49ers climb to 3-0 with home-opening rout of Giants

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Scoring 30 points and winning before a stadium packed with 49ers fans is the NFL’s most impressive early-season trend.

Thursday night’s extra element: this 30-12 victory over the New York Giants came in the 49ers’ home opener, following expected road wins over the Pittsburgh Steelers (30-7) and the Los Angeles Rams (30-23).

The 49ers, in christening their 10th year at Levi’s Stadium, started their three-game homestand before yet another crowd clad of 49ers Faithful donning red jerseys.

Ultimately, the 49ers want to play here for a Super Bowl berth on Jan. 28 as the NFC’s No. 1 seed, and every victory along the way is imperative. Next on their to-do list are the Arizona Cardinals (0-2) and then a playoff rematch with the Dallas Cowboys (2-0).

This marked the 49ers’ 13th consecutive regular-season victory, and among those admiring the 49ers dominate in their 1994 throwback jerseys were NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and 49ers’ alumni Jerry Rice, Joe Staley, Alex Smith and Richard Sherman, the latter serving as a Prime Video analyst.

With No. 1 receiver Brandon Aiyuk (shoulder) missing his first game since 2020, the 49ers offense had more than enough weapons, led by NFL rushing leader Christian McCaffrey (85 rushing yards, touchdown), professional tackle breaker Deebo Samuel (129 receiving yards, touchdown), and perennial prime-time star George Kittle (90 receiving yards).

Brock Purdy was a bit scattershot (25-of-37) but he surpassed 300 yards (310 yards) for the first time in his eight regular-season starts (all wins). He still hasn’t had a pass intercepted this season.

Not to be forgotten is rookie kicker Jake Moody, who made three field-goal attempts for the third straight game.

In terms of injury scares, Samuel required a medical-tent evaluation after a fourth-quarter, 19-yard reception, and then he returned that same drive for a 27-yard touchdown catch that made it 30-12. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw hobbled off on the ensuing defensive series.

Defensively, the 49ers’ best plays somewhat bookended this affair, those being Nick Bosa’s first sack of the season (to open the Giants’ second possession) and Talanoa Hufanga’s fourth-quarter interception (off a pass deflected by Darren Waller and linebacker Fred Warner).

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