49ers vs. Giants: Full Report Card Grades for San Francisco
No Patrick Willis? No NaVorro Bowman?
No problem.
The San Francisco 49ers used their defense to knock off the New York Giants in Week 11. Despite their offense not being able to take full advantage of a weakened Giants defense, the 49ers were able to pick off quarterback Eli Manning five times en route to a 16-10 victory and a 6-4 record through 10 games.
San Francisco's defense was again led by the stellar play of rookie linebacker Chris Borland, who led the team with 13 tackles and two interceptions.
Borland's stellar play has offset the loss of Willis, who will miss the remainder of 2014 while recovering from toe surgery.
In spite of a banged-up defense, the 49ers were able to hold Manning and the Giants to a mere 10 points and 330 all-purpose yards.
"Instant Replay: #49ers defense comes up big in win over #NYGiants (via @MaioccoCSN) http://t.co/sQy2a2PEHP #NFL pic.twitter.com/JKfILdIhgM
— Comcast SportsNet (@CSNAuthentic) November 16, 2014"
It wasn't perfect. San Francisco's red-zone offense struggled, and the 49ers weren't quite able to take full advantage of a defense that had allowed the highest number of rushing yards in the NFL prior to the contest (1,302).
The running game was a large factor, but it didn't generate the offensive production hoped for as Colin Kaepernick and Co. totaled just 193 yards through the air.
But San Francisco picked up a much-needed victory in Week 11—one that will hopefully keep the 49ers right in the mix for a playoff berth.
How did each of the 49ers' units fare in the win? While the victory is sweet, what units need to show improvement as San Francisco starts preparations for Week 12?
Let's take a look.
Quarterback
1 of 10
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick finished the day with 15 completions on 29 attempts for 193 yards. He completed one touchdown pass—a 48 yard connection with wide receiver Michael Crabtree that accounted for San Francisco's lone end-zone score.
Kaepernick's touchdown pass—which can be viewed thanks to @49ersSpin—was a huge playmaking moment in the 49ers' victory.
"Colin Kaepernick to Michael Crabtree for a 48 yard score. http://t.co/quQlobeuXU
— 49ersSpin (@49ersSpin) November 16, 2014"
The 49ers quarterback also finished the game with eight rushes for 24 yards, which further adds to his mobility potential.
But Kaepernick also struggled with his accuracy throughout the game. Having completed just over 50 percent of his passes, the 49ers' signal-caller finished the contest with a quarterback rating of just 84.4.
This will continue to fuel ongoing criticism of Kaepernick—an aspect described further by Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area:
"The “haters,” as Colin Kaepernick called those who are critical of the 49ers on social media, had plenty of ammunition on Sunday. The 49ers’ offense bogged down repeatedly in the first half when they had a chance to build a comfortable lead and the the game away.
"
Kaepernick and the offense had plenty of opportunities to generate more touchdowns—scores that would have helped put this game away much earlier than what actually happened.
Still, the 49ers did not need Kaepernick to win this game. They had a stout defense and a dominant rushing attack that would stack up well against a weak Giants run defense.
Grade: C
Running Back
2 of 10
The running game figured to be an integral part of the 49ers' offensive game plan.
Entering the contest, New York's run defense had allowed the most yards on the ground out of any NFL franchise this season (1,302). The Giants had been gouged by the Seattle Seahawks' ground attack a week prior, so one would speculate San Francisco would take a similar approach.
Indeed, the 49ers were able to emphasize the ground game. Running back Frank Gore totaled 95 yards on 19 carries—averaging 5.0 yards per attempt.
Despite a first-quarter fumble that led to a Giants touchdown, Gore's running abilities were a major factor in the 49ers' victory, both in scores and in the time-of-possession battle.
"Frank Gore is clearly the key to winning this game. Ripping off huge runs.
— Dylan DeSimone (@DeSimone_80) November 16, 2014"
Rookie Carlos Hyde also factored into the equation. But he was only able to account for 25 yards on nine carries—an average of just 2.8 yards per attempt.
Hyde has yet to showcase that he is the bona fide backup option for Gore next season. While he has had some impressive moments, there remains several aspects he needs to develop.
Fortunately, San Francisco's ground game did what it was supposed to do—keep the ball in the 49ers offense's hands and help set up whatever scores San Francisco could muster.
Grade: A
Wide Receiver and Tight End
3 of 10
Tight end Vernon Davis has been little more than an afterthought in the 49ers offense this season. This point is further described by Bleacher Report's Sean Tomlinson, who points out how the 30-year-old hasn't been much of a factor in San Francisco's offensive game-planning.
The 49ers tried to get Davis involved throughout the contest. He finished the day with just one reception for seven yards despite being targeted five times.
He wasn't even a major factor in a number of critical third-down plays—further illustrated by Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area.
"On third down, 49ers went with four wides and one back. A sign 49ers no longer consider Vernon Davis one of top 4 threats in passing game?
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN) November 16, 2014"
While Davis' lack of production in 2014 is concerning, the 49ers were at least able to get some production out of wide receiver Michael Crabtree.
Crabtree had hinted at frustration with his role in the offense after San Francisco's Week 10 victory over New Orleans. But he was a huge factor in the 49ers' Week 11 victory—leading all receivers with 85 yards and San Francisco's lone touchdown.
All of this was on just three receptions.
Crabtree was targeted eight times, and while a few of those missed opportunities were on quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the veteran wideout is certainly not quite up to the levels one might expect.
"Michael Crabtree, third-down receiver, with a critical dropped pass on third down.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) November 16, 2014"
Anquan Boldin ranked No. 2 among 49ers receivers with 53 yards, and No. 3 wideout Stevie Johnson had just one catch for eight yards.
Grade: B
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Offensive Line
4 of 10
The 49ers' offensive line has drawn much of the scrutiny this year when evaluating San Francisco's offensive woes.
But looming larger than the O-line's production was the apparent lack of identity on offense.
San Francisco is a run-first, ground-and-pound team that excels when it is allowed to beat up opponents with prominent run-blocking schemes. This is the 49ers' primary offensive strength.
The 49ers have stuck to a run-heavy approach over their last two games. As a result, the O-line has been able to impose its will against suspect defenses like those of New Orleans and New York.
In total, the O-line allowed just one sack to Colin Kaepernick—a play in which the 49ers' signal-caller could have recognized the pressure earlier.
But the O-line handled the majority of New York's pressure. The Giants brought a number of blitzes throughout the game. The O-line responded adequately enough to thwart most of the Giants' pass rush.
San Francisco suffered a brief scare when left tackle Joe Staley suffered a leg injury in the second half. Staley was able to come off the field under his own power and subsequently came back into the game after one play.
"#49ers LT Joe Staley returns to game after missing one snap. #NFL
— NFL Injury News (@NFLInjuryNws) November 16, 2014"
Staley, and the rest of the O-line, will look to continue their recent two-game resurgence after what has been an up-and-down first half of 2014.
Grade: B+
Defensive Line
5 of 10
Second-year pro Quinton Dial made his first-career NFL start on Sunday, taking over for injured nose tackle Ian Williams (leg).
Dial finished the contest with four tackles and did a nice job in shoring up the interior of San Francisco's defensive line.
Veteran defensive end Justin Smith matched Dial's tackle totals, and the 35-year-old was also able to benefit from the added pressure of San Francisco's linebacker corps—detailed further by Dylan DeSimone of CSN Authentic.
"Chaos in the pocket with Aldon and Lynch outside. One of the biggest ripple effects is Justin Smith getting one-on-ones and good push.
— Dylan DeSimone (@DeSimone_80) November 16, 2014"
Fellow end Ray McDonald also had a strong day with seven tackles.
Second-year end Tank Carradine was also active—just the second time this season—and had a two-tackle effort.
"#49ers DE Tank Carradine active today! He told me it was coming. Hopefully he gets some quality PT.
— Ryan Sakamoto (@SakamotoRyan) November 16, 2014"
As a unit, the D-line was able to help hold a Giants ground attack that generated only 65 yards. The defensive front was also able to force pressure on quarterback Eli Manning. While the sack totals were not necessarily there (two), the pressure did help force five picks.
Grade: A
Linebacker
6 of 10
The Chris Borland show continues to amaze San Francisco fans.
The 49ers rookie followed up strong back-to-back performances in Weeks 9 and 10 with an equally impressive 13-tackle showing against New York—a game that also produced three passes defended and two interceptions from San Francisco's third-round draft pick.
His performance in Patrick Willis' stead has been more than impressive. It has generated plenty of buzz, including the commendation of Bleacher Report's Matt Miller.
"My DROY vote RT @Edwerderespn: In past three games, #Niners rookie LB Chris Borland has 47 tackles, two INT, FR to set up game-winning FG.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) November 16, 2014"
Borland's impressive play was a major factor in San Francisco's victory.
Equally impressive was the pass-rushing combination of outside linebackers Aaron Lynch and Aldon Smith.
Lynch has made a name for himself this season—a year that was backed up by two tackles for a loss and one quarterback hit in Week 11.
But the biggest story was the return of Smith, who has since been reinstated from his nine-game suspension.
Smith finished the day with two quarterback hits and was constantly in the face of quarterback Eli Manning.
"Busy return for Aldon Smith. Unofficially counted him as playing 50 defensive snaps, including that pressure of Eli on next-to-last play.
— Jenny Vrentas (@JennyVrentas) November 16, 2014"
Pressure was a critical aspect for San Francisco's defense. The linebacker corps provided the vast majority of this element.
The results: five interceptions thrown by Manning.
Michael Wilhoite was the lone setback in the 49ers' linebacker group. He had some problems in coverage but made up for it with an interception of his own.
Grade: A
Secondary
7 of 10
Sunday's contest was an opportunity for cornerback Chris Culliver to shine, as he led the 49ers defense with three passes defended over the course of San Francisco's Week 11 contest.
Culliver ranked fifth for the 49ers in total tackles (five)—one behind fellow defensive back Perrish Cox, who notched six tackles in place for the injured Jimmie Ward in San Francisco's nickel formations.
But the biggest play from Culliver was a critical interception in the second half—a play in which Culliver handed the ball over to head coach Jim Harbaugh per Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area.
"Jim Harbaugh said he was "touched" when Chris Culliver handed interception ball to him on sideline.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN) November 16, 2014"
San Francisco's cornerbacks had to deal with the losses of Ward (foot) and Tramaine Brock (hamstring). While this unit did give up some big plays, it was generally able to contain a potent Giants passing attack.
The tandem of safeties Eric Reid and Antoine Bethea continues to shine.
Bethea had five tackles and two pass-breakups. Reid also accounted for one of the 49ers' five interceptions, along with three tackles and two passes defended—including this incomplete pass on what a critical goal-line stand in the fourth quarter:
"Eric Reid with the PBU! https://t.co/ZoEXeqvy9c
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 16, 2014"
In spite of the injuries suffered over the season, San Francisco's secondary is quietly emerging as one of the better defensive backfields in 2014. This contest adds to that notion, as this group helped limit New York to just 10 points on 280 yards through the air.
There were some big plays, but the 49ers secondary was able to clamp down when it mattered most.
Grade: B+
Special Teams
8 of 10
Kicker Phil Dawson accounted for nine of the 49ers' 16 points in Week 11, proving that he is still a valuable weapon when San Francisco cannot find paydirt in the red zone.
The 49ers' red-zone woes continued on Sunday. But it was Dawson who bailed out the offense.
Punter Andy Lee also had a strong showing after what had been an inconsistent two-game stretch entering the contest. He finished the day with four punts, averaging 46.8 yards per attempt.
The only significant gaffe on special teams was a botched snap by long snapper Kyle Nelson. 49ers fans had been accustomed to the peerless efforts from Brian Jennings and Kevin McDermott up until this point, so the low snap was, ultimately, something new.
"That’s basically Kyle Nelson’s first bad snap of the season. First bad long snap since Jennings was released last year
— Niners Nation (@NinersNation) November 16, 2014"
The 49ers' coverage units did allow an average of 25.8 yards on kick returns, which is an area they would like to shore up. But in all, San Francisco's special teams did a commendable job.
Dawson's efforts, considering the relative lack of offensive production, propelled this unit upward.
Grade: A-
Coaching
9 of 10
If grades could be applied to defensive coordinator Vic Fangio only, San Francisco's coaching staff would net an A-plus grade to the 10th power.
Fangio's defense was the primary reason the 49ers came away with this critical road victory. In spite of a flurry of injuries—including Patrick Willis, Tramaine Brock and Jimmie Ward—the defense continues to shine.
Getting the standout play from players like Chris Borland and Aaron Lynch has added to this commendation.
But San Francisco still struggles in other aspects.
Jim Harbaugh lost both challenge attempts—nothing new—but at least the 49ers head coach continued to reinforce his dominance over NFC East teams with the win.
"#49ers are now 7-2 against NFC East teams under Jim Harbaugh, looking to sweep the division next week.
— Christian Gin (@Christian_Gin) November 16, 2014"
Harbaugh's 49ers were penalized four times for 35 yards. Hopefully his squad won't return to the flag-riddled ways that plagued the team earlier this season.
It was the offense, however, that draws the primary concern.
San Francisco was 0-of-4 in red-zone attempts—further reinforcing the ineptitude behind a unit that entered the contest with just 13 red-zone touchdowns on the year per Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News.
"#49ers entered with 31st-ranked red zone offense. Now have converted 13 of 30 into TDs.
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) November 16, 2014"
Much of the blame will, almost certainly, fall upon offensive coordinator Greg Roman. While his play-calling wasn't perfect, one has to cite the lack of execution from the players as a primary reason why San Francisco's offense did not generate more than just 16 points.
"While there are questions on offense, it isn't Greg Roman's fault for a few lack of execution plays. I thought he called it right. #49ers
— Christian Gin (@Christian_Gin) November 16, 2014"
What is clear is this: San Francisco's offense got bailed out by its defense. Without a solid running game, the offense would have done next to nothing. Plenty of that execution, or lack thereof, needs to be addressed over the course of the week prior to Week 12.
Grade: B
Final Grades
10 of 10
QB: C
RB: A
WR/TE: B
OL: B+
DL: A
LB: A
Secondary: B+
Special Teams: A-
Coaching: B
Cumulative Grade: B
Just like San Francisco's Week 10 win over New Orleans, the 49ers' 16-10 victory against New York was far from perfect.
The defense bailed out the offense. Without the running game, San Francisco's offensive attack would have stumbled and faltered. There was, at times, a lack of execution within the passing game. The red-zone woes continue.
But one can forgive all that when tabbing up the five interceptions generated by the defense. Plays by Chris Borland, Eric Reid and Antoine Bethea also helped keep the 49ers moving in the right direction.
San Francisco will now head home to take on the Washington Redskins in Week 12. The momentum gained by the 49ers' victory over the Giants will hopefully be carried over into the subsequent week. With so much on the line for San Francisco's playoff prospects, the room for error is scant.
Fortunately, the 49ers can look forward to that game with a 6-4 record instead of a 5-5 one.
All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.
Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Be sure to check out his entire archive on 49ers' news, insight and analysis.
Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.
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