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The San Francisco 49ers head home to host the New York Giants in their season home opener on Thursday Night Football. After a hard fight in LA, the 49ers look to continue their streak to a 3-0 record. Here are the keys to another 49ers victory.
Stop the Run
The 49ers are tied for third against the run, allowing 65 yards per game. With Saquon Barkley's (ankle injury) officially ruled out, the 49ers must prepare for Matt Breida and quarterback Daniel Jones. Jones has 102 rushing yards and a touchdown on the season. Taking away the Giants' run game will force them to be one-dimensional, and this could be an excellent day for the 49ers' pass rush.
Create Pressure
After two weeks of football, the 49ers have a total of 56 pressures, with six of those as sacks. Daniel Jones has been sacked ten times this season. The 49ers front seven needs to take advantage of the opponent's offensive line and make Jones uncomfortable in the pocket from the start. Jones has two fumbles and interceptions on the season, so expect the 49ers' defensive line to be ferocious up front.
Run, Run, Run, Run
Christian McCaffrey has rushed for over 100 yards (268 total) with three total ouchdowns in both games this season. The 49ers rank third in rushing, averaging 173.5 yards per game. The Giants are 26th in stopping the run, allowing 136.5 yards per game. If the 49ers plan to add other elements to their rush attack, things can get out of hand relatively early in the game. Expect the Giants to stack the box to take away the run.
Attack Deep
If the 49ers successfully run the ball, expect quarterback Brock Purdy to locate man coverage and attempt the deep pass down the field. The Giants are ranked ninth in passing defense, allowing 185.5 yards per game. They're ranked 22nd in giving up an explosive play with a long of 49. Purdy attempted several passes down the field against the Rams and missed three big ones. If the 49ers look to stretch the field in this game and successfully hit on those throws, the team will be walking into three and zero-headed into Week 4.
Win the Turnover Battle
The 49ers rank fifth in turnovers this season with four interceptions. The Giants are in a nine-way tie for third with four turnovers (three interceptions and one fumble). Though this key may be one of the most simple ones, win the turnover battle, win the game.
In Conclusion
If the 49ers stick to these keys, they will remain undefeated and in first place in the NFC West.
Wayne Breezie is a 49ers content creator. He had his first guest appearance on Ronbosports in 2012. He began writing for a Facebook group called the League of the 49ers. Next, he began writing for Nothing But Niners in 2017. In 2018, Wayne Breezie made his debut on YouTube’s Nothing But Niners show. In 2019, he started his podcast called Nitty Gritty Niners. After putting the pen down for several years, Breezie saw an opportunity to write for 49erscap.com. His first published article was in January of 2022 with 49ersCap, and he currently writes and produces weekly podcasts.
The second-place San Francisco 49ers (8-3) head to Philadelphia to take on the first-place Philadelphia Eagles (10-1). The Eagles' only loss this season came against the New York Jets in Week 6. The 49ers and the Jets have a similar defensive system. If San Francisco wants to improve to 9-3 and inch closer to the top seed in the NFC, they must stick to the "Keys to Victory."
Run the Ball
The Eagles' run defense is ranked third in the NFL. They are stingy against the run. The 49ers' run offense is ranked sixth, averaging 138 yards per game. Christian McCaffrey will be the toughest challenge for the Eagles. They haven't faced a top-ten running back all season long and are about to face the number-one running back.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan
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