The Sports Xchange

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — In each of their first two games this season, the New York Giants found ways to lose in the final minutes.

On Sunday night, they flipped the script to move above .500.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning engineered his 27th career game-winning, fourth-quarter drive, connecting with tight end Larry Donnell on a 12-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds left, giving New York a 30-27 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

“That was some football game tonight,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said.

“Hats off to Eli Manning and the New York Giants,” 49ers coach Jim Tomsula said. “We didn’t make enough plays.”

The 49ers, who trailed 13-6 at the half, scored 21 points on touchdown passes by quarterback Colin Kaepernick to wide receiver Anquan Boldin and tight end Garrett Celek, plus a 2-yard carry by running back Carlos Hyde, each of those scores capping drives that spanned at least 80 yards.

Hyde’s touchdown with 1:45 to play put San Francisco on top 27-23.

“It’s good offensively to get in a rhythm like that, but we have to win games,” Kaepernick said. “That’s why we play.”

The Giants, even with top receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Rueben Randle missing chunks of the second half due to hamstring strains, found a way to get it done.

Manning, who finished 41 of 54 for 441 yards and one interception, connected on two of his three touchdown passes in the second half. He threw a 17-yard scoring pass to Beckham late in the third quarter, prior to the receiver exiting the game with a hamstring injury, and the game-winner to Donnell, the tight end’s second touchdown catch of the year.

Donnell’s game-winning catch was extra special for the Giants, who dedicated the win to tight end Daniel Fells, who is currently hospitalized due to a MRSA infection after being placed on season-ending injured reserve last week.

What we learned about the Giants:

1. The run defense missed linebackers Devon Kennard and Jon Beason. After holding the first four opponents to fewer than 88 yards rushing on average, the Giants’ run defense, which this week was without starting strong-side linebacker Kennard (hamstring) and which lost starting inside linebacker Beason (concussion) on the fifth play of the 49ers’ first drive, allowed the 49ers to rush for 124 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. Two San Francisco rushes, one by Carlos Hyde for 22 yards and one by quarterback Colin Kaepernick for 15 yards, fell into the big-play variety.

2. The Giants are a scrappy team. No, this wasn’t a pretty win at all, but it was truly a “team win.” Despite the absence of Kennard and then Beason, and with the team’s top two receivers, Odell Beckham Jr. and Rueben Randle, missing time due to hamstring strains, New York still got it done by turning to backups.

3. The Giants failed to come up with a takeaway for the second time this season and the first time since Week 2, a losing effort against Atlanta. The Giants are 1-1 this season in games in which they don’t have a takeaway. New York did come close to picking off 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick twice this week, but both times couldn’t complete the play.

Etc.

–WR Geremy Davis recorded his first NFL reception, a 16-yard catch that went for a first down. Davis, the Giants’ sixth-round draft pick this year, was inserted into the game when Rueben Randle strained a hamstring in the fourth quarter and was forced to the sideline.

–QB Eli Manning had a record-setting night. His 41 pass completions set a franchise record, topping the old mark of 40 set by Phil Simms on Sept. 13, 1988, vs. Cincinnati. Manning’s previous career high was 35 on Sept. 26, 2010. Manning also moved past one-time Giants QB Kerry Collins and into 12th place in NFL history in passing yardage. He finished the night 41-for-54 for 441 yards with three touchdown passes and one interceptions.

–LG Justin Pugh missed last two plays of the game after tweaking his ankle. Pugh, however, insisted that he would be in the lineup Oct. 19 when the Giants visit the Eagles.

–MLB Jon Beason left the game against the 49ers on Sunday due to a concussion. He was injured while tackling RB Carlos Hyde on San Francisco’s opening possession. Beason was taken into the locker room, where he received the diagnosis.

–WR Odell Beckham Jr. left the game Sunday due to a hamstring strain. He caught a 17-yard scoring pass late in the third quarter, and he finished with 121 yards on seven catches, the ninth time in his career that reached triple figures in receiving yards.