The New England Patriots came out on the losing end decisively in Sunday’s Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. It didn’t take the 49ers long to blow the game wide open, and once they did, they never looked back.
New England’s offense sputtered to 216 total yards, while also committing three turnovers, including a pick-six thrown by quarterback Jacoby Brissett. They were already outmatched on paper, but they didn’t do anything to give themselves much of a chance to win the game.
It was another mistake-filled performance from a Patriots team that seems to be getting worse every week. They’ve lost their last two games by a 54-16 margin, which doesn’t exactly bode well for the team moving forward.
Here’s everything we know about the Patriots after their Week 4 loss:
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Turnovers: The Patriots can’t expect to win games when turning the ball over multiple times. Rhamondre Stevenson and Jacoby Brissett both lost fumbles in this game, and Brissett threw a pick-six that put the game even further out of reach. The hope was that the Patriots could win the turnover battle on the road, but the game went in the complete opposite direction.
Patriots’ banged-up offensive line: Vederian Lowe and Michael Jordan were both ruled out ahead of this game. That left the struggling offensive line looking pitiful, even with the return of starting guard Sidy Sow. But the injury bug struck again with the Patriots losing David Andrews in the first quarter with a shoulder injury. The 49ers overwhelmed the Patriots in the trenches and made life difficult on Brissett and the offensive unit throughout the game.
Too many explosive plays for San Francisco: The 49ers feasted on explosive plays in this game with quarterback Brock Purdy dropping back multiple times and attacking New England’s secondary. It’s easier for a team with weapons all over the offense to generate big plays downfield. They were able to capitalize on those moments against the Patriots and move the ball effectively in this matchup.
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Jake Moody’s 41-yard field goal in the fourth quarter essentially iced this game for the Patriots. There was a moment when the team had the ball and an opportunity to cut into a 27-13 lead. But they were ultimately shut down on offense, and the 49ers hung more points on the board. There was no coming back after that sequence for the Patriots.
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K Joey Slye: Patriots kicker Joey Slye powered a franchise record-breaking 63-yard field goal kick through the uprights. His consistency on special teams was one of few promising signs for the team in Sunday’s loss.
RB Antonio Gibson: Running back Antonio Gibson led the offense in receiving yards on Sunday. His explosive playmaking abilities as both a rusher and receiver have been incredible to watch. Given the lack of explosive weapons in New England, more Gibson is definitely a good thing on offense.
Christian Gonzalez: Second-year cornerback Christian Gonzalez has continued to play at an exceptionally high level despite the team’s ongoing struggles. He was the best player on the field for the Patriots in Sunday’s game, period. Not only is he a top-notch cover corner, but he was the best tackler in the game.
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The Patriots head back home to Foxborough to prepare for a Week 5 divisional clash with the Miami Dolphins.