishes the first half 14-23, 157 yards and a touchdown. He’s bounced back after starting 3-8 on the opening possession.

San Francisco recorded four quarterback hits in the first half. Nick Bosa with two (one sack) while Dre Greenlaw and Javon Hargrave each recorded one (sack).

6:51 San Francisco posted 242 yards of total offense in the first half to just 88 for New York.

Second Half

6:57 The San Francisco defense has done a good job of getting pressure on Daniel Jones and not letting him get anything going while moving since the first possession. Brock Purdy and the offense will take over at their own four after a penalty on the punt return.

7:03 Quick three and out for the offense. Brock Purdy dropping the snap on second down, his second missed snap in as many weeks. His pass to Jauan Jennings on third and eight is incomplete. It would have been short anyway.

Interference on the punt by Shemar Jean-Charles gives the Giants great field position at the San Francisco 37. A score here gets New York right back into this game.

7:08 Now a pass interference on Deommodore Lenoir gives the Giants 22 yards. On the next play Matt Breida runs right up the middle of the 49ers defense for an eight yard touchdown. Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead sack Jones on the two point conversion attempt. The 49ers lead is now down to five, 17-12 with just five minutes gone in the third quarter.

7:24 San Francisco responds with an 11 play, 72-yard drive that ends with a 21 yard field goal from Jake Moody.

Brock Purdy hit Deebo Samuel over the middle off play action for a gain of 40 to open the possession. A couple of plays by Christian McCaffrey and a couple of penalties against New York helped get the ball down to the three.

San Francisco is now up 20-12. The Giants decision to go for two after the touchdown now means they have no choice but to go for two again if they score another touchdown here.

7:30 Terrific coverage by Isaiah Oliver against Darren Waller on third down leads to a Giants punt. Oliver jammed the tight end at the line of scrimmage then ran stride for stride with him down the right sideline to force an incompletion.

7:40 Purdy to Kittle on a quick out to the left and the tight end rumbles down the sideline for a gain of 29. San Francisco will have the ball on the Giants 23 to open the final quarter.

7:46 Jake Moody hits from 36-yards out to put San Francisco up 23-12 with just under 13 minutes left to play. The rookie has now hit his first nine field goals.

7:52 The 49ers defense forces a quick three and out. Clelin Ferrell nearly got a sack of Jones on first down, but the left tackle grabbed his facemask to slow him down. Solid defense from there, including pressure and tight coverage gets the ball back to the 49ers offense. Isaiah Oliver has done a nice job tonight on Darren Waller. The tight end has just 20 yards on 3 receptions.

8:06 Deebo Samuel is a throwback. Opens the 49ers drive with an 18-yard catch and has to leave after landing on the ball when going down. Comes back in and beats Giants cornerback Tre Hawkins III down the left sideline and Brock Purdy puts the ball on him for a touchdown.

This one is over. The 49ers lead 30-12.

8:15 Talanoa Hufanga with his second interception of the season. That gives the 49ers five through the first three games.