Giants vs. 49ers: Week 3 staff picks and predictions
The New York Giants (1-1) will take on the San Francisco 49ers (2-0) this Thursday night at Levi’s Stadium in their third game of the 2023 regular season.
Opening the week, the Giants were a 10-point road underdog, and that got a bit worse (+11) before returning to where it started. As of this writing, New York is +10.
How does the Giants Wire staff see this Week 3 battle shaking out? Here’s a look at our picks and score predictions:
Dan Benton: 49ers 30, Giants 26
There’s really no reason to believe the Giants win this one or even keep it close given how they played over the first six quarters this season. The potential loss of Saquon Barkley may not be as damning as some suggest, but it’s the defense that sits atop the list of genuine concerns. If they can’t pressure Brock Purdy and continue their poor tackling, this game can get out of hand in a hurry. But the Giants traditionally play up to the level of their opponents and their prime-time curse aside, I can see that playing out on Thursday. I even see an avenue to victory — I’m just not predicting it. Still, I anticipate this one will be much closer than many expect.
John Fennelly: 49ers 27, Giants 13
The Giants without Saquon Barkley and another reshuffled offensive line could spell trouble for Daniel Jones & Co. The defense is still struggling to gel with all the new pieces and Kyle Shanahan will have a tough gameplan in place to challenge them further. This being a short week on the road won’t help, either. Just too many negatives here to pick an upset. The Giants already performed one miracle on this trip. Asking them to perform two is a tad unreasonable.
Tyler Henry: Giants 26, 49ers 23
I know, I know… It sounds crazy. I’ve had this game marked as a statement game for Big Blue for a few weeks now. They are fresh off the dramatic second-half comeback in Week 2. They have the speed to keep up with the 49ers’ high-powered offense and hopefully, the Giants’ offense can continue the magic they found in the second half on Sunday.
Obviously, there are still plenty of concerns with the Giants after their performance over the first six quarters and the injury issues they are currently facing.
I just have a weird feeling is the Giants pull off the big upset here. Don’t get me wrong, the 49ers are the much more talented team. However, the Giants traditionally play up to their competition.
Kevin Hickey: N/A
N/A
Jeevan Kirkland: 49ers 33, Giants 13
The 49ers look to be one of the best teams in football as they blew out the Steelers and comfortably handled the Rams. On the flip side, the Giants have looked like one of the worst teams in football dropping a goose egg against the Cowboys and needing an amazing comeback against the Cardinals to win. San Francisco’s defensive front will simply be too much for this porous Giants offensive line to handle. The 49ers’ offensive skill position players are also one of the best in the league and should also be able to take advantage of a struggling Giants defense. Do not expect this one to be close.
Serena Burks: 49ers 28, Giants 27
The Giants finally looked like themselves at the end of their last game. The loss of Saquon hurts, but I’m getting hopeful. I struggled with this pick because of the short week and being on the road, I really want to pick the Giants, but I’m not quite convinced yet. The 49ers look good so far, their last game was in-state, and they’re at home. 49ers win in a close one.
