The 49ers travelled across the country for a 10 a.m. start for the second week in a row, and just as they did a week ago came out on the positive side of a close game. Their 16-10 win over the New York Giants, combined with old pal Alex Smith leading the Chiefs passed Seattle vaulted the 49ers into second place in the NFC West and sets up two very big games over the next eleven days.
Let's get to the burning questions that I mentioned on Friday.
1) Do your best -
* Frank Gore had his best day of the year in terms of yards after contact with 54.
* Aaron Lynch had 9 quarterback hurries, the most by any 49ers defender all season.
* Eric Reid had his best day of the year in pass coverage, giving up a passer rating of 0 and getting his first interception since the opening week of the season.
* Ray McDonald's sack of Eli Manning was his first this season. He also had a season high 5 solo tackles.
* Michael Crabtree's 28.3 yards per reception were his highest in any game this season, as was his 44 yards after the catch.
* Chris Culliver gave up only 3 receptions for 35 yards despite being targeted 11 times in coverage. He gave up a passer rating of 2.5, his best of the season, and came away with an interception for the second week in a row.
2) Have fun - How can anyone watch Chris Borland play and not see how much he is enjoying the game? He is all over the field making plays and helping to fill the void left by the injuries to Navorro Bowman and Patrick Willis.
3) KEEP YOUR COMPOSURE - The 49ers did a good job of this throughout the game. After a promising opening drive ended in a fumble and the Giants went right down the field to go up 7-0 the 49ers fought back, scoring the next 16 points. From that point on it was a matter of playing keep away on offense, the 49ers called only 11 passes the rest of the way, and making big play after big play on defense.
Notes:
* The 49ers offense has held the ball for a league leading 56.85% of possession time in the second half this season. That's part of the reason they have been able to win games despite averaging a league low 6.3 points per game in the second half.
* The 6 play 30 yard drive by the offense following Chris Borland's interception to finish off a goal line stand by the defense was near perfection. It chewed up 3:34 of game time, forced the Giants to burn their final two timeouts along with the two minute warning. Add in a 59 yard punt by Andy Lee, his best of the day and you have all the ingredients for a strong team win.
* Look for the 49ers to activate Glenn Dorsey this week. Jim Harbaugh stated that they would look to activate Dorsey later this week Dorsey finished fifth among NFL defensive tackles in 2013 with a 10.4 run stop percentage according to ProFootballFocus.
