As for the Brandon Jacoobs "will he or won't he?" stuff that's flying round the sports networks... I haven't heard anything to the contrary of Jacobs' stated intent to play. Not that TC would have come right out this week and said that his No. 1 back wasn't playing.
Basically, I have no new info. Just like the Chris Mortensen/Eli/shoulder thing from last month, I have the utmost respect for how hard John Clayton works, and he's usually got good sources with the Giants.
In this case, though, I think we have to wait until tomorrow morning to find out about Jacobs. It's fun to try and be first when it comes to injuries week to week, but really, it's near impossible to say unless the team does first.
And TC has never, ever made an early declaration on a guy who was iffy. Ever.
So... I'll still say that Jacobs dresses for the game, based on just being around all week. It's an advantage we have over the ESPN folks.
On to the game preview:
Again, I'll come right out with it.
49ers 17, Giants 14
Why? Honestly, the best answer I can offer is as un-journalistic as possible. It's just a hunch, really. Of course, all my other predictions were hunches too, but I've been 4-for-4 on those, all Giants wins. For the record, I called the Packers win too, but not here.
This has the feel of the Vikings visit from two seasons ago. A clearly inferior team that may catch the Giants at the wrong time, with the help of a return or two for scores. Trent Dilfer may get smacked around, but I have the feeling that Eli Manning is due for a real clunker, not just the up-and-down games he's had in recent weeks.
So, I'm going out on a limb against the G-men. Antonio Pierce had this classic quote this week: "You guys know I love to blame y'all for everything." So, as has been my custom on Fridays this season, I informed him I was picking the Niners.
He was quite pleased. Gibril Wilson, however, said he's never speaking to me again. It's a tradeoff.
If there's any news on the Jacobs front, I'll get it out here.
Comments (24)
Two words, Stapler: Trent Dilfer.
Giants 28, 49ers 9
The real advantage you have over BSPN if the fact that you don't work for them....
Grid....several more words:
Diilfer is 3-2 lifetime against the Giants. IMO, this game will be Jeremy Shockey's coming out. Think about it. Nate Clements on Plax, with Plax hurting and coming off a short week, could be a wash. The SF LB's are banged up and therefor exploitable. If I were Gilbride, I'd licking my chops to get after SF in the middle of the field. A healthy running attack with whoever is able to go along with running off the safeties to hit the middle with Shockey and maybe Moss on slants from the slot should be enough to dominate time of posession and beat the 49ers.
Again, just my opinions....
Giants 31 49'ers 16
You make me sick for going against the Giants. I guess you have no confidence in them. Go with your heart over your head. I guess we all know your picks when the Giants face their NFC East foes for a second time. I pick the Giants each and every time, even if I now the odds are stacked.
I seem to remember that everytime you went against the Giants last year they ended up winning. Which is fine by me. I go against them in my pool picks every week and they win so I'm not breaking that trend.
From your injury reports, it seems like they may use Steve Smith in a limited manner to get him back into the offense. This would be good to see and definitely important for the games after the BYE week.
sacked...
Do you also wear a parka and ski mask in July even though you know it's never going to snow in 90 degree weather?
That's funny, I said earlier in the week that this reminds me of the Vikings game. Playing a fast defense that can take it back, potential for a dominant running game, and Eli just seems due for that type of game (unfortunately).
I like the way we've been playing against the run, and Dilfer doesn't scare me at all. But it may be a field position game, and they have a great punter from what I hear.
GIANTS FANS UNITE! BOYCOTT INSIDE THE NFL!
This past week's edition of iside the NFL completely iignored the NY GIANTS, not a single highlight of the victory over Atlanta, no mention of the 4 game win streak and not a word about the upcoming game against San Francisco!
GIANTS FANS BOYCOTT INSIDE THE NFL!!!!
And the G-MEN will crush the niners 34-10!
I guess it's fair to predict that the Giant's will stumble given their history, but I could use a bit more insight than "Eli is due for a clunker." He's also due to show us his A-game; so why is this the clunker? I take it you're counting on defensive scores for the 9ers? And if all of the above is true, you're counting on the 49ers to stop the ground game. I wouldn't call the Giants a lock, but you're argument boarders on voodoo analysis - - respectfully . All predictions are hunches - some just more reasoned than others.
You're right Kearsing... they also didn't show highlights when Giants tied league record with sack against the Eagles. It was viewed as more of a the Eagles stink, then a Giants D improved segment.
They also didn't show our Skins or Packers game.
They also showed three plays during our Jets-Giants game and only talked about the fascination of instant replay.
It's the conspiracy of Chris Collinsworth I tell ya!
You guys are completely right about Inside the NFL and its been bothering me the past few weeks too...
We played 2 division games which they didn't think were worth showing. We play the Jets, which should be of some interest since its a NY-NY rivalry but they didn't care much about covering that.
It's pretty ridiculous and I'm trying to figure out whats up. The only game they showed comprehensive highlights of was the season opener against the Cowboys. So 1/5 games get highlights from them.
One theory I have is maybe the Giants organization isn't allowing them to show highlights, or limits them? This is unlikely though, because no other team seems to care and its probably the decision of NFL corporate.
Arthur, do you know anything about this issue?
Giants 31 49ers 20
Untill I see a reason to not be confident about the Giants' chances week in and weed out, I'll pick 'em everytime!
Go Big Blue-
Man, after hearing about The Sopranos finale and now this "Giant-killing" Inside the NFL BS, I am glad I don't pay for HBO.
I have always hated Collinsworth, that smug d***head, especially after he so confidently predicted the Vikings would win the 2000-01 NFC Championship Game. He flat-out hates N.Y. I would like to bitch-slap his ugly made-up face even more than I'd like to tape a spit-shield to the face of fellow N.Y. teams-hater Chris "Mad Dog" Russo's or put a dirty post-game sock into the mouth of "Mr. I-know-everything" Pat Hanlon, that grumpy bastard.
Giants 27, 49ers 3
I guess a beat writer that hates the team he covers would often pick against them. Arthur you should cover a team you actually like, years of covering the Giants and playing devil's advocate every week gets real old. This team has shown great resilency in over coming 0-2 and they don't control who they play. Picking against Eli is rather silly also, as he has played steady enough to win 4 in a row. The 49ers have nothing to speak of, and only a bye week for some minor advantage. The Giants will run the ball on this team and Eli will go to Amani and Shockey. They will muster up 24 points. The only way to lose is to beat themselves with turnovers. Don't see it happening. Giants 24-6
Controversy sells papers, and some writer/blogers get paid in part based on volume of comments. Maybe aurthur just needs to spin us up to pad his pay check (Yes, I just contributed). Media is media.
C'mon, guys. Arthur can't pick the Giants EVERY week. And it is not his job to like the Giants; it's his job to report about them, which he does pretty well. His opinion on what will happen in the game does not make him our enemy. Of course he wants the Giants to win; it's a helluva lot easier to interview players after a win than a loss.
MSG4ever, I can tell you first-hand that Newsday and most other newspapers frown on their reporters being a fan of the team they cover. The thinking is that their allegiance will show in their writing and/or compromise their ability to be critical of the team. I would like to think otherwise -- that a true fan has more historical knowledge of the team, and that he/she would be even more critical (Lord knows I am) of execs, coaches and players -- but this is not the opinion of most editors. In fact, they think their reporters should not be a fan AT ALL. It compromises their objectivity, they will say.
My question is: Why the hell would anyone want to be a sportswriter if they are not a sports fan?
Arthur, that might be a good blog one day -- how and why sports reporters must sacrifice their allegiance in order to do their jobs, and why a fan of Team A cannot and should not be the beat writer for Team A. Hey, at least you never have to worry about losing your job to BH or JG!
We're not facing NE yet, t-dips. Arthur has picked against before, but with an argument. If we didn't respect his POV, we wouldn't be here. We just got short changed today. Somebody is eating crow on Sunday.
49ERS DEFENSE HAS NOT BEEN AS TOUGH SINCE THEIR LINEBACKERS GOT HURT. tHEY ALLOWED 60 POINTS IN THE 2 GAMES BEFORE THEIR LOSS TO bALTIMORE AT HOME WHEN THEY ALLOWED 9. bUT bALTIMORE HAD MANY CHANCES TO SCORE AND COULDN'T AFTER MOVING THE BALL ON THEM. tHAT WAS WITH mCnAIR WHO IS TERRIBLE RIGHT NOW. aND bALTIMORE STILL BEAT THEM.
Excuse the caps I just noticed it now.
NYG 24 Dilfer/Smith 10
What t-dips said!
Both posts!!!
-Big BB
Giants 27 Niners 13
Will somebody please tell me why we still have a kicker that misses extra points!?
107 yards later, looks like Jacobs was fine to me.
Don't kill the messenger; I was just reporting what Clayton said. And boy am I glad I ignored him; Jacobs scored 20 points for my fantasy team today.
Nice job again, jump-the-gun ESPN. Or, as one other blogger so appropriately said, BSPN.
Margi, I am now dumber for reading your stupid logic.