2023-09-21 01:48:02
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Matching the greatest comeback in franchise history to win a game was cause for celebration for the New York Giants.
But they know that getting out of a big hole this Thursday night, when they face the powerful San Francisco 49ers (2-0), won’t be nearly as easy as it was against a bottom-ranked team like the Arizona Cardinals.
“We can’t afford to do the same thing against any team,” safety Xavier McKinney said of falling into a big disadvantage. “We cannot continue having weak starts. We have to correct it. There’s a lot we can do about it, we just have to go out and execute what we train and the things we review in meetings. It’s what we hope for. But, definitely, we cannot continue doing the same.”
It will be much more difficult for the Giants (1-1) to do so without star running back Saquon Barkley, who will miss at least this week’s game after spraining his left ankle in the win over Arizona.
This puts more pressure on quarterback Daniel Jones to play like he did in the second half against the Cardinals and not like he did in the first six quarters of the season.
“Daniel has a job to do, just like the running backs, the receivers, the offensive line,” coach Brian Daboll clarified. “Everyone must take responsibility for him individually, whatever that may be, and do his job at a high level.”
The Giants didn’t do that to start the season. They got off to one of the worst starts in recent NFL history, losing the opener 40-0 to Dallas and then trailing 20-0 in the first half against Arizona and 28-7 in the third quarter.
New York became the first team in 45 years to allow at least 60 points before earning its first points of the season. Since then the Giants scored 31 in the second half, supported by 317 yards of their offense and three scores from Jones.
The 49ers have struggled at times in recent seasons to stop mobile quarterbacks and view the matchup with Jones as a major challenge.
“It all starts with his legs,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “He is willing to run. And when he does it he is very physical. He has the ability to escape. So when you face a quarterback like that, the challenge that just schematically unlocks your defense and forces you to play a certain way is always a pain. So he has the ability to play in the pocket and beat you that way as well. He’s getting better every year.”
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