49ers vs. Giants: Complete Week 11 Preview for San Francisco

The San Francisco 49ers' quest for a playoff berth continues into Week 11 when they take on the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium at 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX.

San Francisco is coming off a thrilling 27-24 overtime victory over the New Orleans Saints—a game that could easily be viewed as a season-saver for the 5-4 49ers.

This contest ended a two-game losing streak and helped recapture the momentum San Francisco will need over the final stretch of the regular season.

On the other hand, the 3-6 Giants are riding a four-game losing streak. They are coming off a 38-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, in which Seattle was able to gain 350 yards on the ground.

New York's 1,302 rush yards against is the highest total given up by any NFL franchise this season. This number figures to play into a premier San Francisco strength—a strong running game.

#49ers offensive line should be licking their chops for next week. Seattle has pounded it on the ground vs. the NY Giants.

— Christian Gin (@Christian_Gin) November 10, 2014

But this advantage is offset by the recent news that San Francisco will lose its perennial Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis to a season-ending toe injury. This will put even more pressure on a makeshift linebacker corps that has also been without NaVorro Bowman.

While this bit of news is bad, another piece is good.

Linebacker Aldon Smith has since been reinstated, which will unquestionably benefit what has been a relatively lackluster pass rush over the first 10 weeks of the year.

The 49ers hope these factors, and more, will play into their favor as they look to surge back into the playoff picture after weathering the first half.

Let's break down everything you need to know heading into this critical matchup.

San Francisco's gut-checking overtime win on the road in New Orleans was as thrilling as it was needed.

Indeed, the victory potentially saved the 49ers' season. At 5-4, San Francisco has a much better shot at making it into the postseason—a chance described in further detail in the above video.

The 49ers got off to an early start, jumping out to a 14-0 lead, thanks to a well-balanced offense. Running backs Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde each combined for the 49ers' first two touchdowns.

.@49ers had 0 rushing touchdowns in the last 5 games. They now have TWO in the first quarter against @Saints in New Orleans.

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 9, 2014

But as is so often the case, quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints jumped back into the mix. Following a Saints field goal, Brees found rookie wideout Brandin Cooks for a 31-yard touchdown reception.

San Francisco was able to answer back with another score—a 15-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Anquan Boldin from quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Yet the Saints took the lead on two unanswered touchdowns from tight end Jimmy Graham, putting New Orleans up 24-21. With time running out, and the 49ers forced to make a late fourth-quarter drive, all signs pointed to San Francisco enduring another tough loss in New Orleans.

It all came down to a 4th-and-10 pass from Kaepernick to wide receiver Michael Crabtree—a 51-yard connection on a broken play that helped set up a game-tying field goal from kicker Phil Dawson.

Woooow. Kaepernick keeps play alive, sees Crabtree 51 yards down field. Suddenly the 49ers are in field goal range.

— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) November 9, 2014

The Saints nearly stole the game back at the end, thanks to a Hail Mary pass from Brees that found Graham in the end zone. But Graham was flagged for offensive pass interference, which sent the game into overtime.

During the OT period, it was a sack from linebacker Ahmad Brooks (no flag this time) that forced a fumble, giving the 49ers a chance to win it.

They did.

And by doing so, San Francisco became the first road team to upend New Orleans in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome since December of 2012.

The aftermath of Week 10 was bittersweet for the 49ers.

On the one hand, San Francisco potentially saved its season with the victory. The team silenced critics who may have been questioning the offensive identity, roles of certain players and whether the 49ers had what it took to get back into the postseason.

But the 49ers also suffered a huge loss when Patrick Willis elected to undergo season-ending surgery on his toe—an injury that sidelined him in Week 6 and, subsequently, thereafter.

Losing Willis hurts the 49ers. There isn't any easy way to get around that. But the loss has presented another opportunity for others to step up in his absence.

Aldon Smith's Return

Perhaps the best news the 49ers could have received was the NFL reinstatement of linebacker Aldon Smith.

Smith was suspended nine games in the wake of his off-the-field issues. He has not been allowed to practice with the team during that duration.

But there isn't any questioning of Smith's pass-rushing prowess. The fourth-year pro has 42.0 sacks on his young career—numbers the 49ers will need to bolster a pass-rushing unit that has amassed just 15 on the year.

49ers officially reinstate LB Aldon Smith following a 9-game suspension for substance abuse and personal conduct. pic.twitter.com/JUkYws40xt

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 11, 2014

The Giants are not expecting Smith to be an every-down player on Sunday. Rather, head coach Tom Coughlin sees him as a third-down player—stating such in a conference call with Bay Area reporters (h/t Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area).

This might be the case considering Smith's elongated absence. But his presence on the field will certainly do plenty to instill fear in the mind of quarterback Eli Manning.

No Charges Filed Against Ray McDonald

The ongoing saga surrounding defensive end Ray McDonald will likely be put to rest.

This comes as news after the Santa Clara County District Attorney's office elected not to file charges against McDonald after he was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence—details of which are provided by Mindi Bach of CSN Bay Area.

BREAKING: Report: No charges filed against #49ers' Ray McDonald (via @MBachCSN) http://t.co/zc32w2kI7o #NFL pic.twitter.com/FTprpD8YdI

— Comcast SportsNet (@CSNAuthentic) November 10, 2014

McDonald has since spoken with the media—something the 30-year-old defensive end did not do during the investigation.

"It was a long process. I understand that the police department, they had a job to do," McDonald said via Steve Corkran of the San Jose Mercury News. "They 100 percent made the correct decision. I'm just glad it's over. I'm ready to move on with my life and focus on the game this week."

Now McDonald, and the rest of the team, can shift focus to defeating the Giants in Week 11.

Replacing Patrick Willis

It's difficult to fathom the 49ers defense without the linebacking tandem of Willis and NaVorro Bowman. Yet they will not play alongside each other in 2014.

Willis' turf-toe injury will sideline him for the rest of the year, leaving a huge hole in the defense.

But this hole is being filled admirably enough by rookie linebacker Chris Borland.

Through six games played, Borland has notched 38 tackles—good for second on the team behind safety Antoine Bethea (41). His 17-tackle performance against New Orleans helped get him nominated for the NFL's Rookie of the Week award for the second week in a row, per 49ers.com.

#49ers LB Chris Borland nominated for @nfl's Rookie of the Week honor, again. READ: http://t.co/XKZ95IsuIa pic.twitter.com/7OSA342Wuc

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 12, 2014

Borland is making plays, which helps plug the gap left by Willis—never an easy task.

Returning to Offensive Balance

It seems to be a weekly thing to read a stat claiming that when running back Frank Gore receives X carries, the 49ers win Y percent of their games.

But the bigger context has been the 49ers' offensive identity—an aspect that has been called into question this year, even by Gore.

Week 10 proved to be a worthy combination of run and pass plays.

San Francisco ran 32 times and passed for 32 as well, per Taylor Price of 49ers.com. The 49ers also notched two rushing touchdowns during the contest, which stood in stark contrast to having zero over their previous five games, per ESPN Stats & Info.

.@49ers had 0 rushing touchdowns in the last 5 games. They now have TWO in the first quarter against @Saints in New Orleans.

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 9, 2014

No team has given up more yardage on the ground than the Giants. A run-heavy approach, sprinkled with an opportunistic passing game, could be a decisive factor.

Wide Receiver Consistency

San Francisco could not have won Week 10 without contributions from wideouts Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree.

Boldin hauled in the 49ers' lone passing touchdown during the game and finished the matchup with 95 yards on six receptions. Crabtree bailed out Kaepernick on that critical fourth-down play in the final quarter of regulation.

But both receivers suffered from the dropsies. 

Boldin had four dropped passes in the second half, which equaled his 2013 season total, per ESPN Stats & Info (h/t Paul Gutierrez of ESPN). Who knows what would have happened if the typically reliable Boldin had been able to pull in a couple of those drops. Perhaps the 49ers win in regulation.

Crabtree, who is no stranger to dropped passes this season, has also been at the heart of the discussion.

Crabtree sounded dissatisfied with his role after Week 10, per Eric Branch of SFGate.com.

“Third down. I’m a third-down receiver," Crabtree said. "I mean, I’m like the third option. So I come in and I do my job.”

Perhaps the frustration emanates from his relative lack of production this season. He is second on the team with 424 receiving yards. But it is also possible that he recognizes the developing relationship Colin Kaepernick has with new wideout Stevie Johnson, who is putting up similar numbers in a smaller role.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-is8YAsF4E

Injuries    

Patrick Willis, LB: Injured Reserve (toe)

Ian Williams, DT: Out (shin)

Jimmie Ward, DB: Questionable (foot)

Bruce Ellington, WR: Questionable (ankle)

Chris Borland, LB: Questionable (shoulder)

Tramaine Brock, CB: Questionable (hamstring)

Dan Skuta, LB: Questionable (ankle)

Eric Reid, S: Probable (ankle)

Frank Gore, RB: Probable (hip)

Aldon Smith, LB: Probable (reinstated from suspension)

Ray McDonald, DE: Probable (knee)

  

All injury statuses courtesy of CBS Sports and Pro-Football-Reference.com.

The loss of Patrick Willis highlights San Francisco's injury list.

Willis spoke to the media after being placed on injured reserve and provided details about surgery plans and his eventual recovery—details of which can be viewed in the above video.

Chris Borland will get the nod in Willis' stead. So far, the rookie has done plenty to showcase that he belongs at the NFL level. But the true test will be whether he can continue the recent surge showcased over the last two weeks.

Borland was limited in practice this week, per 49ers.com.

The defensive line also took a hit when it lost nose tackle Ian Williams to a leg fracture. Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area reported from sources that Williams will be out a few weeks and will not require surgery. Second-year pro Quinton Dial will likely get the nod, and he will soon be joined by Glenn Dorsey (biceps) when he is able to return.

Linebacker Dan Skuta's absence opened up the door for rookie Aaron Lynch to be an every-down starter in Week 10. This could happen once more if Skuta is unavailable on Sunday.

Rookie wideout and returner Bruce Ellington suffered a sprained ankle against New Orleans, which forced the 49ers to use a combination of cornerback Perrish Cox and running back Carlos Hyde in the return duties.

Ellington will likely not land on IR, as Maiocco said in the previous link.

Tramaine Brock, who has already dealt with a toe injury this season, is working through a hamstring injury. Citing a source, Eric Branch of SFGate.com reports that the cornerback will likely miss Sunday's game.

The Giants' abilities to defend the run are abysmal. They rank No. 32 out of 32 teams in rush yards allowed (1,302). New York is also tied for the most rushing touchdowns scored against (13).

San Francisco's offense, especially its offensive line, is built to run the ball.

Sounds like an absolute mismatch, doesn't it?

But the Giants could sell out against the run, much like the St. Louis Rams did in Weeks 6 and 9, forcing San Francisco to pass the ball and, potentially, expose its difficulties with pass protection. The 49ers have given up 31 sacks on the year—tied for second-highest in the league.

So how will the 49ers approach this game? Which matchups will be the critical ones to decide its outcome?

Chris Borland vs. Rashad Jennings & Co.

Linebacker Chris Borland has emerged as a tackling machine. The Giants would like to get their ground game going.

New York running back Rashad Jennings has missed four games due to a knee injury. But he was able to return to practice this week, per Larry Hartstein of CBS Sports, leading to the belief that he will be ready to go on Sunday.

The Giants are averaging 3.8 yards per carry this season. Fellow back Andre Williams has shouldered most of the burden in Jennings' absence but is averaging just 2.9 yards per attempt.

Should New York attempt to wear out the interior of the 49ers defense, look for Borland to continue his tackling surge and thwart the Giants' ground attack.

Aaron Lynch vs. Justin Pugh

If Dan Skuta is unavailable on Sunday, rookie linebacker Aaron Lynch will likely be asked to play on almost every down—something he did in Week 10 against New Orleans per Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area.

Lynch is a positive in what has otherwise been an underwhelming 49ers pass rush. Combined with Borland, these two contributed to wreak havoc against the Saints a week ago.

Aaron Lynch pressures Drew Brees...Chris Borland destroys pass catcher. Rookies stepping up for 49ers.

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) November 9, 2014

The rookie will likely be lined up opposite Giants right tackle Justin Pugh. The 6'4", 301-pound lineman presents a tough challenge for Lynch, but if he can get into some one-on-one matchups, this could be a benefit for the 49ers defense.

Oh, and there's that Aldon Smith guy coming back.

Aldon Smith vs. Will Beatty

The 49ers aren't likely to press Smith into an every-down situation right away. Instead, he'll be inserted into various pass-rushing packages, such as third downs, etc.

Smith worked on some additional pass-rushing moves during his suspension, per Maiocco, and he will look to put them to the test on Sunday.

Aldon Smith polished pass-rush moves during suspension (via @MaioccoCSN) http://t.co/3ckSj0e3aM #49ers #NFL pic.twitter.com/yYlMPLKgEs

— Comcast SportsNet (@CSNAuthentic) November 12, 2014

Blocking Smith will largely fall upon the shoulders of left tackle Will Beatty, lining up on the opposite end of the O-line from Pugh.

But one can only fathom the pass-rushing pressure brought from both Lynch and Smith.

A fresh Aldon Smith & Aaron Lynch against the Giants. Eli's gonna Eli.

— Vincent Frank (@VincentFrankNFL) November 11, 2014

Scary.

Perrish Cox vs. Odell Beckham Jr.

Rookie wideout Odell Beckham Jr. missed the first four games of the Giants' 2014 season. Since then, he has posted 25 receptions for 375 yards and three touchdowns—an average of 14.8 yards per catch.

The 5'11", 198-pound rookie will draw frequent coverage from cornerback Perrish Cox, who leads the 49ers with four interceptions and 13 passes defended.

Cox continues to prove himself as a top-two cornerback for San Francisco. Alongside defensive backs Eric Reid and Antoine Bethea, this group is quietly emerging as one of the better secondaries in the NFL this season.

As a whole, San Francisco's defense has allowed just 1,937 yards through the air—fifth lowest in the league.

Mike Iupati vs. Robert Ayers

The 49ers do not want to continue the trend of being a bad pass-protecting team. Having allowed 31 sacks already, the offense recently looked to a more-balanced offense. This played into the offensive line's strengths.

Look for that to continue in Week 11.

In order to do so, the 49ers' O-line will have to contend with the likes of pass-rushing specialist Robert Ayers. Ayers leads the Giants with four sacks on the season and has been able to consistently bring pressure throughout the year.

Robert Ayers is a BEAST. Got pressure all last week. Gets a sack this week. More coming hopefully. #NYG #Giants

— GMEN HQ (@gmenhq) November 9, 2014

Ayers will frequently be opposite left guard Mike Iupati. Iupati has had an up-and-down season this year, but will look to continue an upward trend against Ayers and the Giants' pass rush.

Robert Ayers rushing the QB inside against Mike Iupati on Sunday is a very favorable matchup for the Giants. #49ers

— Jeff Deeney (@PFF_Jeff) November 13, 2014

Anquan Boldin vs. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

We shouldn't be surprised to see a run-heavy 49ers offensive approach in Week 11. But if this works well enough, it should set up some opportunities in the passing game if New York overprotects against the run.

This leads to some potential one-on-one matchups between wide receiver Anquan Boldin and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

Boldin has clearly emerged as the 49ers' No. 1 receiver this season. His 51 receptions for 635 yards leads the team, and he will look to bounce back from the dropped passes that plagued him against the Saints.

Facing off against him will be New York's No. 1 cornerback, Rodgers-Cromartie. The 28-year-old is second on the Giants with eight passes defended and ranks highest in the same category among New York's secondary.

49ers X-Factors of the Week: RBs Frank Gore & Carlos Hyde

Scroll to the top of this slide and read the first paragraph. Let those numbers sink in.

Now, let's provide a smaller sample. The Giants allowed 350 rushing yards to the Seattle Seahawks a week ago. Running back Marshawn Lynch accounted for 140 of those and four of Seattle's five touchdowns.

49ers coach Harbaugh just said the #Giants were good against the run. Damn, even Lou Holtz couldn't have stretched praise that far. #nyg

— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) November 12, 2014

Why would anyone expect anything else other than a huge day from running backs Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde?

Gore could easily be the lone X-factor here as he clearly remains San Francisco's No. 1 back. But one might speculate that Hyde could receive an increase in carries, especially if the 49ers have significant success on the ground.

If the Giants can't stop the run, why not employ a run-heavy attack?

Look for Gore and Hyde to be powerhouses for a San Francisco offense that found recent success in a balanced approach.

A hard-fought victory over the Saints in Week 10 has hopefully given the 49ers enough momentum to carry over into another critical contest against the Giants this Sunday.

The return of Aldon Smith gives San Francisco's defense an added weapon that will, in part, offset the loss of Patrick Willis.

In all, the banged-up 49ers defense has done more than an admirable job of limiting teams' offensive gains throughout most of the 2014 season.

This unit will be put to the test against an inconsistent Giants offense that ranks No. 21 in the league in total yards (3,091) and No. 22 in points scored (195).

San Francisco's offense has fared little better. The 49ers rank just one spot higher, No. 20 and No. 21, in each respective category.

But most of this can be attributed to the lack of consistency over the first 10 weeks. Additionally, the 49ers' ability to run the ball creates a mismatch over an underwhelming Giants' run defense.

Speculation would lead one to believe that San Francisco should have little trouble establishing the running game early and often.

If the 49ers can do this, and set up all the various offensive schemes that can result from a potent ground game, San Francisco should be able to sustain drives and wear down a questionable defense.

Another key factor will be how the 49ers end these drives. Red-zone woes have been a problem for San Francisco this season. New York has allowed seven red-zone touchdowns on the year. Opposing quarterbacks are completing just 38.5 percent of their passes within the Giants' 20-yard line.

The 49ers will have to figure out a way to overcome this. Perhaps the balanced approach seen in Week 10 will work once more against New York.

The biggest hope will be for San Francisco to finally have a statement game of sorts. The 49ers have yet to dominate an opponent in every aspect through nine contests. A weakened Giants team presents a worthwhile opportunity.

Look for running backs Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde to play a huge role. In turn, San Francisco's passing game can benefit from the Giants' attempts to stop the running game. Sustained, elongated drives will wear down New York's defense, while giving rest to the 49ers' own defenders.

A rested defense should be plenty to offset any offensive prowess the Giants hope to muster.

If these factors work into San Francisco's favor, there should be little reason to assume the 49ers come away from this matchup 6-4.

Prediction: 49ers 28, Giants 13

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Be sure to check out his entire archive on 49ers' news, insight and analysis.

Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.