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Giants look to keep rolling against 49ers

Oct 21, 2007 - 10:29 AM San Francisco (2-3) at NY Giants (4-2) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- If the New York Giants take care of business the next two weeks, they will be 6-2 and in prime playoff position heading into their bye week.

Winners of four straight, the surging Giants continue a favorable stretch in their schedule Sunday when they host the San Francisco 49ers.

Next week, New York heads across the pond to face the winless Miami Dolphins in London.

After an 0-2 start, the Giants seem to have all facets of their game working, but coach Tom Coughlin knows his team can't get caught up looking that far ahead.

"We've won four in a row and we've kind of done it in different ways," Coughlin said. "We're excited about that. We have many important games to go."

Eli Manning passed for 303 yards and two touchdown passes on Monday night as the Giants routed the Atlanta Falcons, 31-10, to close within one game of the first-place Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East.

Amani Toomer enjoyed a record-breaking night for the Giants, catching his 587th career pass and breaking Tiki Barber's team mark. Toomer also grabbed his 48th TD reception, tying Kyle Rote's Giants' record.

New York's defensive transformation has been remarkable. After surrendering 97 points in the first 2 1/2 games, the Giants have given up only 23 points in the last 14 quarters.

Their success starts up front with probably the best one-two punch at defensive end in Pro Bowlers Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, who leads the NFL with seven sacks.

After missing two games with a shoulder injury, Alex Smith hopes to return this weekend for the 49ers, whose offense has sputtered with Trent Dilfer at the helm.

In his two starts, Dilfer has completed just 24-of-62 passes for 254 yards. The 49ers managed only 10 points in losses to Seattle to Baltimore.

If Smith is not ready, the Giants will be re-acquainted with Dilfer, who beat them, 34-7, in Super Bowl XXXV as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.