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 San Francisco (6-4) climbed into second place in the NFC West,
tied with the Seattle Seahawks behind first-place Arizona. The
Giants fell to 3-7, and pushing their losing streak to five games.
It was the first multi-interception game since Week 2 for Manning,
who finished 21 of 41 for 276 yards. He also threw five
interceptions in a loss to the Seahawks in 2012.
"I didn't expect this. I didn't plan on it," Manning said. "I have
to make better decisions, better throws. They're all on me. It's no
one's else's fault. I have to protect the ball and can't afford to
turn it over, especially in field goal range."
The Giants, who hadn't scored on their opening drive in 20 games,
put an end to that streak thanks to a turnover by 49ers running back
Frank Gore, who lost the handle on the ball at the Giants 16-yard
line.
Manning connected twice with receiver Rueben Randle for 38 yards,
and running back Rashad Jennings, in his first game back from a knee
injury suffered in Week 5, ran twice for six yards. The Giants
capped the scoring drive when Manning found tight end Larry Donnell
for a 19-yard touchdown and the 7-0 lead.
The maligned Giants defense, which last week allowed 350 rushing
yards and which has been outscored 136-62 over the team's four-game
losing streak, actually kept this one close, holding the 49ers to
just three first-half field goals of 31, 37, and 44 yards by kicker
Phil Dawson, who gave his team a 9-7 lead at the half.
The 49ers scored their only touchdown of the game in the third
quarter when quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who finished 15 of 29 for
193 yards, connected with receiver Michael Crabtree on a 48-yard
touchdown pass to increase their lead 16-10.
"It was an outstanding throw and a great route and then Michael
really hit the yards after reception and was playing football," said
head coach Jim Harbaugh.
After Josh Brown's 43-yard field goal closed the 49ers' lead to
16-10, the Giants recovered an onside kick.
But any momentum gained from that change of possession was lost on
third-and-9 as Manning's third interception gave the 49ers the ball
back, and safety Eric Reid returned it 51 yards.
The Giants had a final opportunity to take the lead in the fourth
quarter. Manning connected with receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who
finished with six receptions for 93 yards, on a spectacular 37-yard
reception to set up first-and-goal on the 49ers' 4-yard line.
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Manning threw three consecutive fade passes that fell incomplete
before being picked off for the fifth time in the game on the
fourth-down desperation heave.
"The four shots from the 4-yard line -- it was inexcusable that we
didn't score," said Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, who noted that
the 49ers defense, which came into this week's game having allowed
opposing offenses to score touchdowns on 69.6 percent of their red
zone possessions, was 30th in red zone defense. "In hindsight we
should have run the ball, but we've done a good job in the green
zone and the tight green zone, but this particular day, the
frustration to be standing here 17-16 instead we're standing here
with a loss."
Last week, the 49ers topped the Saints in overtime 27-24. With the
win against the Giants this week, the 49ers are home against the
Washington Redskins.
"We'll enjoy this one; this will be a happy flight home," Harbaugh
said. "I feel really good. Our team played with a lot of heart and a
lot of fight."
NOTES: For the first time since 1998, when Jim Fassel was the team's
head coach, New York has a 3-7 record in its first 10 regular-season
games. That year, the Giants went on to win five of their final six
games to finish 8-8. ... The 49ers improved to 21-9 in road games
played under head coach Jim Harbaugh, who took over in 2011. With a
win percentage of .700, the 49ers remain first in the NFL in road
wins since the 2011 season. ... The 49ers also improved to 3-0
against the NFC East this season, and have outscored three of the
four NFC East teams played -- Dallas, Philadelphia and the Giants --
by a 60-48 margin. ... Giants head coach Tom Coughlin fell to 5-2
against the 49ers and 15-14 overall against the NFC West. He was 3-4
against the NFC West as head coach to Jacksonville (1995-2002) and
is now 12-10 against that division as head coach of the Giants.
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