SANTA CLARA – Here is how the 49ers (2-2) graded in Sunday’s 30-13 win over the New England Patriots (1-3) at Levi’s Stadium:
San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) throws under pressure against New England Patriots’ Josh Uche (55) and New England Patriots’ Keion White (99) in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group
PASS OFFENSE: B+
Brock Purdy connected on deep shots to Deebo Samuel (53 yards), Jauan Jennings (45 yards) and, in not quite as vertical fashion, Brandon Aiyuk (38 yards), but his lone touchdown pass was a 12-yard lob that George Kittle magnificently skied to snatch above three defenders for a 20-0 lead. Purdy’s 55.6 completion percentage was his second-lowest of any career start (44.4% last year at Cleveland), yet he had his seventh-highest yards-per-attempt (10.7). His interception into the end zone came on a busted route and on a late throw. Playing through injuries were left tackle Trent Williams (toe), Samuel (calf), and, Kittle (Week 2 hamstring, then Sunday’s rib issue). Purdy got sacked just once, and often made magical escapes from the pocket, such as on a pair of third-down scrambles to extend the opening drive. Encouraging day for all.
San Francisco 49ers’ Jordan Mason (24) runs against the New England Patriots in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
RUN OFFENSE: A-
Jordan Mason took over the NFL rushing lead as his 123 yards gave him 447 yards through his first four career starts. Mason turned one of his 24 carries into a touchdown, a 4-yard burst that put the 49ers ahead 27-10. His final carry was a 25-yard sideline scamper that thrilled the offense and was reminiscent of his past seasons’ closer role. There were some big lanes to run through most of the day, except for Isaac Guerendo, who was stopped for no gain on his only carry. Samuel returned from a one-game hiatus with a calf strain and lined up as the starting running back; he had just two carries for 14 yards.
San Francisco 49ers’ Fred Warner (54) celebrates a turnover on downs against the New England Patriots in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
PASS DEFENSE: A
Warner’s second-career pick-six set this rout in motion, and his determination to score on that 45-yard return only further reflects his NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidacy. Jacoby Brissett is a big body who proved hard to bring down, yet he was a sitting duck behind a makeshift line and the 49ers notched six sacks. Nick Bosa got rewarded for his day’s work with a strip-sack fumble recovery in the final minutes. Interior linemen piled up sacks: Kevin Givens (2.5), Maliek Collins (1.5) and Evan Anderson (one). The secondary didn’t have Talanoa Hufanga (ankle), so Malik Mustapha made his first start and should have had a late-game interception. The cornerbacks fared OK against a lackluster receiving corps, and Lenoir came close to an interception on a play he instead drew a questionable pass-interference penalty.
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch shakes hands with San Francisco 49ers’ Sam Okuayinonu (91) on the sidelines during their game against the New England Patriots in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
RUN DEFENSE: A
Sam Okuayinonu’s first official game on the 53-man roster paid off with a forced fumble to open and end the Patriots’ second possession. The Patriots averaged 3 yards per carry, and Rhamondre Stevenson (13 carries, 43 yards) didn’t bust out longer than a 13-yard run with his physical presence. The 49ers made seven tackles for loss, with two from Ji’Ayir Brown. Perhaps most encouraging was how the defensive interior fared without Javon Hargrave and ultimately his replacement, Jordan Elliott (knee). Kevin Givens and rookie Evan Anderson fared well next to Maliek Collins. Warner (seven tackles) exited with an ankle injury that doesn’t appear to be a long-term issue, but without him, the linebacker corps experienced a significant dropoff with De’Vondre Campbell and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, so more Dee Winters could be coming.
San Francisco 49ers’ Jake Moody (4) kicks a field goal against the New England Patriots in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
SPECIAL TEAMS: C-
Isaac Guerendo – Gueren-doh! – fumbled away the second half’s kickoff, and rather than chalk it up to a rookie mistake, Shanahan condemned the turnover for allowing the Patriots to quickly convert it into a touchdown and 20-10 deficit. Deebo Samuel and Patrick Taylor Jr. lined up for later kickoff return duties, so that role remains in flux. Kudos to Kyle Juszczyk for cleanly fielding his first punt return and doing so at the 9-yard line for an 8-yard gain; he got summoned once Jacob Cowing hurt a shoulder after two punt returns. Mitch Wishnowsky had a dire 31.3-yard net average on three punts, with none sticking the Pats inside the 20-yard line. Jake Moody was 3-for-3 on both field goal and point-after attempts, so that is a confidence booster after a late miss in LA.
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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan reacts to a holding call which negated a touchdown during their game against the New England Patriots in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
COACHING: A-
The 49ers used another lopsided win against an AFC East visitor — see: Week 1 vs. New York Jets, 32-19 — to reboot their season. Was it a convincing one against an obviously outmatched opponent? Well, not if you see how the first two red zone drives yielded chip-shot field goals. A 20-0 lead proved big enough to protect, whereas last game’s 14-0 start was not, so that is progress, folks. Now just avoid an upset at home against erratic Arizona.
