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Giants, Umenyiora shut down 49ers for fifth straight win

Oct 21, 2007 - 10:04 PM By Ralph Ventre PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Osi Umenyiora seemed to be in the San Francisco 49ers backfield more than running back Frank Gore on Sunday afternoon. The New York Giants' defensive end also was in the end zone more than Gore.

Umenyiora's 75-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the third quarter was one of many key defensive plays as the Giants routed the 49ers, 33-15, at Giants Stadium.

After opening the season with two losses, the Giants have won five in a row.

"We're on a roll," said Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce, whose 28-yard interception return set up New York's final touchdown. "We're a team that is playing well right now, but we still have to take it one game at a time."

On San Francisco's opening drive of the second half, Umenyiora stripped the ball from 49ers quarterback Trent Dilfer, picked up the loose ball and rambled 75 yards to put the Giants ahead, 19-7.

"Sack, fumble, fumble recovery, touchdown," said Pierce in recounting Umenyiora's big play. "That's a lot of production right there. It looks real good on the stat sheet."

Umenyiora was a little less animated is his re-telling of the play.

"I was in the right place at the right time, and I made the play," Umenyiora said.

The entire Giants defense looked good on the stat sheet. In total, New York forced four turnovers, sacked Dilfer six times and limited Gore to 88 yards on 14 carries, with 24 of those yards coming on a meaningless scamper on the final play of the first half.

"Turnovers and penalties have cost us games," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. "We're our own worst enemy."

Starting again in place of an ailing Alex Smith, Dilfer completed 23-of-38 passes for 209 yards. The veteran tossed a pair of touchdown passes, was intercepted twice and harassed by New York's vaunted defensive line throughout the game.

"When you have the type of players we have and our defense, a quarterback has to be expecting at least some type of pressure," Umenyiora said.

With San Francisco (2-4) leading, 7-6, midway through the second quarter thanks to Arnaz Battle's 17-yard touchdown catch, the Giants defense took control by forcing turnovers on two straight possessions.

"Offensively, we know we have weapons," Giants defensive end Michael Strahan said. "It's the defense's goal to get the ball back into their hands as soon as possible."

Umenyiora started the defensive barrage by pouncing on a bad exchange between Dilfer and Gore at the San Francisco 27-yard line. Four plays later, New York had its second touchdown of the day on a 5-yard run by Brandon Jacobs' off right tackle to make it 13-7.

Jacobs rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.

Giants cornerback Sam Madison made matters worse for Dilfer, intercepting the veteran quarterback on the first play of the 49ers' ensuing drive, which set up Lawrence Tynes' 29-yard field goal and a 16-7 New York advantage.

After San Francisco quickly went three-and-out on its next possession, the Giants added a 39-yard field goal from Tynes to take a 19-7 lead into the break.

Amani Toomer put the Giants on the board first when he capped an 82-yard, game-opening drive with a 4-yard TD reception, the 49th of his career. Toomer, who caught three balls for 36 yards, became the Giants' all-time TD reception leader on the play.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw his second touchdown pass of the day, a 2-yard strike to Jeremy Shockey midway through the fourth quarter, to close out New York's scoring, making it 33-9.

"We're playing more confident now," said Pierce of what has changed since New York's 0-2 start. "Don't be fooled, though, we still made a lot of mistakes out there [today] that we have to fix."

Manning finished 18-of-31 passing for 146 yards, two TDs and one interception.

Dilfer threw a 16-yard TD pass to wide receiver Darrell Jackson in the closing seconds to narrow the final deficit.