Both teams played very strong on defense, as the score dictates. Mainly both teams were able to move the ball until they got into scoring position. In the 49ers case, the difference was that they were also able to sack the quarterback, and the Giants couldn’t respond on offense because the weapons weren’t there.

The Giants were able to silence Terrell Owens until the final drive of the game. Owens broke free on a key reception that put the 49ers in scoring position. Prior to that he also had a reverse that proved essential to the teams lone touchdown drive. The Giants biggest play maker, defensive end, Michael Strahan couldn’t come up big with the game on the line.

It wasn’t just Owens that made plays that turned the tide of the game. Both Kevan Barlow and Garrison Hearst made plays when the game was on the line. They simply out matched Giant defenders and willed their way down field. It was the key plays that made the difference in this very close games, and the 49ers simply had more of them.

The 49ers defense recorded three sacks, and three interceptions as well as a fumble recovery at the end of the game. Though the team did not capitalize on these scores often, it was these plays that kept the Giants out of the endzone, and gave the 49ers offensive stars a chance to win the game.