NY Giants (1-1) at San Francisco (2-0)
When: Thursday, September 21st, 2023
Where: Levi’s Stadium,
Santa Clara, CA
Time: 8:15 ET | TV: Prime
Opening Odds: San Francisco -9.5/43.5
Open an account at Bovada to receive a $750 Deposit Bonus! (US Customers Only)
The New York Giants got a much-needed win last Sunday in come-from-behind fashion and will carry that momentum into Thursday’s game at the San Francisco 49ers. The Giants rallied from 28-7 down late in the third quarter to beat the Arizona Cardinals 31-28 and decided to stay in Tempe until Thursday’s game in San Francisco. Saquon Barkley injured his ankle in the victory and needed help to the sidelines after scoring a rushing touchdown and catching a 9-yard TD pass from Daniel Jones. Barkley led the Giants in rushing (63 yards) and receiving (six receptions), but won’t play on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the 49ers look like the best team in the league after two weeks, winning 30-7 at Pittsburgh in Week 1 and 30-23 at the L.A. Rams last Sunday. We know the defense is one of the best in the league, but the offense is really surprising people. The 49ers have no injury concerns at running back with Christian McCaffrey leading the NFL in rushing yards (268). However, the 49ers are planning to give more snaps to Elijah Mitchell. McCaffrey is on pace for almost 1,000 snaps this season and will need some rest.
These teams have met a combined 42 times in regular season and postseason games, with each winning 21. They are also separated by just 22 total points. They last played in 2020 with San Fran rolling 36-9 in East Rutherford. The 49ers are big 10-point favorites in this contest with a total of 44.5.
The Giants are lucky they aren’t 0-2 after last week. It took the biggest comeback in team history just to even their record at 1-1 after losing 40-0 in Week 1 to Dallas. Jones threw for 321 yards and two scores, and Graham Gano hit a 34-yard field goal with 19 seconds to go to cap the comeback. Barkley missed three games in 2019 with a right ankle injury and four games in 2021 with a left ankle injury. The team’s top offensive lineman, Andrew Thomas, didn’t play and will be game time decision this week. The Giants have allowed 10 sacks in two games.
New York Giants Injury Report [Week 3]
| Player | Pos. | Status/Updated |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Bredeson | G | day-to-day - Concussion - 9/18/23 |
| Micah McFadden | LB | day-to-day - Neck - 9/18/23 |
| Azeez Ojulari | LB | day-to-day - Hamstring - 9/17/23 |
| Andrew Thomas | OT | day-to-day - Hamstring - 9/17/23 |
| Wan'Dale Robinson | WR | day-to-day - Knee - 9/17/23 |
| Gervarrius Owens | DB | day-to-day - Hamstring - 9/17/23 |
| Saquon Barkley | RB | Mid Oct - Ankle - 9/18/23 |
| Tommy Sweeney | TE | Out indefinitely - Illness - 8/29/23 |
| Chris Myarick | FB | I-R - Hand - 8/28/23 |
| Bryce Ford-Wheaton | WR | I-R - Knee - 8/27/23 |
| J.C. Hassenauer | OL | I-R - Tricep - 8/18/23 |
| Aaron Robinson | CB | Out indefinitely - Knee - 8/29/23 |
| Jarrad Davis | LB | I-R - Knee - 7/18/23 |
If the 49ers continue to score 30 points a game, they will probably win the Super Bowl because they will rarely allow that many points. McCaffrey had another 100-yard game and a touchdown in the win over the Rams last week. It was his 11th consecutive game in which he has reached the end zone. Only Jerry Rice (12 games in 1987) has a longer streak in franchise history. Brock Purdy passed for 206 yards and ran for a score. Coach Kyle Shanahan announced that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk suffered a shoulder injury and may not be able to go on short rest.
San Francisco 49ers Injury Report [Week 3]
| Player | Pos. | Status/Updated |
|---|---|---|
| Brandon Aiyuk | WR | day-to-day - Shoulder - 9/18/23 |
| Ambry Thomas | CB | day-to-day - Knee - 9/18/23 |
| Samuel Womack III | CB | Out indefinitely - Knee - 9/16/23 |
| Robert Beal Jr. | DL | Out indefinitely - Hamstring - 8/31/23 |
| Cameron Latu | TE | I-R - Knee - 8/29/23 |
| Danny Gray | WR | Out indefinitely - Shoulder - 8/30/23 |
| Darrell Luter Jr. | CB | Out indefinitely - Knee - 8/29/23 |
Nobody is giving the Giants a chance in this contest. I think they can at least hang in there even without Barkley. Jones gained some confidence with last week’s comeback win and should put up good numbers if the line can protect him. I’ll take the points.
Pick: Giants +10.5
