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Smith, defense can’t get to Manning

By Cam Inman, San Jose Mercury News –

SAN FRANCISCO—Justin Smith didn’t get called once for defensive holding Sunday, and just like his fellow 49ers defenders, he also didn’t get to the New York Giants’ Eli Manning.

Battered at the tune of six sacks and 12 hits in last season’s NFC Championship game, Manning didn’t get sacked and was hit only once in the Giants’ 26-3 win over the 49ers.

Smith, who hasn’t recorded a sack this season, was accused last week of constantly holding offensive linemen. Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride is the one who claimed Smith “gets away with murder” in the trenches.

In response, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh issued a news release Friday condemning Gilbride and claiming the Giants were angling to influence officials. Harbaugh said he did not further address the issue Sunday with Giants coaches.

Only two holding penalties were called Sunday: on 49ers guard Mike Iupati in the second quarter, and on the Giants’ Jacquian Williams on a first-quarter kickoff return. Smith was credited with eight tackles.

Ahmad Brooks had the only credited hit on Manning on a first-quarter incompletion. Manning finished 15 of 28 for 193 yards, and he was just 2 of 10 for 17 yards after halftime.

—Left tackle Joe Staley exited in the third quarter with a concussion that calls into question his availability for Thursday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks. League rules prevented Staley for talking with the media after the game, and he has been scratched from his weekly radio show Monday.

Alex Boone replaced Staley by shifting from right guard, where Leonard Davis took over and promptly allowed a sack of Colin Kaepernick.

—David Akers made 1 of 3 field-goal attempts, and he’s missed 5 of 10 since converting his first six attempts this season.

Akers missed a 43-yard field goal to spoil a 12-play opening drive by the 49ers, who marched 59 yards to the Giants’ 26. He rebounded with a 42-yard effort to set a franchise record with at least one field goal in 22 consecutive games.

Akers, a 14-year veteran, pushed a 52-yard attempt wide left as the first half expired. Last season, his first with the 49ers, he established league records with 44 successful field goals and 52 attempts.

—Randy Moss had two catches for a season-high 75 yards, making him the fourth player in NFL history to surpass 15,000 yards all-time (15,032). Moss had a 55-yard reception that went for naught in a third-quarter series, which ended with a 7-yard completion to Vernon Davis on fourth-and-15.

—Frank Gore ran for a season-low 36 yards (eight carries), and Kendall Hunter had 26 yards (four carries). The 49ers’ league-leading attack totaled only 80 yards rushing after amassing 311 last week.

—Cornerback Tarell Brown blocked a field-goal attempt for the first time in his career, and it was the 49ers’ first since Ray McDonald’s in 2009 at Minnesota.

—Giants defensive end Justin Tuck, who raised a ruckus last season by terming Alex Smith a “game manager,” was highly complimentary of the 49ers. “The only thing this says to us is we can play with the best teams in the NFC,” Tuck said. “They are one of those teams, and we expect them to be right there at the end of the year.”

—The Giants’ David Wilson returned the second-half kickoff 66 yards, and Harbaugh offered no explanation for the 49ers’ coverage units continued woes: “What’s happening with the return yardage exactly? I don’t know.”

—Carlos Rogers, playing in his 100th career game, dropped a potential interception at the 49ers’ 4-yard line, two snaps after Antrel Rolle intercepted Alex Smith.

—Brandon Jacobs wasn’t activated to make his season debut against his former team. The running back has been fully participating in practice the past two weeks after an Aug. 18 knee injury.

—The Giants outgained the 49ers 342-314. In their previous two wins, the 49ers outgained the Jets and Bills a combined 1,000-349.

—The 49ers also inactivated defensive tackle Ian Williams, quarterback Scott Tolzien and four rookies: wideout A.J. Jenkins, running back LaMichael James, guard Joe Looney and safety Trenton Robinson.

—Hakeem Nicks had three catches for 44 yards as he returned to the Giants’ lineup for the first time in four games.

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