New England Patriots @ San Francisco 49ers
Final Score: 49ers, 30 Patriots 13
Writer: Jason Wolf (J_Wolf_Picks on Twitter)
It was an ugly day to forget for Jacoby Brissett and the New England Patriots as they finished with four fumbles (two lost) and Brissett’s first interception of the season for three total turnovers. The Patriots had their chances as they had six possessions go into 49ers territory but could only come up with 13 points on the day. This was the story of the day for the Patriots, as any time they seemingly built up some momentum, they either fumbled it away or the offensive line let Brissett down, letting San Francisco’s defense through for six sacks. In what’s becoming an all-too-common occurrence for the veteran QB, he spent most of his time on the ground, taking 10 QB hits in addition to the sacks. While the Patriots struggled and stuttered, Brock Purdy and the 49ers were hyper-efficient, moving the ball and creating big plays with ease, with five plays of 25+ yards on the day.
Three Up
- Brock Purdy – If you still think of Brock Purdy as a game manager, dink & dunk specialist, or a system QB benefitting from Kyle Shanahan’s offensive system, you are either willfully ignorant or simply not paying attention. Purdy is connecting with his receivers at all levels of the field, regularly looking downfield for big plays, and is making all the the throws. He averaged over 10 yards/attempt and was zipping balls into tight windows. Purdy doesn’t lock into any one receiver, and he takes what the defense gives him, taking full advantage of the abundant offensive weapons at his disposal. Even without Christian McCaffrey, the 49ers offense is operating with absurd efficiency, and that all starts with Purdy.
- Jordan Mason – Not that anyone was doubting Jordan Mason‘s ability to operate as the RB1, but Mason once again delivered and then some. For the third time in four weeks, Mason carried the rock 20+ times for 100+ yards, racking up 160 total yards on 26 touches. He showcased an impressive ability to dodge would-be tacklers in the backfield with regularity and put his breakaway speed on display, breaking into the second level of the defense numerous times thanks to his own impressive work.
- Ja’Lynn Polk – While his numbers in the box score won’t show it, this game was a big step up for Ja’Lynn Polk. Polk only finished with 30 yards on three receptions, but he was consistently getting open on the 49ers’ tough defense. His almost-catch over two defensive backs deep down the sideline was a rare highlight on an incompletion as he came down with the ball but was just barely out of bounds. Polk was getting open more often than any of his WR peers, and he led the team in targets as a result, only limited by the little time Brissett was afforded to connect with him.
Two Down
- Rhamondre Stevenson – It isn’t necessarily Rhamondre Stevenson’s fault that he didn’t produce gaudy stats, as he didn’t have many open holes to run through against a tough 49ers’ defense. However, he isn’t helping his team with his fumbles, which is now becoming a certified issue. For the fourth game in a row, Stevenson fumbled the ball, luckily only losing two of them, each in the last two games. Stevenson’s ability to be a dual-threat RB has been somewhat offset by his ball security issues. Meanwhile, Antonio Gibson busted off another huge gain, taking a simple dump-off and racing down the sideline for a 50+ yard gain. While Stevenson is having trouble holding on to the ball, Gibson has been making plays for an offense in desperate need of a spark, putting Stevenson’s share of touches in danger.
- Brandon Aiyuk – After an offseason mired in seemingly endless contract negotiation drama, Brandon Aiyuk has yet to have a big game, and today was no exception. Aiyuk finished with 48 yards on just two receptions (five targets), marking the fourth time in four games that he finished with less than 50 receiving yards. With limited production, many mouths to feed, and questions over Aiyuk’s game shape, his stock is pointing down while Deebo Samuel (and Jauan Jennings) has significantly outproduced Aiyuk.
New England Patriots
Quarterback
Jacoby Brissett: 19/32, 168 Yards, TD, INT | 2 Carries, 3 Yards, 1 Fumble (Lost), 1 Fumble (Recovered)
Due to a combination of his own limitations plus the miserable state of his offensive line, this was not Jacoby Brissett‘s finest hour. Often reliable, if not unspectacular, Brissett was underwhelming in this one as he actually let the team down in spots where he should have stepped up and made a play. On his pick-6 to 49ers’ LB Fred Warner in particular, the throw was horrendously placed right in front of Warner, who did a great job coming down with the ball as he surely wasn’t expecting it to come right near him. Brissett was trying to hit his man in between the safeties and Warner, but the ball was placed far too close to Warner, who snared it mid-leap. The throw was ill-advised, and red jerseys were all over the area, meaning there were much better places to go with the ball. Brissett also missed a wide-open Pop Douglas at the top of his route but seems to lack the necessary anticipation and sound decision making you would expect out of a veteran of almost ten years. There were also times when Brissett had a receiver open on a short slant or quick route, but he just didn’t get the ball out fast enough. It looked like Brissett was making a concerted effort to let plays develop, but he should have pivoted earlier and started getting the ball out quicker due to the subpar (understatement) play of his offensive line. Granted, the condition of the offensive line certainly didn’t do Brissett any favors as losing his starting C and OT mid-game doomed him from the jump, however, even when Brissett did have time in the pocket, he didn’t come through, such as his poor decision on his pick-6. I would give Brissett credit for coming through on a 4th & 1 touchdown pass to Austin Hooper, but it was quite literally one of the easiest layup throws you will ever see, as Hooper was wiiiiiide open for a walk-in TD.
Missed Opportunities
- An unfortunate amount of missed opportunities plagued Brissett in this one as he often failed to find the open man, in particular Demario Douglas and Ja’Lynn Polk.
Running Back
Rhamondre Stevenson: 13 Carries, 43 Yards | 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 19 Yards | 1 Fumble (Lost)
It has been a mostly frustrating start to the season for Rhamondre Stevenson, as other than in the Patriots’ shock win over the Bengals, Rhamondre has not found much success on the ground. Outside of his 25 carry, 120-yard performance in Week 1, Stevenson hasn’t averaged 4 YPC in any of his games. He has also fumbled the ball four times in four games, already surpassing his total from the last two years combined. His body language at times has suffered from the ball security issues, and that could be affecting his game. New England and their already struggling offensive line lost their starting C David Andrews on their first possession of the game as well as OT Caedan Wallace (both didn’t return), and that certainly didn’t do them any favors as the Patriots were not able to get anything going on the ground all game. With the state of the offensive line in shambles, Stevenson couldn’t get anything going, failing to make a big impact on any of his touches. Other than his long carry of 13 yards, his other 12 runs went for 30 yards, good for a 2.5 YPA. Rhamondre did show off some patented power and nimbleness in making some guys miss in interior runs, but his impact on the game was by and large muted.
Missed Opportunities
- Was given the ball on a 4th & 1 in the 49ers’ red zone, but Stevenson couldn’t convert, and it wasn’t very close. The Patriots’ offensive line isn’t getting a significant push, and Stevenson’s efficiency is suffering for it.
- Antonio Gibson appeared in the series after Rhamondre fumbled, implying that he might see more regular work while Stevenson works through the fumbling issues.
Antonio Gibson: 6 Carries, 12 Yards | 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 67 Yards
The big-play capability that Antonio Gibson has brought to an almost lifeless Patriots offense will certainly see him get more touches, especially with Rhamondre Stevenson amid a fumbling spell. Gibson might not be the all-around back that Stevenson is, but he has a pension for big plays, has shown good hands in the passing game, and maybe most importantly, hasn’t fumbled the ball so far through four games. Gibson outpaced Stevenson in both total yardage and a per-play basis, but he saw most of his action in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach.
Notes
- New England’s ground game isn’t all that promising, but one thing that does look certain is they will be playing from behind more often than not. Gibson’s ability to catch balls out of the backfield makes him a useful second option.
JaMycal Hasty: 3 Carries, 15 Yards | 1 Target
JaMycal Hasty saw three total touches on the day, with his long play coming on a nine-yard rush. He was rewarded with the subsequent 2nd & 1 carry, but he failed to gain a single yard, bringing up a third-and-short, which the Patriots picked up via a defensive penalty.
Notes
- Clearly third in line for touches in the RB room. Hasty saw three opportunities in the first half but then didn’t touch the rock throughout the entirety of the second half.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Demario Douglas: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 13 Yards
The Patriots have to find ways to manufacture more touches for Demario Douglas. Several times, he was wide open for an easy completion, but for whatever reason, Brissett didn’t look his way. Douglas was open on the awful pick-6, and he was open again on a third down deep in the 49ers’ territory, another moment where Brissett couldn’t capitalize on his man getting open. This was a particularly disappointing game for Douglas as he was coming off his best game of the season in Week 3, so it could be understood if we all expected Brissett to look his way a little (or a lot) more than he did. Brissett’s accuracy issues in the intermediate+ range isn’t a good fit for Douglas’ athleticism and playmaking ability, and the Patriots needed to get more creative in finding ways for Pop Douglas to impact the game.
Ja’Lynn Polk: 7 Targets, 3 Receptions, 30 Yards
While Ja’Lynn Polk didn’t produce a gaudy stat line, this game was a strong net positive for him as he led the team in targets with seven and led all receivers on the day with 30 yards as well. His final stats say more about the quality of the offensive line + QB play on the day than Polk himself. He almost had the play of the day (or week) when he “Moss’d” two defenders down the sideline while out-leaping them to come down with one of the best incompletions you’ll ever see. Polk landed just out of bounds but did an unbelievable job of coming down with the ball at all. There is also an argument to be made that the catch should have counted, as it appeared that Polk did manage to get his foot in bounds before falling onto the turf. Polk did manage to come down with one of Brissett’s best throws on the day, a perfectly executed back shoulder throw and catch, which Polk came down with expertly while barely breaking stride, if at all. Polk only came down with three receptions on the day, but he was open for potential completions at least another handful of times.
KJ Osborn: 5 Targets, 1 Reception, 3 Yards
KJ Osborn found himself open a couple of times today but couldn’t quite connect with Brissett on any meaningful gains. He saw five targets on the day, second most on the team, begging the question of why he is seemingly getting so much run ahead of the young guns Polk & Douglas. He isn’t as athletically gifted, and his connection with Brissett just isn’t there. The inefficiency on a higher volume of targets has been a theme with him this season, as he only has 12 catches on 31 targets through Week 4. The Patriots need to find a way to feed the ball to their more dynamic young receivers, and it shows in the difference between the way Osborn and those guys move with the ball in their hands.
Hunter Henry: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 12 Yards
Hunter Henry came back down to Earth last week with a three-catch, nine-yard effort after his absolutely monster Week 2 performance (8-109) in Week 3, Henry stayed on Earth in this one, hauling in two of his three targets for a whopping 12 yards. Much like the universe, the Patriots offense works in mysterious ways, and Hunter Henry was not a featured part of the offensive game plan again after showing out in Week 2. In an offense bereft of reliable production, it is a wonder why Henry has seen such little play since his Week 2 explosion. Granted, he was needed in a bad way in pass protection given the state of the Patriots’ offensive line, but the Pats need to do a much better job of putting the ball in their best player’s hands, a reoccurring problem for this offense.
Austin Hooper: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 13 Yards, TD
Austin Hooper isn’t a featured part of this offense, but that didn’t stop him from coming down with the Patriots’ lone touchdown of the day on what has got to be one of the easiest pitch-and-catch TDs in recent memory. Hooper chipped his man at the LOS and skirted right around him for the wide-open walk-in TD.
San Francisco 49ers
Quarterback
Brock Purdy: Brock Purdy: 15/27, 288 Yards, TD, INT | 5 Carries, 11 Yards
It’s time to stop the qualifiers when talking about how good Brock Purdy is. He’s not just good for Mr. Irrelevant, he’s not just good for a late-round pick, he is just plain good (great?). This season, it seems he has taken his game to another level. He is more aggressive, more confident, and he seems to be better than ever as he is slinging the rock all over the field. He’s got impressive zip on his intermediate-deep balls, and even though his completion% wasn’t off the charts in this one (56%), the degree of difficulty on a lot of his passes made his day feel more accurate than it was on paper. He delivered one of the best strikes of Week 4 when he uncorked a bomb from his 22-yard line that dropped right in Jauan Jennings’ bread basket at the Patriots’ 32-yard line. The bail traveled 46 air yards and truly could not have been placed any more perfectly. The ball landed in Jennings’ outstretched hands just a yard too far for the defender to even attempt a play. One of the most impressive things about Purdy’s game is his ability to hit his receivers between the levels of the defense. The way he zips the ball with anticipation to exactly where his receiver will be between the LBs and the Safeties is beautiful to watch. On another one of Purdy’s remarkable throws on the day, he threw it up to George Kittle in the back of the endzone in a spot where only Kittle could make an attempted play on it. Kittle did fantastic to outleap the DBs and secure the ball for a TD, but Purdy’s accuracy and willingness to make that throw made the impressive score possible.
Missed Opportunities
- On a late-game 2nd & 8 with the 49ers up two touchdowns, Purdy made a perhaps ill-advised throw into double coverage into the endzone, resulting in his lone interception on the day. It wasn’t the worst interception in the world, considering the context of the game and the way it was going. Purdy was on fire all day and tossing big plays to everyone, and the Patriots couldn’t establish anything on offense. The question is, will he be making that same decision in a tighter game against a better opponent?
Running Back
Jordan Mason: 24 Carries, 123 Yards, TD | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 37 Yards | 2 Fumble (Recovered)
Jordan Mason was a running highlight reel all day. Acknowledging that some of the holes he was running through were massive (especially when running down OT Trent Williams’ left side), Mason gained significant yardage thanks to his breakaway speed and quick and agile cutting ability. Not only did he look fast when he was coming out of the backfield with a head of steam, he was explosive. On a quick toss, Mason picked up speed and gained an extra 5-6 yards after initial contact from two defenders simply because he was running downhill so hard. His blend of speed + downhill power made gaining YAC look easy. On a first-quarter run, Mason was met by a defender behind the LOS but brushed him off like it was nothing, turning an almost surefire negative play into a five-yard gain on first down. Mason was overall excellent. He made guys miss in the backfield, he shed initial contact off with ease, and he outran defenders to the second level.
Notes
- His elusiveness is an underrated aspect of his game, but he showed it off in bunches today.
- Shows an excellent instinct for not just following but setting up his blockers in a way that puts them in an advantageous position to block defenders in the second level.
- Mason’s role with Christian McCaffrey is as secure (if not more) as any RB in the league. The only other RB to get a carry was Isaac Guerendo, who proceeded to fumble on his lone carry.
- Mason showed some heads-up awareness as well as good hands in recovering two fumbles.
Missed Opportunities
- Had a long would-be touchdown reception called back due to a late holding penalty down the field by George Kittle. Mason made a nice catch on a slant down the middle and raced down the sideline, beating defenders to the side and down the field, displaying his excellent open-field speed.
Isaac Guerendo: 1 Carry, 1 Fumble (Lost)
Isaac Guerrendo wasn’t a major threat to Jordan Mason’s touches coming into this game, and he’s leaving it as even less of a threat as he lost a fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half. The fumble was one of the more embarrassing in recent memory as Guerendo ran into his own blocker, causing the fumble, which New England recovered.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Deebo Samuel: 2 Carries, 14 Yards | 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 58 Yards
Brock Purdy connected with Deebo Samuel on one of his signature massive plays. The 53-yard long ball was Deebo’s longest play of the season, and had the ball been placed better, Samuel could have kept running into the endzone for a 70-yard touchdown. However, Purdy’s ball was just ever-so-slightly under-thrown, and Deebo had to slow down to catch the ball at his hip, just a step ahead of the DB’s. Deebo just outran the defensive backs, quelling questions about his health for the time being. Other than his 50+ yard play, Samuel was pretty quiet, taking his usual couple of designed runs for only 14 yards, small potatoes to him, but still efficient for his offense. Deebo may not feast every week, but he is always the biggest threat on the team to catch lightning in a bottle at any given moment.
Brandon Aiyuk: 5 Targets, 2 Receptions, 48 Yards
Four weeks into the season and questions about Brandon Aiyuk’s offseason contract drama still linger due to his lack of production. Not only has Aiyuk not been a heavily featured part of the offense, but he has dropped passes and failed to gain separation at the normal rates he usually does. It wasn’t all bad for Aiyuk in this game, however, as he did have a couple of highlights, namely a marvelous diving catch where he fully laid out, diving completely parallel to the ground, hitting the “Superman” pose while coming down with his arms under the ball. This was his only catch of the day while being blanketed by Patriots’ CB Christian Gonzalez, who is turning into one of the premier DBs in the game. Gonzalez did a fantastic job covering Aiyuk, and there is absolutely no shame in that, as he is truly becoming a top man CB in a Revis Island-esque manner. Aiyuk also worked himself open on a play where Purdy had all day in pass pro, coming down with a 38-yard catch-and-run, his biggest play of the season thus far. There will surely be weeks where Aiyuk dominates the offensive highlight reel, but he is still working his way into peak shape, and he might be in the doghouse for wearing red shorts in practice. Either way, he hasn’t separated himself from the pack on his team, and it doesn’t look like he will deliver on the massive contract he received unless someone else goes down in the WR group.
Jauan Jennings: 6 Targets, 3 Receptions, 88 Yards
Almost Super Bowl MVP Jauan Jennings was again the 49ers’ most productive receiving threat for the second consecutive week, outpacing both Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk while also leading the team in targets and yards. Jennings came down with Purdy’s best throw of the day and one of the best of Week 4 on his 45-yard reception. Jennings had just a half step on the DB trailing hot on his tail, but Purdy unleashed an absolute dime into Jennings’ outreached hands where only he could get it. While Purdy deserves all the flowers for the throw, Jennings did an excellent job tracking the ball and smoothly coming down with the over-the-shoulder catch. Jennings also caught a near-hospital ball from Purdy while a sprinting Jabrill Peppers was gunning for him, but Jennings made the quickest of jukes to send Peppers flying right by, gaining some extra yards in the process while avoiding a huge hit. Some stats show Jennings as the best pure WR in San Francisco, such as EPA/target and success rate. Even if we don’t go that far in claiming that, it is obvious that Jennings is a weapon in his own right. Jennings can’t possibly keep this level of production up with such an embarrassment of riches in SF, but he is showing he is certainly that dude from the Super Bowl.
George Kittle: 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 45 Yards, TD
While he may not be the centerpiece of the 49ers’ offense, George Kittle remains one of their most dangerous chess pieces that Shanahan has at his disposal, especially in the red zone. Kittle’s play of the day came on his TD reception, where he posterized three(!) Patriots defenders, out-leaping them and coming down with a spectacular catch in the back corner of the end zone. Purdy threw it up, and it wasn’t the best ball he’s ever thrown, but it was placed perfectly enough to where only Kittle could make a play on it. And Kittle is one of the only tight ends who could actually outmuscle the defenders and successfully come down with the catch. Kittle was efficient on the day, coming down with all four of his targets for 45 yards and the aforementioned touchdown. Probably my favorite part of watching Kittle play is his excellence in blocking, both in the run and passing game. Kittle is often seen setting the edge with tenacity and sprinting downfield to find guys to block in hopes of helping his guys tack on YAC. He may have got a little too carried away on a block that was called holding, wiping out a long Jordan Mason touchdown run, but the effort was commendable, and it wasn’t the most egregious hold either.
Kyle Juszczyk: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 12 Yards
While Kyle Juszczyk only saw one target on the day, he made the most out of it (per usual), coming down with a 12-yard reception for a first down. He also had a 7-yard TD reception called back on an illegal shift penalty called back. Curiously, he also returned a punt, which is either Kyle Shanahan just messing around in a blowout or something we might see more of.