Some observations coming off of Sunday’s loss:
1) “You tell the kids not to touch the stove and you tell them again to not touch the stove, but they still do it” – Jerod Mayo
This is what Mayo said in his post-game press conference. I believe he as directing that to Keon White who consistently ran past the QB, abandoning his rush lane and losing containment. He did that on three plays in the 1st Quarter allowing Brock Purdy to scramble and buy time to complete the pass. The other time it was scramble for a 1st down. The Defense stiffened and held the 49’ers to a Field Goal. Stevenson fumbles again and the Defense held San Fran to a Field Goal, and they were down 6-0. Brissett throws a pick six and its 13-0 and the game is over.
2) The Patriots missed Anfernee Jennings and his ability to hold the edge. David Andrews goes down with a shoulder injury after the first series and Nick Levett is pressed into action. Kyle Dugger then goes down with an ankle injury and is lost for the game. He wasn’t playing that well anyway so maybe that was a plus. What they did lose was the Defensive playcaller. Caeden Wallace played one play and aggravated his ankle. Both Dugger and Wallace left the stadium wearing boots.
3) The Oline took turns blowing up plays. Demontrey Jacobs played well at times and others he was a turnstile. Sidy Sow missed a switch resulting in a sack. Layden Robinson got pushed back into the feet of Brissett for another sack and then pulled an Ole` block resulting in another sack. Even Michael Onwenu got beat around the edge. If Andrews can’t play next week we will see the 5th different starting five on the line in 5 games. I was hoping the O-line would gain some familiarity from playing together, but they haven’t has any all through camp and the 1st 4 games. Until the Offensive line play improves, I would not allow Drake Maye to play. San Fran held the Patriots to 73 yards rushing on 24 carries, 3 yards a carry.
4) That was a horrible game from Jacoby Brissett. He is holding onto the ball too long and not making any audibles or adjustment at the Line of Scrimmage. San Fran was one of the lowest ranked teams in the league in blitzing the QB at just 14%. Not today … they blitzed at 35% and it showed. You would have though the line would have learned something from the Jets game. Brissett fumbles three times in the game and luckily, they only lost one.
5) Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled for his 4th straight game. I would have pulled a Belichick and benched him. You can’t win if you don’t protect the ball.
6) The Defense played sporadic. They were beat for too many passes downfield and couldn’t contain Brock Purdy. They let Jordan Mason run for 123 yards on 25 carries, a 5.1 yards per carry.
7) The 49’ers got Deebo Samuel and Greg Kittle back and that was a big boost. The Kittle TD reception was a thing of beauty against three smaller Patriots DBs. UDFA Safety Dell Petus was in the game and appeared to be confused with coverage allowing Kittle to get open. Kittle made a great high point catch and held onto the ball to the ground.
8) The coaching staff deserves some criticism too. They were indecisive on 4th down plays, and which plays to challenge. They missed two opportunities to challenge and when they did challenge the Polk catch, they lost. They finally showed some creativity on a hook and ladder play. Unfortunately, Tyquan Thornton blocked in the back nullifying the play that would have been a first down. Thornton then followed that up with a missed block. When Kendrick Bourne comes back next week, I hope it is Thornton that is cut.
9) On a positive note, Joey Slye set a Patriots team record for the longest Field Goal in team history at 63-yards. It was also his personal best. That cut the score to 20-3. The Patriots got a gift to start the 2nd half with fumble on the Kickoff Return recovered by Christian Elliss. The Patriots scored making it 20-10 and a ball game again. The momentum was short lived as the Niners and Brock Purdy connected on a 53-yard reception setting up a SF TD.
10) On Defense, Christian Gonzalez played well, as did Jabrill Peppers, who had a very nice Interception.
11) I didn’t like Nick Bosa trying to pad his stats against the 1s time starting Left Tackle Demontrey Jacobs at the end of a game that was already won. How can the coaching staff leave him alone on an island against Bosa?
At the quarter pole, the team record is a little better than I thought they would be. I expected them to lose all 4 games and have the fans screaming for Drake Maye to play. We have played 3 of 4 games on the road and nearly beat the undefeated Seattle Seahawks in their one home game. The Jets game was their home opener in a short week.
Did you expect the Patriots to beat the NFC Champion 49’ers in Levi’s stadium? The real Patriots season starts this week with a very winnable game against hated rival Miami Dolphins.
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Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
