Giants Hand 49ers Another Loss
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants’ defense not only got into Trent Dilfer’s head, they got to his back, his side, and every other part of his body.
Dilfer became the latest quarterback to suffer the wrath of Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan, and Steve Spagnuolo’s sack-happy defense today. The Giants won their fifth straight with a 33-15 victory over San Francisco, handing the 49ers their fourth straight loss.
“I think when you’ve done what we’ve done the last four or five games and start having pressure like that, before the game the quarterback is thinking about the rush,” Strahan said.
Dilfer certainly felt the pressure all game.
The Giants (5-2) sacked him six times, with the biggest being a third-quarter takedown by Umenyiora that resulted in the perfect play — a sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery, and 75-yard return for a touchdown that iced the game.
“I don’t think I have seen a guy get all four on one play,” middle linebacker Antonio Pierce said.
New York forced four turnovers by the 49ers (2-4) and made Dilfer play with his head on a swivel while Alex Smith rested his ailing shoulder on the sidelines.
“I feel all right,” Dilfer said. “I’ll probably be pretty sore tomorrow. I’m disappointed, but the body is hanging in there.”
Eli Manning threw touchdown passes to Amani Toomer and Jeremy Shockey, and Brandon Jacobs ran for a career-high 107 yards and a touchdown for the Giants, who also got two field goals from the struggling Lawrence Tynes.