Just when it looked like the Giants defense had blown another fourth-quarter lead, a vintage late Eli Manning drive bailed them out.
Manning completed his 41st pass of the game, a career high and team record, into the outstretched hands of a leaping Larry Donnell for the game-winning touchdown with 21 seconds to play, and the Giants pulled out a 30-27 victory over the 49ers Sunday night.
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The fateful pass and catch capped an eight-play, 82-yard drive that Manning led while Odell Beckham Jr. nursed a hamstring tweak that caused him to miss half of the fourth quarter. Manning finished 41 of 54 with 441 yards and three touchdowns, and the Giants (3-2) took over sole possession of first place in the NFC East on the strength of a three-game winning streak.
The 49ers have now lost four straight. It looked like they had broken out of their funk when Colin Kaepernick led a fourth-quarter comeback that ended with a 2-yard touchdown run by Carlos Hyde that gave the 49ers a 27-23 lead.
But Beckham, who exited the game after scoring a touchdown earlier in the fourth quarter, returned for the final drive and drew a holding call that gave the Giants a first-and-10 from the 49ers 12-yard line. Manning found Donnell on the next play.
Beckham finished with seven catches for 121 yards and the score. And running back Shane Vereen followed closely behind with 86 yards and a touchdown on eight catches, including three on the final drive with Beckham hobbled.
Despite the loss, the 49ers offense that had become stagnant showed signs of life, led by Kaepernick's improved play. That was especially true in the second half, when the Giants' league-worst fourth quarter defense nearly gave the game away.
The franchise quarterback who had shouldered much of the blame for the 49ers' losing streak mustered 250 yards on 23 of 35 passing with two touchdowns. More significantly, he didn't record a turnover.
After scoring five touchdowns in 22 quarters to start the season, San Francisco found the end zone three times.
