Big Blue View
Beginning in Week 4, the New York Giants have had a weird stretch of losing games they probably should have won and winning some games when they were expected to lose. What will happen Sunday when they return home to MetLife Stadium to face the San Francisco 49ers, a 5-3 team expected by oddsmakers to win?
Let’s find out what the Big Blue View staff thinks in our NFL Week 9 picks and predictions.
This is yet another game that I think the Giants can win.
But I just don’t know who the Giants will even have available. Their injury report is approaching the point where it’s getting difficult to describe. By my count the Giants have 10 starters (or key role players) who are either on IR or not practicing — a quarter of their game-day roster and half of their best players.
Its a mark of just how impressive Jaxson Dart has been that I can still see this team pulling out a win. I do believe that this is “must win” game to maintain the morale of the team, and one of their more winnable games thanks to the 9ers’ own injuries
But I just can’t bring myself to pick the Giants.
Pick: 49ers
At full strength, the 49ers are the better team, though they are not what they used to be. The problem is that neither team is at full strength at key positions, making any prediction even more of a dart throw than usual.
SF is solid at the tackles, though Trent Williams hasn’t been dominant. They are vulnerable in the middle, so the Giants’ pass rush could have a lot to say about the outcome…if the Dexter Lawrence of old returns. At QB, we don’t know if Brock Purdy’s toe will allow him to play; if not it will be Mac Jones again. Both QBs have been interception-prone (9 total). Of course the Giants’ secondary can’t intercept balls, and who even knows who’s going to play? Adebo, probably no. Holland, maybe. Flott, no idea, he didn’t practice on Wednesday. SF’s wide receivers don’t scare anyone except Ricky Pearsall, who also missed practice Wednesday after being out a month and Brandon Aiyuk, who hasn’t played this season. The two scary offensive threats for the 49ers are Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle, which could be a nightmare for the Giants’ leaky run defense and matador tackling.
The 49ers defense when healthy can be fearsome…but it’s not healthy, with Fred Warner and Nick Bosa out for the season and Bryce Huff probably not playing either. The rest of SF’s defense has not been impressive, although they don’t miss tackles the way the Giants do. So speaking of dart throws, I predict that even without Cam Skattebo, Jaxson Dart will be the best QB on the field, and with a week to prepare, Mike Kafka and Brian Daboll will have a plan to exploit the injured 49ers’ weaknesses. Look for lots of...
