The clash of the struggling titans is set for this Sunday as the New England Patriots and the San Francisco 49ers aim to snap their painful two-game losing streaks in Santa Clara, California.
After kickstarting the season with a tight 16-10 win over Cincinnati, New England (1-2) stumbled, enduring a heart-wrenching 23-20 home loss to Seattle in Week 2 and then being dismantled by the New York Jets 24-3 in Week 3.
Similarly, the 49ers (1-2) opened with an encouraging 32-19 victory against the Jets but have since been dealt back-to-back home defeats by Minnesota (23-17) and Los Angeles Rams (27-24).
The injury bug has taken a big bite out of the 49ers. With superstar running back Christian McCaffrey sidelined due to Achilles tendonitis, San Francisco also missed wide receiver Deebo Samuel (calf) and All-Pro tight end George Kittle (hamstring) against the Rams. Though Kittle had limited participation in practice Wednesday, Samuel and offensive tackle Trent Williams (illness) remained absent.
On the flip side, the Patriots’ offense has been grim, averaging a meager 13.0 points per game (31st) and ranking dead last in yards per game (246.3). The passing game is anemic at 102.0 yards per game (32nd), with quarterback Jacoby Brissett scrambling behind an injury-ridden offensive line. To make matters worse, linemen Michael Jordan (ankle) and Vederian Lowe (knee) did not practice Wednesday.
“Obviously, the 49ers’ record doesn’t tell the full story,” New England coach Jerod Mayo stated. “They are dealing with injuries, but our challenge remains—both offensively and defensively. They execute their game plan well, and it’s up to us to counteract and make those crucial stops.”
Earlier this week, Mayo reaffirmed his faith in Brissett as the starting quarterback, while first-round rookie Drake Maye is listed as the backup. Despite Maye’s brief appearance in the Jets game, Mayo stressed that signing a veteran QB is currently off the table.
New England’s run game shows promise, with Rhamondre Stevenson averaging 4.3 yards per carry and Antonio Gibson hitting an impressive 6.2 yards per carry. However, turnovers are a glaring issue, with Stevenson fumbling three times in as many games.
The 49ers’ defense has shown cracks, ranking 30th in both yards allowed per play (6.1) and third-down conversion percentage (52.9%). Losing defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to a season-ending torn right triceps has only exacerbated their woes.
“We’ve had our ups and downs across all levels of the defense,” said San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan. “With injuries piling up, it’s a real test of our depth and resilience. The key is to stay strong and fight through these adversities.”
This Sunday’s showdown will be their first meeting since 2020, where the 49ers dominated with a crushing 33-6 road victory.
“We’ll discover a lot about our team’s character in the coming days,” Mayo said. “A long journey out west awaits, and we need to be prepared to face a very determined, solid football team.”
