SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ Game No. 10 was far from perfect but it produced the 49ers' overdue, first victory Sunday under coach Kyle Shanahan, who got showered with cups of water a minute left in their 31-21 triumph over the visiting New York Giants.
So ends the 49ers' longest winless start to a season in their 72-year history, and this snapped a franchise-record streak of 11 straight home losses dating back to last season.
Quarterback C.J. Beathard had his best outing in what figures to his fourth and final start before Jimmy Garoppolo takes his job, after next week's bye. Beathard threw a pair of touchdown passes in the second quarter, and he put the 49ers ahead 24-13 with an 11-yard touchdown run to open the fourth quarter.
Beathard appeared to injure his right hand on that third-and-2 scoring run, but after being evaluated by medical staff on the 49ers sideline and faring OK on test throws, he remained in the game.
Thanks to Beathard's touchdown passes to Marquise Goodwin (83 yards) and Garrett Celek (47 yards), the 49ers secured their first halftime lead this season and first since last Dec. 11 against the New York Jets.
The Giants fell to 1-8 in what was the NFL's first game since 1984 pitting teams with one or fewer combined wins this late in the season.
After next week's bye, the 49ers will play their third straight game at Levi's Stadium and host the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 26.
