The 49ers dropped their fourth straight loss, this time suffering a 29-17 defeat on the road against the New York Giants. Although the defense cut down on explosive pass plays, the unit was forced to deal with a few short fields, and also gave up some long drives of its own.
Rookie Josh Morgan stood out on offense for the 49ers with five catches for 86 yards and a 30-yard touchdown, but four turnovers, six sacks, penalties and a lack of a run game overshadowed his promising play.
Special teams scored when linebacker Manny Lawson blocked a field goal that was returned by Nate Clements for a touchdown, but as a whole the 49ers couldn't sustain the momentum.
Here's a quarter by quarter scoring summary.
1st Quarter
The Giants captured a touchdown lead on their second possession of the game with a 26-yard TD run by Brandon Jacobs. The 4-play drive covered 54 yards.
The 49ers responded with an 8-play, 44-yard drive that resulted in a 40-yard field goal for kicker Joe Nedney.
2nd Quarter
The Giants used 8 plays to travel 73 yards and score on a 2-yard touchdown run by Brandon Jacobs, his second of the day. The drive began during the first quarter and ended with 14:55 to go in the second quarter. Cornerback Nate Clements allowed the Giants 46 yards on the drive because of an unsportsmanlike penalty and a pass interference penalty.
The 49ers countered with a touchdown of their own as quarterback JT O'Sullivan found rookie Josh Morgan for a 30-yard touchdown. Morgan also had a pair of 14-yard receptions on the 6-play, 74-yard scoring drive that ended with 11:25 to go in the quarter.
The Giants picked up an easy 21-yard John Carney field goal after their safety, Michael Johnson intercepted a JT O'Sullivan pass and returned it to the 49ers 9-yardline. The defense kept the Giants out of the end zone despite the short field with Clements defending on a fade throw to Plaxico Burress in the end zone. The field goal allowed the Giants to head into the half with a 17-10 halftime edge.
3rd Quarter
The 49ers committed their third turnover of the afternoon when Frank Gore wasn't able to secure a handoff from JT O'Sullivan on a 3rd and 2 play on the offense's first drive of the third quarter. The loose ball was recovered by Mathias Kiwanuka at the 18-yardline.
Four plays later the Giants got the score with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning to Plaxico Burress.
The Giants won a challenge of an Ahmad Bradshaw fumble to keep the ball and eventually try for a 35-yard John Carney field goal. The kick was blocked by linebacker Manny Lawson, and picked up by Nate Clements who took it 74 yards the oppoiste way for a 49ers score, bringing the game back to within a touchdown with 1:50 left in the quarter.
4th Quarter
The Giants upped their lead with 12:12 remaining on a 48-yard field goal by John Carney. The kick finished off a 9-play drive that ended the third quarter and began the fourth.
With just under 5 minutes left in the game, JT O'Sullivan fumbled the ball. The loose ball was touched by a few players before Josh Morgan illegally kicked the ball out of the back of the end zone for a Giants safety.
Injuries/Notes:
Returner Allen Rossum suffered a groin strain and did not return. Defensive end Ray McDonald, safety Dashon Goldson and safety Michael Lewis suffered knee injuries and were forced out of the game.
Cornerback Nate Clements had a rib injury but finished the game. Safety Mark Roman and wide receiver Josh Morgan had groin injuries but finished the game.
The Giants were without two starters on defense in linebackers Antonio Pierce and Gerris Wilkinson.
