(Sports Network) - The San Francisco 49ers had an extra week to get ready for the New York Giants' defense, a unit that is sacking quarterbacks at an alarming pace. By the looks of Sunday's 33-15 loss, though, one would have thought the 49ers had just a few hours to get ready.

Despite the additional time to prepare, San Francisco just couldn't contain the Giants explosive defense. Starting quarterback Trent Dilfer was intercepted twice, fumbled on two other occasions and was sacked six times. One of those fumbles was returned for a touchdown by Osi Umenyiora, who totaled two fumble recoveries and a sack for New York.

"We expected it (the pass rush) from the outside," said 49ers head coach Mike Nolan. "They got an early sack out of (Michael) Strahan and they got two from Osi. We had some breakdowns."

Unfortunately for the 35-year-old Dilfer, who threw for 209 yards and a score in the loss, his legs just weren't able to get him away from New York's rush. Perhaps a healthy and more mobile Alex Smith would have fared better, but the third-year quarterback was still unable to go after suffering a shoulder separation three weeks ago.

Smith suffered his injury in a loss to Seattle on September 30, but returned to practice this week and was originally deemed fully recovered by Nolan. However, the San Francisco coach decided Smith still wasn't ready for game action and went with Dilfer.

Smith suited up as the third quarterback against New York, and while the thought crossed Nolan's mind, he didn't feel it was a good time to bring his young signal-caller into a game.

"To be totally honest, I thought about it. It just crossed my mind, because (Dilfer) was getting hit, but I didn't want the other guy to get hit as well," said Nolan.

"I did think about it, but as it was, no. I wasn't going to do it. Plus Trent had taken all the snaps (in practice)," added Nolan, who also said he hopes to have Smith back this weekend.

The loss dropped the 49ers to 2-4 on the season, as the club has now lost four straight after beginning the season with back-to-back wins.

DAVIS RETURNS; GORE BANGED UP

Vernon Davis returned to action after missing San Francisco's last two games with a knee injury. The tight end ended with four catches for 22 yards against the Giants.

Big things are expected out of Davis, who the 49ers selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2006 draft. However, he has been unable to build a solid relationship withSmith and the 49ers offense due to injuries. In addition to the pair of games he missed this year, Davis sat out six games last season due to a cracked fibula.

San Francisco may have other things to worry about, though, as Frank Gore left Sunday's game briefly with an ankle injury, though he did play the majority of the game. The running back ended with 88 yards on 14 carries and added three catches for 23 yards.

Nolan said Gore's injury did not affect how he used him in the game.

"If he was playing, we were going to use him," Nolan said of Gore. "Otherwise, take him out of the game. We're not going to keep him out there just to use him as a decoy. Frank didn't want to come out. Several times we tried to get him out, and he felt he wanted to keep going."

Gore's 14 carries tied a season low, but his 88 yards were his most on the season. The third-year back has just 394 yards on the ground through six games this year and hasn't scored since Week 2

Through six games last season, Gore, the NFC's leading rusher a year ago, had 520 yards. So a big second half isn't a stretch for the Miami-Florida product.

"It's tough," Gore said of San Francisco's loss. "With us, knowing what we have on our team and we practice hard, then going out on Sunday and not showing it is really tough. Especially with the high expectations and we haven't shown it yet."

In other injury news, safety Keith Lewis (hamstring) missed Sunday's game, while linebacker Tully Banta-Cain was able to play despite an ankle injury.

IN HOSTLER WE TRUST...OR NOT

Gore also made a splash after the game on Sunday when he questioned whether the team was really behind new offensive coordinator Jim Hostler, using the word "trust" numerous times.

"Norv Turner (the 49ers' offensive coordinator last season), he's been doing it for a while. Whenever he said something, we wanted to do it," Gore told the San Francisco Chronicle. "Now I feel that a lot of people, when coach Hoss calls something, it gets in the back of their heads, 'Is he calling the right play?'"

Hostler spent the past two seasons as the 49ers' quarterbacks coach before replacing the departed Turner, now the head coach of San Diego, at the helm of the offense.

Gore backed off his comments a bit on Monday, while Nolan also chimed in.

"For one, I believe that winning obviously builds confidence and if we were winning games, I don't believe that comment would necessarily be made," said Nolan. "I also know that Frank, as well as many other players, are frustrated by the production or lack of, in the offense.

"I just think that Frank, more than anything else, acted out of frustration that we lost the game and the things that go along with that more than anything else. But I do recognize it. I don't dismiss what people say, but I believe that's what came out of his words as opposed to an inability to get it done."

Nolan also said that Gore had not expressed concern about Hostler before making his comment.

JACKSON GETS FIRST TD

Darrell Jackson hauled in his first touchdown catch as a 49er on Sunday, making a one-yard scoring reception with just 16 ticks to go in the game.

Acquired from Seattle this offseason, Jackson has struggled to get it going with his new club. A year ago, the wideout had 956 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 13 games, but has just 216 yards so far this season.

Another offseason pickup, Ashley Lelie, got on the stat sheet for the first time this season, making two catches for 52 yards. However, most of that came on a 47-yard reception.

NEXT UP: SAINTS COME MARCHING IN

The 49ers return home for a Sunday clash with the New Orleans Saints. After starting the season with four straight losses, the Saints have ripped off two wins in a row. The club bested Atlanta this past weekend.

San Francisco is 45-21-2 all-time against the Saints, who used to reside in the NFC West alongside the 49ers. However, New Orleans moved to the NFC South in 2002.

New Orleans has won three in a row over San Francisco, including a 34-10 victory last season. Reggie Bush scored four touchdowns in that game for the Saints, three on the ground and one through the air. Gore was held to just 40 yards rushing in the loss.

Sunday will mark the first time the 49ers and Saints have met in San Francisco since 2001.