Offensive line uncertainty dooming Giants

Without two starters on the left side in guard Ben Bredeson and tackle Andrew Thomas, the Giants started their third different O-line combination in as many games and it showed in Week 3. 

The Giants entered the game having given up a league-leading seven sacks. The 49ers helped add to that total, sacking quarterback Daniel Jones twice, one of which was given up by left guard Shane Lemieux, filling in for the injured Bredeson. 

Aside from tackle Evan Neal, who made 13 starts a season ago, the rest of the Giants line consisted of rookie center John Michael Schmitz, tackle Joshua Ezeudu (three career starts), guard Marcus McKethan (one career start) and Lemieux, who has started only two games since 2020. 

With an unsettled line and the absence of injured running back Saquon Barkley, the aggressive 49ers defense teed off on Jones and the hapless Giants. 

The 49ers created near-constant pressure on Jones, who struggled, finishing 22-of-32 for 137 yards and an interception, his fourth of the season after having only five a year ago. 

Jones failed to find a rhythm with prized offseason addition Darren Waller for the third game in a row. After catching just 9-of-13 targets for 112 yards through Week 2, the tight end saw six targets on Thursday night, catching three for a paltry 20 yards. 

Meanwhile, without Barkley, the combination of Matt Breida, Gary Brightwell and Jones rushed for 25 yards on nine carries. Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor added two rushing yards to the Giants total late, but that was after the game was well in hand. 

The Giants are lucky to be 1-2. However, with a shaky line, a non-existent offense, and a defense hanging on by a thread, things will likely get worse before they get better, especially considering their upcoming schedule. New York will host the Seattle Seahawks (1-1) next week on "Monday Night Football" before two straight on the road against the Miami Dolphins (2-0) and Buffalo Bills (1-1).