Turnovers weighed on the Patriots in a 30-13 loss in Week 4 to the 49ers

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – As if things weren't bad enough for the Patriots, turnovers finally caught up with the 1-3 team on Sunday, leading to an embarrassing 30-13 loss to the 49ers.

The Patriots turned the ball over three times in the loss. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled for the fourth time in four games and lost his second fumble in as many weeks with six seconds left in the first quarter. The 49ers were able to respond with a field goal.

On the Patriots' ensuing drive, quarterback Jacoby Brissett threw his first interception of the season when 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, positioned in the middle of the field, jumped up and intercepted a target for wide receiver Tyquan Thornton. Warner landed on his back, left the turf, ran 45 yards and dove to the pylon for the pick-six touchdown.

The third turnover came with 2:44 to play, the Patriots were already down 30-13, when Brissett was sacked by defensive end Nick Bosa at the 49ers' 22-yard line. It was Brissett's third fumble of the game, but the first he lost.

“We don’t have a team that can lose the turnover battle and hope to win a football game,” head coach Jerod Mayo said in a moment of brutal honesty. “We have to do a better job with turnovers. We have to do a better job with the negative plays.”

The Patriots defense and special teams did their best to keep up with the offense on turnovers, but it wasn't enough. Linebacker Christian Elliss forced and recovered a fumble on a kickoff early in the second half, giving the Patriots the ball at the 49ers' 27-yard line and setting up a rushing touchdown. Safety Jabrill Peppers picked off 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy in the end zone for a touchback early in the fourth quarter.

The Patriots moved the ball to start the game, but it wasn't enough to put points on the board. After two first downs, a third-down pass from Brissett to wide receiver KJ Osborn was incomplete. The Patriots attempted to force the 49ers offside on fourth down, but instead incurred a delay of game penalty. Bryce Baringer's punt brought the 49ers to their 7-yard line.

The Patriots' defense held strong at the end of the 49ers' 15-play, 90-yard drive with 7:45 left to force a field goal. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez made a crucial tackle on 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel after a 1-yard gain, and then undersized cornerback Marcus Jones had an impressive coverage by 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings in front of kicker Jake Moody on a third-down incompletion punched through a 22-yard drive. Yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

Stevenson lost a fumble on the Patriots' first play of the next series.

Nick Leverett replaced center David Andrews at center, with the captain sidelined with a shoulder injury.

The Patriots' defense once again stood strong and the 49ers took over at the New England 30-yard line. After allowing running back Jordan Mason a 16-yard run, the Patriots forced an incompletion on third down and Moody kicked a 26-yard field goal for a 6-0 lead.

The 49ers quickly increased their lead to 13-0 after Warner's touchdown return.

The Patriots threatened on offense and made it to the 49ers' 20-yard line before being stopped on fourth-and-1 for a turnover on downs. Rookie offensive tackle Caedan Wallace was injured during the game and was carted off the sideline to the locker room.

If you want to know how many Patriots defenders it takes to prevent a touchdown from 49ers tight end George Kittle, the answer is more than three. Purdy threw a pass to Kittle while three Patriots defenders were in the box. Despite numerous touches, Kittle came down with the ball in the end zone after the 49ers lost 15 yards on penalties over 10 plays and 80 yards. The 49ers took a 20-0 lead.

Cornerback Marcus Jones attributed it to a miscommunication during the game.

After the Patriots and 49ers exchanged a three-and-out, the Pats got the ball back at the 49ers' 39-yard line with 38 seconds left before halftime. The Patriots lost 6 yards but still put points on the board. Kicker Joey Slye broke a Patriots record with a 63-yard field goal, cutting the 49ers' lead to 20-3.

Elliss forced and recovered a fumble on the kickoff to open the second half, giving Brissett the ball at the 49ers' 27-yard line. The Pats offense quickly got into the red zone and scored on a five-play, 27-yard drive. Brissett hit tight end Austin Hooper for a 5-yard touchdown after a successful fourth-and-1 conversion, cutting the 49ers' lead to 20-10.

However, it didn't take long for the 49ers to make it a three-point game again. Purdy hit Samuel with a 53-yard pass, cornerback Jonathan Jones covered him. Three plays later, Mason scored with a rushing touchdown from 4 yards out to make the score 27-10.

Brissett hit rookie wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk with a 21-yard pass to start his next drive before stalling and punting. The defense allowed a huge 24-yard run to Mason to set up the 49ers' next drive, but otherwise held firm and forced a punt.

Slye hit a 54-yard field goal to cut the 49ers' lead to 27-13 after eight plays and 32 yards early in the fourth quarter.

“As far as special teams, I thought Slye did a good job, I thought the protection was good, the coverage was good,” Mayo said. “We had a change in special teams. I thought it was all good.”

Purdy connected with Jennings on a 45-yard bomb but couldn't put any more points on the board. Peppers fended off Purdy for a score in the end zone for Aiyuk.

Brissett nearly hit Polk when he made a deep, contested catch with two defenders in coverage down the left sideline on fourth down after the takeaway, but the rookie wideout failed to get two feet downfield before his shoulder went out landed. The incompletion resulted in a turnover on downs.

The 49ers' six-play, 14-yard drive resulted in a 41-yard field goal by Moody to make the score 30-13. The Patriots made their next drive before Brissett lost a fumble on a strip sack by defensive end Nick Bosa.

HIGH

LB Christian Elliss: Elliss forced and recovered a fumble on the Patriots' kickoff early in the second half, giving them field position to quickly score their first touchdown of the game.

S Jabrill peppers: Peppers prevented a touchdown by fending off Purdy in the end zone.

K Joey Slye: Slye set a team record with a 63-yard field goal to end the first half. He also made a 54-yard field goal in the fourth quarter and added an extra point.

DOWN

RB Rhamondre Stevenson: Stevenson recovered a fumble for the fourth time in four games and lost a fumble for the second time in two games. It was a questionable start to the season for Stevenson.

QB Jacoby Brissett: Brissett had done a good job avoiding turnovers in the first three weeks of the season. His first interception was a pick-six. He fumbled three times and lost one.

CB Jonathan Jones: Jones was involved in two of the 49ers' biggest passing plays. He was one of three men to cover Kittle's touchdown reception and allowed Samuel's 53-yard catch.

RG Layden Robinson: The entire offensive line struggled in pass defense. Robinson had a particularly tough two-play series when he allowed Brissett to get hit hard on two plays.

Originally published: September 29, 2024 at 7:16 p.m

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