Get to know the Giants' opponent for their Week 11 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers
QB Colin Kaepernick
WR Anquan Boldin
WR Michael Crabtree
RB Frank Gore
RB Carlos Hyde
FB Bruce Miller
TE Vernon Davis
LT Joe Staley
LG Mike Iupati
Center Marcus Martin
RG Alex Boone
RT Anthony Davis
LDT Ray McDonald
NT Ian Williams
RDT Justin Smith
OLB Ahmad Brooks
ILB Michael Wilhoite
ILB Chris Borland
OLB Dan Skuta
CB Tramaine Brock
CB Chris Culliver
FS Eric Reid
SS Antoine Bethea
PR/KR Bruce Ellington
Punter Andy Lee
Kicker Phil Dawson
Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman
Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio
1. How the Giants respond.
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Seattle piled up a franchise-record 350 rushing yards last week against the Giants, including 140 and four touchdowns from running back Marshawn Lynch and 107 by quarterback Russell Wilson. The Giants allowed 24 unanswered points in the second half in a game that was tied heading into the fourth quarter. "We really didn't play solid football," linebacker Jameel McClain said a day after the game. "That is it in a nutshell. As a starting linebacker or as any linebacker, it is anybody on this defense, even someone who was watching the game, no one likes that feeling. No one wants records to be set on them, no one."
2. Learning from last week.
The road doesn't get any easier this Sunday when the Giants host another NFC West team in the San Francisco 49ers. And under center will be another dynamic quarterback in Colin Kaepernick, who has 58 rushes for 298 yards and 14 first downs this season. Coach Tom Coughlin is hoping last week against Wilson will be a teaching point for defending Kaepernick. "That is what I am hoping," Coughlin said. "That will be a positive thing for us in terms of learning from the experience we just had, knowing full well what they are capable of doing in the style of offense and the quarterback being involved as much as he is. Perhaps we will learn something that can really benefit us going forward."
3. The possible return of RB Rashad Jennings.
Jennings, who has missed the last four games because of a knee injury, looks hopeful to make his return on Sunday. Before the injury, Jennings had 91 carries for 396 yards (4.4) and a pair of touchdowns. "I think he will, I'm hoping that he will," Coughlin said. "He did have a good week of practice last week for what we asked him to do. He had a weekend to continue to rehab and strengthen, so he has worked hard at that. I am going to say that we certainly do expect that he will be ready at the end of this week, but who knows? I can't tell you 100 percent, but I think he will, and if he is ready, then obviously he will have a big share of the load.
4. The injury report.
In addition to Jennings, the Giants also lost running backs Michael Cox (fractured leg) and Peyton Hillis (concussion) during Sunday's game. While Cox was placed on season-ending injured reserve on Wednesday, we'll see how Hillis responds this week. Meanwhile, the team continues to bring along guard Geoff Schwartz, who has been on injured reserve/designated for return since suffering a dislocated toe in August.
5. Coughlin and QB Eli Manning's success against San Francisco.
The Giants renew one of their greatest rivalries outside of the NFC East this week against the San Francisco 49ers. This will be the 30th regular season meeting between the two iconic franchises, with the Giants holding a slight 15-14 edge. The teams have also met eight times in the postseason, where the series is tied, 4-4. One of those victories was during the Giants' 2001 championship season in the NFC Championship Game, which the Giants won, 20-17, in overtime. With Coughlin, the Giants are 5-1 against the 49ers.
