BSJ Game Report: 49ers 30, Patriots 13 - New England gives up 431 yards, blownout for 2nd straight week

Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ loss to the 49ers in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

HEADLINES

Patriots were really never in this game: New England fell behind 20-0, but it could have been a lot worse if the defense didn't hold the 49ers to two field goals on the first two possessions (the second was courtesy of Rhamondre Stevenson's second lost fumble in as many weeks). The 49ers had 111 total yards in the first quarter, averaged 4.2 yards per carry and despite Brock Purdy only completing 3 of 7 passes, those three completions went for 55 yards (this would be a theme in the game).

"Disappointing game," Jerod Mayo said. "Thought we had a good week of practice. I thought the guys had a lot of energy all week. I'm not going to say anything about the travel. Thought the guys were prepared and ready to go. Obviously, we didn't hit some of the targets that we talked about. You know, defensively, keeping the quarterback in the in the pocket continues to be an issue. Offensively, two turnovers, we don't have a team that can lose the turnover battle and expect to win a football game. We got to do a better job with the turnovers. We have to do a better job with the negative plays. ... I told the guys, look, it is a long season. It is a long season, and we're wrapping up the first quarter of the season. I don't think any of us are happy where we are. I think when we go back and watch the film, though, it'll be easy to identify so we can put ourselves in a better position to win football games."

Patriots sustain some huge injuries: Center David Andrews (shoulder) went out very early and was replaced by Nick Leverett before being ruled out. Kyle Dugger (ankle) left and was ruled out. And rookie tackle Caeden Wallace (ankle) departed and was ruled out.

Offense was mistake-prone again: Jacoby Brissett had a pick-six to Fred Warner and was strip-sacked by a single-blocked Nick Bosa on the final drive. Stevenson fumbled for the fourth straight game and lost one for the second-straight game. Brissett was sacked six times. The Patriots ran 62 offensive plays and 29 went for 1 yard or less (that includes incompletions). That's 47 percent of plays not not being successful. That's way too much.

"Schematically, we got to do a better job of getting the ball out of our hand right now," Mayo said. "And then. secondly, I would say the offensive line just has to do a better job holding up and protection. And we're trying to find different ways to do it, you know. It's easy on some of those sacks, you go back and watch the film, the ball should be out. It'd be easy for you guys and everyone else to say, or the offensive line should have did that. So I would, I wouldn't rush to that conclusion. But we got to coach better. We've got to play better next week.

"Look, at this point, Jacoby is our starting quarterback. I haven't watched any film or anything like that. He's been a great leader. He just broke the huddle down after I talked to the guys, and then we got to watch the film. We have a long flight to go back and watch the film, and we're always evaluating every single position."

Defense gets ripped by the 49ers: The Patriots allowed 431 total yards, 148 rushing yards and 283 net passing yards. The 49ers had pass plays of 53, 45, 38 and 32 yards. Jordan Mason had rushes of 25, 24 and 16 yards. Too many big plays. The Patriots pressured Brocky Purdy on just 23% of his dropbacks. He averaged 10.7 yards per attempt, and had 288 yards on just 15 completions (19.2 yards per completion). To make matters worse, the Patriots did not contain the opposing QB for the third-straight week. 

"Just poor execution, poor execution," Mayo said. "They did a good job as well timing up those shots, and we just got to do a better job."

TURNING POINT

Patriots got it to 20-10 early in the third quarter and then the 49ers went 70 yards in four plays — 53 yards to Deebo Samuel, no gain run, pass to Mason for 13 and then Mason 4 yards for the touchdown — to go up 27-10. It was over then.

SECOND GUESS

A lot of them ...

Coaching wasn't good enough to clean up the pass rush discipline or Stevenson's fumbling issues.

The Patriots had one play over 13 yards (21 yards to Polk) until Antonio Gibson caught a 50-yard pass on the final drive.

The Patriots had 4th and 3 on the SF 41 on the opening drive and took a delay and punted.

Purdy fumbled with 1:30 left in the first half to bring up 3rd and 15 at the SF 8 and the Patriots did not call timeout. They did eventually get a 63-yard Slye field goal.

A 4th and 1 give up the middle to Stevenson after you lost your starting center and took a timeout?

They allowed Nick Bosa to be single-blocked by Demontrey Jacobs on the final strip-sack of Brissett. Bosa got pressure all day.

THREE UP

K Joey Slye: Kicked a team-record 63-yarder and added one from 54.

P Bryce Baringer: 49 average, 45 net and 4 of 4 inside the 20.

S Jabrill Peppers: Had a great leaping interception of Brock Purdy in the end zone and consistently brought the wood for a defense that was lacking.

THREE DOWN

RB Rhamondre Stevenson: Another fumble put this team in a hole early.

S Jaylinn Hawkins: Way too many big plays in the middle of the field, and that's his domain.

QB Jacoby Brissett: Took too many sacks, averaged 5.3 yards per attempt, threw the pick-six. I don't know if the film will show that he was a huge detriment in this game, but on first blush he wasn't good.

INJURIES

C David Andrews (shoulder): Ruled out.

S Kyle Dugger (ankle): Ruled out.

OT Caeden Wallace (ankle): Ruled out.

TOP PLAYS

TWO TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

No, I don't think it's time for Drake Maye: Without seeing the film, I think it's safe to say that Brissett largely struggled in this one with the pick-six and at least two sacks that appeared to be on him. But once again, he was pressured on 46% of dropbacks and was blitzed 33% from a team that doesn't like to blitz (like the Jets last week). This is a hornet's next right now. I just don't see how this would be putting him in a position to succeed.

Mayo needs to stop playing so conservative: He should have gone for the fourth down on the opening drive. It was a perfect chance for his team to assert themselves, tell the 49ers we're here to win and we're not going away. Punting there was way too conservative (and can we please stop with trying to draw people offsides? You look like a bunch of amateurs). Mayo should have told Alex Van Pelt to dial up something aggressive on 4th and 1 with 8:11 after a timeout. Mayo should have called a timeout after Purdy fumbled at the 49ers 8 with 1:30 left to give them a shot at touchdown before half to get some momentum.

You're an underdog for a reason. Turn the page from last week (or change the page as Mayo says it), and show your team you have some confidence in them. You look like you're playing not too lose (or too badly), similar to the last guy in the last couple of years. No risk it, no biscuit.