In losing three straight games, the 49ers had looked helpless.
On Sunday night, however, they came alive – only to have their spirit crushed in the final seconds of a 30-27 loss to the host New York Giants.
The 49ers, who trailed 20-13 entering the fourth quarter, came up big in the final period, marching to two touchdowns on a 5-yard pass from Colin Kaepernick to Garrett Celek and a 2-yard run by Carlos Hyde. When Hyde scored, and Phil Dawson converted the extra point to put San Francisco up 27-23 with 1:49 remaining, it appeared San Francisco would break its three –game losing streak and get its first road victory since 2014.
But it didn’t happen.
Led by quarterback Eli Manning – who carved up the 49ers secondary from start to finish – the Giants used eight plays to drive from their own 18-yard line to steal the game away with Manning’s 12-yard strike in the back of the end zone to tight end Larry Donnell.
After getting the ball back with 17 seconds remaining after the kickoff, the 49ers couldn’t get into field goal range for Phil Dawson.
San Francisco, which won its season opener, now is 1-4. The 49ers will try to get their second win this coming Sunday against the Ravens.
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In each of the three previous defeats, the 49ers have suffered serious breakdowns. First, the secondary was torched by the Steelers and Cardinals, but then rebounded last week against the Packers. But against the Cardinals and Packers, the 49ers offense disappeared and Kaepernick looked like a mess.
Sunday night, the offense showed life, particularly in the second half, but the secondary again collapsed.
The Giants’ Manning threw for 441 yards and three TDs, completing 41 of his career-high 54 passes, and was terrific on the game-winning drive. Recever Odell Beckham caught seven of those passes for 121 yards.
Kaepernick, meanwhile, turned in his best performance since Week 2, completing 23-of-35 throws for 262 yards and two TDs, with no interceptions. Running back Carlos Hyde also had a good game, rushing for 93 yards.
But for now, the only stat that matters will be the final score and the 49es' 1-4 record.
