SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ Epic battles for NFC supremacy. Eight playoff wars since 1982. Quarterback heroes. Quarterback hits. Hall of Famers galore. And, gulp, costly fumbles.
The 49ers and New York Giants sure put on high-stakes shows. Until now.
Sunday's matchup at Levi's Stadium pits the NFC's bottom feeders. The Giants are 1-7, their worst start since 1980. The 49ers are 0-9, uncharted futility even amid the franchise's recent tailspin.
These stakes: draft positions, job security, and, well, self-health.
Storied rivalry aside, the only historic game worth bringing up is a 1984 meeting between the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills. That's the last time two teams met with one or fewer combined wins so late in a season; the host Bills fell to 0-10 once Earnest Byner's 55-yard fumble return lifted the Browns to their second win, 13-10.
Why has it gone so wrong for the 49ers and Giants? Simply, the 49ers are still in tear-down mode before a true rebuild, while the Giants are in a freefall from playoff contention with an aging quarterback, embattled coach and lackluster roster.
Common threads can be found between the 49ers and Giants:
