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Manning, Giants look to bounce back after first loss

Oct 14, 2008 - 4:26 PM San Francisco (2-4) at NY Giants (4-1), 1:00 p.m. EDT

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Eli Manning had done a stellar job of avoiding mistakes as the New York Giants stormed out of the gate to a 4-0 start this season.

But following a miserable performance in their first loss of the season, Manning and the defending Super Bowl champion Giants look to bounce back Sunday when they host the San Francisco 49ers.

Manning arguably was the most efficient quarterback in the NFL during the first quarter of the season. He went three consecutive games without an interception after throwing his only pick in the season opener against the Washington Redskins, tossing six touchdowns over that span.

But it was a different story Monday night, when Manning threw three interceptions, including one that was returned for a TD, and registered a season-low 196 yards as New York suffered a 35-14 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

"We haven't been turning the ball over, I haven't been throwing interceptions," Manning said. "You turn the ball over three times, that's just not the formula for winning games."

The 27-year-old Manning should have little trouble getting back on track against the 49ers, who have allowed 30 points or more in four of their six games this season, including each of the last three weeks.

"We are struggling on defense," San Francisco defensive end Ray McDonald said. "We aren't getting off the field when we need to. In every game we've lost, the offense has scored enough points for us to win.

"As a defense, we're just not getting it done right now. We have just got to get more pressure on the quarterback. It's just all around on third down. We have to get off the field."

The 49ers held a nine-point lead entering the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles last weekend but surrendered 23 unanswered points en route to a 40-26 setback - their third straight loss.