SAN FRANCISCO - All year long the Giants have survived countless injuries and even managed to thrive in the absence of key players. But they knew that on defense there was one player they couldn’t afford to lose.
“It’s actually kind of funny,” said defensive end Justin Tuck. “We were talking about who on this defense would it hurt to lose and unanimously we talked about (linebacker Michael) Boley.”
The Giants got their first taste of life without their defensive leader on Sunday in the second half of their 27-20 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, and it wasn’t pleasant at all. After Boley limped off the field with a hamstring injury at the end of the first half, the 49ers took advantage of the defense on two big plays where he could’ve helped out.
First, they scored the go-ahead touchdown in their 27-20 win on a huge, 31-yard touchdown pass to tight end Vernon Davis. Then they extended their fourth-quarter lead with a 17-yard touchdown run by Kendall Hunter. Both times it appeared the Niners victimized rookie linebacker Greg Jones, who might not have even been on the field on the Davis touchdown if Boley had still been in the game. Jones said he should have stayed on Davis, instead of releasing him as he ran across the field.
“Regardless of who’s on the field you have to be able to make plays,” said linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka. “But Michael Boley is a big part of this team and a big part of this defense. We all know that.”
“Obviously he’s the starting backer, the guy that calls all the defenses and he’s had an outstanding year,” added Tom Coughlin. “You want to play with everybody. That’s the point. You need everybody. San Francisco’s played with everybody all year long.”
Coughlin said he didn’t know how serious Boley’s hamstring injury was.
“Hopefully it’s not as serious as it looked,” Tuck said. “We definitely need him.”
THE LONGEST YARDS
With the game on the line in the fourth quarter, RB D.J. Ware was in the backfield for the Giants, and he played well, rushing seven times for 21 yards and catching three passes for 22. He just couldn’t forget the two yards he couldn’t gain.
“I think I played well overall,” Ware said. “That last yard, you want to always get that.”
That last yard (or two) was a big one. On a third-and-2 from the 49ers’ 10 with 1:10 remaining, the Giants ran a shotgun draw to Ware and he got stuffed at the line of scrimmage.
“It was tight,” he said. “I tried to get in there, hugging behind David Diehl, but they kind of collapsed it down and I had nowhere to go. We had been gashing them all day on it, too. They had our number on that one.”
DON’T STEAL VICTOR-Y DANCE
When 49ers CB Carlos Rogers jumped in front of Victor Cruz to grab the first of his two interceptions, he celebrated by doing a salsa dance − just like the one Cruz does to celebrate his touchdown catches.
“Yeah, I wasn’t too fond of that,” Cruz said. “But whatever. I got the best of him throughout the game, so I wasn’t worried.”
Cruz led the Giants with six catches for 84 yards.
ROSS LOSS
CB Aaron Ross suffered a bruised quad and missed much of the second half. … Ware had black tape wrapped around his thigh during the second half, but he wasn’t hurt. “My pants busted open,” he said. They had to be taped up. … Rookie RB Da’Rel Scott handled kickoff returns for the Giants, but only had two opportunities. His best was a 37-yarder, but it was called back due to a holding penalty. … Rookie CB Prince Amukamara made the trip, but was inactive for the Giants. … Jim Harbaugh became the third rookie coach in 49ers history to start 8-1, joining George Seifert (1989) and Steve Mariucci (1997).
STAT OF THE DAY
0 :That’s how many yards 49ers RB Frank Gore had on six carries before leaving with a knee injury. The Giants were sure that if they stopped Gore they’d win.
UNSUNG HERO
49ers DT Justin Smith. His late deflection may have saved overtime. The Giants seemed sure that if Eli Manning’s last pass got through it would’ve found a wide-open Victor Cruz.
MIA
DE Jason Pierre-Paul. The Giants’ pass-rushing specialist never got to QB Alex Smith, who was sacked only twice and rarely pressured.
WHAT’S NEXT
Sunday, vs. Philadelphia, 8:20 p.m.
The Dream Team is 3-6 and one more loss should just about do it for its nightmare season.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/f...9ers-advantage-article-1.977142#ixzz1dgmXqxJr
“It’s actually kind of funny,” said defensive end Justin Tuck. “We were talking about who on this defense would it hurt to lose and unanimously we talked about (linebacker Michael) Boley.”
The Giants got their first taste of life without their defensive leader on Sunday in the second half of their 27-20 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, and it wasn’t pleasant at all. After Boley limped off the field with a hamstring injury at the end of the first half, the 49ers took advantage of the defense on two big plays where he could’ve helped out.
First, they scored the go-ahead touchdown in their 27-20 win on a huge, 31-yard touchdown pass to tight end Vernon Davis. Then they extended their fourth-quarter lead with a 17-yard touchdown run by Kendall Hunter. Both times it appeared the Niners victimized rookie linebacker Greg Jones, who might not have even been on the field on the Davis touchdown if Boley had still been in the game. Jones said he should have stayed on Davis, instead of releasing him as he ran across the field.
“Regardless of who’s on the field you have to be able to make plays,” said linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka. “But Michael Boley is a big part of this team and a big part of this defense. We all know that.”
“Obviously he’s the starting backer, the guy that calls all the defenses and he’s had an outstanding year,” added Tom Coughlin. “You want to play with everybody. That’s the point. You need everybody. San Francisco’s played with everybody all year long.”
Coughlin said he didn’t know how serious Boley’s hamstring injury was.
“Hopefully it’s not as serious as it looked,” Tuck said. “We definitely need him.”
THE LONGEST YARDS
With the game on the line in the fourth quarter, RB D.J. Ware was in the backfield for the Giants, and he played well, rushing seven times for 21 yards and catching three passes for 22. He just couldn’t forget the two yards he couldn’t gain.
“I think I played well overall,” Ware said. “That last yard, you want to always get that.”
That last yard (or two) was a big one. On a third-and-2 from the 49ers’ 10 with 1:10 remaining, the Giants ran a shotgun draw to Ware and he got stuffed at the line of scrimmage.
“It was tight,” he said. “I tried to get in there, hugging behind David Diehl, but they kind of collapsed it down and I had nowhere to go. We had been gashing them all day on it, too. They had our number on that one.”
DON’T STEAL VICTOR-Y DANCE
When 49ers CB Carlos Rogers jumped in front of Victor Cruz to grab the first of his two interceptions, he celebrated by doing a salsa dance − just like the one Cruz does to celebrate his touchdown catches.
“Yeah, I wasn’t too fond of that,” Cruz said. “But whatever. I got the best of him throughout the game, so I wasn’t worried.”
Cruz led the Giants with six catches for 84 yards.
ROSS LOSS
CB Aaron Ross suffered a bruised quad and missed much of the second half. … Ware had black tape wrapped around his thigh during the second half, but he wasn’t hurt. “My pants busted open,” he said. They had to be taped up. … Rookie RB Da’Rel Scott handled kickoff returns for the Giants, but only had two opportunities. His best was a 37-yarder, but it was called back due to a holding penalty. … Rookie CB Prince Amukamara made the trip, but was inactive for the Giants. … Jim Harbaugh became the third rookie coach in 49ers history to start 8-1, joining George Seifert (1989) and Steve Mariucci (1997).
STAT OF THE DAY
0 :That’s how many yards 49ers RB Frank Gore had on six carries before leaving with a knee injury. The Giants were sure that if they stopped Gore they’d win.
UNSUNG HERO
49ers DT Justin Smith. His late deflection may have saved overtime. The Giants seemed sure that if Eli Manning’s last pass got through it would’ve found a wide-open Victor Cruz.
MIA
DE Jason Pierre-Paul. The Giants’ pass-rushing specialist never got to QB Alex Smith, who was sacked only twice and rarely pressured.
WHAT’S NEXT
Sunday, vs. Philadelphia, 8:20 p.m.
The Dream Team is 3-6 and one more loss should just about do it for its nightmare season.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/f...9ers-advantage-article-1.977142#ixzz1dgmXqxJr