Sunday Night Football Week 5: TV Schedule, Live Stream for 49ers vs. Giants

Only one half of the Week 5 San Francisco 49ers-New York Giants Sunday Night Football showdown has upheld its end of the bargain in the expectations department by those who make the NFL schedule.

Eli Manning and the Giants started sluggish with losses to NFC contenders, but they have evened out to 2-2 and ride two straight convincing wins into Sunday night.

Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers are the guilty party, having lost three in a row, including two allowances of 43 or more points, while the offense seems stuck in mud—or quicksand, to match the team's overall sinking chances at climbing back out.

With desperation a key theme, here's a look at everything to know about Sunday night's encounter.

Viewing Info

When: Sunday, October 11, 8:30 p.m. ET

Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Television: NBC

Live Stream: NFL Game Pass

Tickets: ScoreBig.com

Betting Lines (via Odds Shark)

• Over/Under: 43.5

• Spread: New York (-7)

Team Injury Reports

Player	Position	Status
Ahmad Brooks	LB	Out
Quinton Patton	WR	Questionable
Vernon Davis	TE	Out

Player	Position	Status
Devon Kennard	LB	Out
Victor Cruz	WR	Out

Injury reports from ESPN.com.

Plugging the Holes

The 49ers have the look of the league's most notable sinking ship.

After a wild offseason, Kaepernick and Co. went out and won to start the season, then lost 43-18, 47-7 and 17-3. Dead last in the NFC West, it's now-or-never mode for the franchise.

Linebacker NaVorro Bowman spoke with Cam Inman of the Mercury News about the team's perilous situation.

“We didn’t do good in the first quarter of the season. We want to make sure we do better in the next four games,” Bowman said. “It’s just an important spot for us right now if we want to have a successful year.”

Much has to change in a hurry for the 49ers. The offense hasn't given back Carlos Hyde more than 15 carries in a contest since Week 1, where he rushed 26 times for 168 yards and two scores. Kaepernick has not only suffered 14 sacks, he's thrown two scores to five picks. Lead wideout Torrey Smith has caught just nine out of 17 targets, Anquan Boldin 15 of 25.

If the 49ers are going to reel in the offense and help out Bowman's unit, recommitting to the ground game figures to be the way to go. It's easier said than done on the road under the bright lights of a national microscope, but the 49ers don't have a choice as they enter desperation mode.

Riding the Wave

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

New York's offense hasn't experienced any issues this season, scoring at least 20 points in every contest. Manning has quietly completed 62.9 percent of his passes with 976 yards and a 7-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

The issue has been the defense, and it's a minor one at that—losses to healthy Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons teams by a combined five points aren't anything to lose sleep over.

What the New York defense needs is a stronger rush to fluster capable quarterbacks. ESPN's Dan Graziano painted the picture best:

This won't come as a shock, but New York couldn't manage any sacks of Tony Romo in the Week 1 loss, nor could it bring down Matt Ryan in Week 2. Against San Francisco's leaky line and Kaepernick's inability to push the ball downfield, this narrative could change.

Otherwise the Giants just need to stay the course. Manning isn't having any problems getting players involved considering four receiving options tout at least 16 targets. The ground game's averaging only 3.5 yards per carry, but three backs have at least 20 attempts.

For the Giants, Sunday night is about playing their game and fending off the desperation-laden 49ers.

Prediction 

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

The Giants might not hang a 40-burger on the visitors, but Manning shouldn't have any problems moving the ball.

To be blunt, the 49ers just don't have the talent to run with New York's top wideout, Odell Beckham Jr. He's a force, and San Francisco's efforts to contain him will just mean Manning has more chances to spread it to other weapons.

Kaepernick and the 49ers seem ripe for a few turnovers on the road, too. Traveling far is never an easy task, especially after things have gone so wrong over the first month of the season.

Look for the Giants to employ a ball-control approach while netting a few turnovers to pace this contest at home.

Prediction: Giants 23, 49ers 17

Statistics courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.