In their narrowest margin of either defeat or victory this season, the New York Giants lost 16-10 to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
Big Blue had its chances down to the very end in hopes of breaking its losing streak but instead dropped to 3-7 following a fifth straight loss. Giants.com looks at those opportunities and the three plays that decided the outcome in Week 11:
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Play No. 1 - Colin Kaepernick to Michael Crabtree 48-yard TD**
Time: 11:52, 3rd QTR
Down & Distance: 1st & 10 at NYG 48
After the Giants took a 7-0 lead with their first opening-possession touchdown since October of last year, the offense regressed from there as Eli Manning threw two of his five interceptions on the day in the first half. Meanwhile, despite giving up some yards, the Giants held San Francisco to three field goals, taking a 9-7 deficit into halftime.
Coming out of the break, Big Blue went three-and-out on the first drive of the third quarter and punted the ball back to the 49ers. That's when wide receiver Michael Crabtree caught a short pass over the middle from Colin Kaepernick and broke past the Giants' secondary for a 48-yard touchdown. San Francisco's lone touchdown and its only points of the second half proved to be the difference in the final score.
Play No. 2 -- Giants recover onside kick, throw interception on ensuing drive**
Down & Distance: Ball on NYG 35
The Giants responded to San Francisco's aforementioned longest play of the game with a scoring drive that resulted in a 43-yard field goal from Josh Brown to cut the deficit to six points. Looking for a spark in the game and their season as a whole, the Giants called for an onside kick from Brown, who skidded the ball straight forward with his foot into the hands of Niners cornerback Ray Ventrone.
However, as Brown hit Ventrone, the 49er was unable to control the ball, and Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich recovered it for a successful attempt.
But even with momentum on their side the Giants were unable to capitalize, running it twice for no gain before Manning threw an interception deep left intended for wide receiver Rueben Randle.
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Play No. 3 -- Goal line sequence**
Time: 5:04, 4th QTR
Down & Distance: 1st & Goal at SF 4
Down by six with 6:18 to play, the Giants took over on their own 35-yard line with a chance to take a late lead. It was looking promising as they drove 61 yards down to San Francisco's four, set up by a spectacular catch by rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. for a 37-yard gain. But that's where they hit a wall. First down: Manning incomplete to Beckham on the right. Second down: Manning incomplete to Randle on the left. Third down: Manning incomplete to tight end Larry Donnell on the left. Fourth down: Manning interception on a pass intended for wide receiver Preston Parker over the middle.
"Four shots from the four-yard line," coach Tom Coughlin said after the game. "It's inexcusable that we didn't score."
View the best photos from the game vs. the 49ers
