NFL

Giants’ Bradshaw runs past the hype

SAN FRANCISCO — Ahmad Bradshaw was aware of the statistic. He and the Giants offensive line had been reminded of it a time or two during the week.

The vaunted 49ers defense, which had allowed only three points to its previous two opponents, had yielded 100 or more rushing yards to only two opposing running backs in the previous 42 games.

But Bradshaw, the Giants running back, was coming off his career-high 200-yard rushing performance on 30 carries last week against the Browns and he was feeling pretty good about himself.

“I heard about their rushing defense and not allowing rushers to score touchdowns,’’ Bradshaw said after rushing for 116 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries in yesterday’s 26-3 rout of the 49ers at Candlestick Park. “We don’t look at that. We look to what we can do — and that’s run the ball.’’

It’s hard to argue that after the Giants rushed for 149 yards and a 4-yard average on a 49ers defense that had been dominant.

What made the performance more remarkable was the fact that it looked early in the game like the Giants might not rush for 49 yards as a team. The 49ers’ defense was stifling Bradshaw early, smothering him at or near the line of scrimmage.

But the Giants stayed with the run and eventually wore the 49ers down. The true reward was the Giants’ dominance in the fourth quarter, when they had long, clock-eating possessions like the 7:10 drive that resulted in their last field goal.

“We knew we were going to have a battle and we came out to fight,’ Bradshaw said. “We wanted to come out here and prove that we could run the ball on these guys.’’

Like last week after his 200-yard performance, Bradshaw was effusive with his praise for the offensive line and his bruising fullback Henry Hynoski, who he said “shows me the way, man.’’

“I follow him and he leads me to however many yards I had,’’ Bradshaw said.

“It takes the whole group, but Ahmad is tough now,” Tom Coughlin said. “You’re going to have to hogtie him to get him down and he does fall forward most of the time.’’

Bradshaw fell forward into the end zone for his touchdown after being met at the goal line by the 49ers’ defense. The play gave the Giants a 17-3 lead early in the third quarter and essentially broke the 49ers’ defense down.