New York Giants vs. San Francisco 49ers: 2011 Divisional Recap

Game story

In the Divisional of the 2011 NFL season on 2012-01-22, the New York Giants took care of business against the San Francisco 49ers, pulling away with a 20–17 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 10 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

E. Manning (New York Giants) paced the passing game, with -2.22 total EPA, and -4.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, V. Davis (San Francisco 49ers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.12 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+54.0% win probability) landed in overtime when New York Giants changed the game: (9:42) 5-S.Weatherford punts 37 yards to SF 19, Center-51-Z.DeOssie. 10-K.Williams to SF 24 for 5 yards (57-J.Williams). FUMBLES (57-J.Williams), RECOVERED by NYG-15-D.Thomas at SF 24. 15-D.Thomas to

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 V. Davis · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +8.12 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.62 EPA/play
2. 2 V. Cruz · New York Giants · Receiving · +8.01 total EPA · 17 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
3. 3 B. Pascoe · New York Giants · Receiving · +2.20 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.20 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Manningham · New York Giants · Receiving · +1.20 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
5. 5 H. Nicks · New York Giants · Receiving · +1.10 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.09 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Smith · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +0.84 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.02 EPA/play
7. 7 H. Hynoski · New York Giants · Receiving · +0.66 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Smith · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +0.27 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• San Francisco 49ers — V. Davis (Q1 52:21)
• New York Giants — B. Pascoe (E. Manning pass) (Q2 41:21)
• San Francisco 49ers — V. Davis (Q3 20:26)
• New York Giants — M. Manningham (E. Manning pass) (Q4 8:41)

Field goals

• New York Giants — L. Tynes (Q2 30:05)
• San Francisco 49ers — D. Akers (Q4 5:43)
• New York Giants — L. Tynes (OT 7:10)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the NYG 73 (Q1 52:21); San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the NYG 2 (Q1 52:11) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The second quarter: New York Giants won the period 10–0. New York Giants found the end zone from the SF 6 (Q2 41:21) — (11:21) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short right to 86-B.Pascoe for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 3. 3-yds YAC; New York Giants added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q2 41:15) — 9-L.Tynes extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford.; New York Giants connected on a field goal from the SF 13 (Q2 30:05) — (:05) 9-L.Tynes 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford..

The third quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the NYG 28 (Q3 20:26) — (5:26) 11-Alex Smith pass deep left to 85-V.Davis for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the NYG 2 (Q3 20:18) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The fourth quarter: New York Giants won the period 7–3. New York Giants found the end zone from the SF 17 (Q4 8:41) — (8:41) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass deep left to 82-M.Manningham for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q4 8:34) — 9-L.Tynes extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the NYG 7 (Q4 5:43) — (5:43) 2-D.Akers 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

Overtime: New York Giants won the period 3–0. New York Giants connected on a field goal from the SF 13 (OT 7:10) — (7:10) 9-L.Tynes 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• New York Giants (OT 9:42) — (9:42) 5-S.Weatherford punts 37 yards to SF 19, Center-51-Z.DeOssie. 10-K.Williams to SF 24 for 5 yards (57-J.Williams). FUMBLES (57-J.Williams), RECOVERED by NYG-15-D.Thomas at SF 24. 15-D.Thomas to [WPA +54.0% · EPA +4.86]
• New York Giants (OT 10:09) — (10:09) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning sacked at NYG 44 for -10 yards (94-J.Smith). [WPA -25.9% · EPA -2.52]
• New York Giants (Q4 11:17) — (11:17) 5-S.Weatherford punts 56 yards to SF 29, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, downed by NYG-15-D.Thomas. New York Giants challenged the kick touched ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 5-S.Weatherford punts 49 [WPA +24.1% · EPA +6.14]
• New York Giants (Q4 8:41) — (8:41) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass deep left to 82-M.Manningham for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +19.0% · EPA +3.99]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 52:21) — (7:21) 11-Alex Smith pass deep right to 85-V.Davis for 73 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at NYG 42. 42-yds YAC PENALTY on SF-85-V.Davis, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs. The Replay [WPA +16.9% · EPA +6.13]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• New York Giants (Q4 11:17) — (11:17) 5-S.Weatherford punts 56 yards to SF 29, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, downed by NYG-15-D.Thomas. New York Giants challenged the kick touched ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 5-S.Weatherford punts 49 [WPA +24.1% · EPA +6.14]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 52:21) — (7:21) 11-Alex Smith pass deep right to 85-V.Davis for 73 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at NYG 42. 42-yds YAC PENALTY on SF-85-V.Davis, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs. The Replay [WPA +16.9% · EPA +6.13]
• New York Giants (OT 9:42) — (9:42) 5-S.Weatherford punts 37 yards to SF 19, Center-51-Z.DeOssie. 10-K.Williams to SF 24 for 5 yards (57-J.Williams). FUMBLES (57-J.Williams), RECOVERED by NYG-15-D.Thomas at SF 24. 15-D.Thomas to [WPA +54.0% · EPA +4.86]
• New York Giants (Q4 8:41) — (8:41) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass deep left to 82-M.Manningham for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +19.0% · EPA +3.99]

Quarterback report card

E.Manning led all passers in efficiency for New York Giants, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• E.Manning (New York Giants) · 62 dropbacks · 51.6% completion · -4.2% CPOE · -0.04 EPA/play · -2.22 total EPA
• A.Smith (San Francisco 49ers) · 35 dropbacks · 34.3% completion · -14.7% CPOE · +0.02 EPA/play · +0.84 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (New York Giants +0.01, San Francisco 49ers -0.04) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• New York Giants: 17 drives, +1.74 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 16 drives, -2.80 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• New York Giants leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• V. Davis (San Francisco 49ers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• E. Manning (NYG) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• A. Smith (SF) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q1 52:21 · NYG 73 · Score 0-6
   (7:21) 11-Alex Smith pass deep right to 85-V.Davis for 73 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at NYG 42. 42-yds YAC PENALTY on SF-85-V.Davis, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 y
2. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q1 52:11 · NYG 2 · Score 0-7
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
3. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q2 41:21 · SF 6 · Score 6-7
   (11:21) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short right to 86-B.Pascoe for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 3. 3-yds YAC
4. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q2 41:15 · SF 2 · Score 7-7
   9-L.Tynes extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford.
5. New York Giants FG (+3) — Q2 30:05 · SF 13 · Score 10-7
   (:05) 9-L.Tynes 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford.
6. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q3 20:26 · NYG 28 · Score 10-13
   (5:26) 11-Alex Smith pass deep left to 85-V.Davis for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q3 20:18 · NYG 2 · Score 10-14
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
8. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q4 8:41 · SF 17 · Score 16-14
   (8:41) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass deep left to 82-M.Manningham for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q4 8:34 · SF 2 · Score 17-14
   9-L.Tynes extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford.
10. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q4 5:43 · NYG 7 · Score 17-17
    (5:43) 2-D.Akers 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
11. New York Giants FG (+3) — OT 7:10 · SF 13 · Score 20-17
    (7:10) 9-L.Tynes 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford.