Jarryd Hayne's special teams co-ordinator has an interesting take on why the Green Bay Packers kicked away from the former Parramatta Eel last weekend.
The consensus among media and some San Francisco 49ers veteran players was Hayne was viewed as such a threat as a punt returner that Packers' punter Tim Masthay opted to kick to the sidelines rather than the Aussie.
"I don't know if that was quite the case," Thomas McGaughey, correcting the view, told reporters.
McGaughey, a nine-year veteran NFL special teams co-ordinator, put it down to Masthay having an inaccurate day with the boot.
"I know the punter struggled a little bit and had been struggling," McGaughey said.
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Hayne won't be facing a struggling punter on Sunday (Monday 11.30am AEDT) when the 49ers take on the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
He'll go head-to-head with another Aussie, Brad Wing.
The Victorian punter, raised playing Aussie rules, has been a sensation since being traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers on the eve of the regular season.
Wing has dropped 12 punts inside Giants' opponents 20-yard line, easily the best record of any punter in the NFL.
Adding to the interesting mix, McGaughey was Wing's special teams co-ordinator at Louisiana State University.
Giants coach Tom Coughlin, who has some of the NFL's most explosive offensive threats, including wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr and Victor Cruz, talks up Wing as a weapon.
"Not only does he lead the NFL, we lead the NFL," Coughlin said.
"We've only had four starts inside our 20.
"Our opponents have had 18.
"That's a big difference, a big field position impact."
A huge US TV audience - about 24 million - will tune into NBC's Sunday Night Football telecast.
A victory is vital for both teams, with the 49ers losing their last three to fall to a one win, three loss record.
The Giants have resurrected their season with two straight wins to hold a two win, two loss record.
The 49ers have been woeful, being outscored in their three losses 107-28 and calls are mounting for head coach Jim Tomsula and quarterback Colin Kaepernick to lose their jobs.
Hayne also needs to bounce back after fumbling against the Packers, his second fumble in four games.
