NFL

Giants offensive line looks to keep Eli, Ahmad safe from Niners defense

Of course there was so much praise and exultation for what was accomplished, but amid the back-slaps there continue to be reminders the Giants — specifically their offensive linemen — would rather forget about one aspect of one of their proudest moments.

“It seems like that’s all I hear about, other than the Super Bowl, ‘You guys almost got Eli killed against San Francisco,’ ’’ guard Kevin Boothe said yesterday.

It is a great Monday to be one of the five starting linemen in a unit that kept Eli Manning nice and clean a day earlier, as he threw 37 passes, wasn’t sacked and was hit only one time by the Browns in a 41-27 victory. Protecting Manning hasn’t been a problem this season but running the ball has been, which is why the offensive line’s show of force in amassing 243 rushing yards is another reason why the line is riding high.

There are always pitfalls up ahead, though, and awaiting the Giants in San Francisco is the NFC’s most dominant team in a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship Game. The 49ers pounded away with abandon, sacking Manning six times, hitting him 12 times, giving him the full, painful rag-doll treatment. The Giants won 20-17 in an overtime classic filled with defensive bludgeoning. Manning threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns and was most widely heralded for repeatedly picking himself off the soggy grass.

“I guess in an ideal world you guys would still be questioning his toughness because he wouldn’t have gotten hit,’’ Boothe said. “He’s a tough guy, we know he’s a tough guy but we’d like for him to hide his toughness. Hopefully he doesn’t get hit like that every game.’’

The Giants this season haven’t often needed to send Manning’s uniform to the dry cleaner. He was roughed up a bit in Philadelphia but thus far he has been sacked only four times — fewest of any NFC quarterback. This year’s 49ers are not a sack-happy bunch — they have nine — but they’ve won their last two games by a combined 79-3 and are allowing only 81.4 rushing yards.

“It’s NFL football, it’s hard every week, especially against a very good defense coming up,’’ center David Baas said. “But we’re not going to sit back and say we can’t do it againWe’re going to build on that confidence and go from there.’’

Even from the East Coast, the Giants couldn’t help but notice the 49ers are coming off a 45-3 mauling of the Bills.

“You see it but we scored 41 points, too,’’ Baas said. “We’re not going to sit here and be like ‘Whoa,’ sit back there and think they’re the almighty. We know we have a good team, too. We know it’s going to be a battle.’’

Baas spent the first six years of his NFL career with the 49ers and he saw how that team was built into a powerhouse. Beating his former team to get to the Super Bowl was an emotional high, but the image of Manning getting pounded to the ground is not one that sits well.

“You talk about Ahmad Bradshaw and he’s super tough, but Eli’s just as tough,’’ Baas said. “I feel he’s somebody that definitely will stand in there no matter what. That’s our job, we got to keep him clean. … We know it’s going to be a challenge, but we’re up for itThey have a good defense, you got to give them credit, they touched Eli way too many times. That’s something we got to focus on.’’

The line is getting healthier, as right tackle David Diehl is expected to be ready to return after missing the past three games with a sprained knee ligament. Sean Locklear has played well in Diehl’s spot though, and the Giants might be reluctant to make a change with the line coming off its most complete performance.

At 4-1, the 49ers are surging and no doubt looking for some payback after the Giants denied their Super Bowl aspirations.

“Honestly I don’t care what they think,’’ Baas said. “Say anything they want, get redemption for whatever. It’s important for us to go out and get the win and that’s all we’re focused onI don’t care what they think. It’s about what we do.’’