Maiocco’s observations: Purdy fuels 49ers’ rebound win vs. Pats originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
BOX SCORE
SANTA CLARA – The 49ers had two touchdowns that were negated by penalties, as well as another special teams blunder.
So while the 49ers ended their two-game losing streak with a 30-13 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday, it was a far from perfect performance.
Quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Jordan Mason provided plenty of offense, and the defense didn’t give the Patriots’ offense much room to breathe en route to the Week 4 victory at Levi’s Stadium.
The 49ers jumped out to a 20-0 lead and were never really threatened as they pushed their record to 2-2 in the 2024 NFL season.
Here are the key takeaways from the 49ers’ win over the rebuilding Patriots:
The offense looks different
Deebo Samuel returned to the starting lineup, and it wasn’t in his usual role.
When the 49ers opened the game on Sunday, they had three wide receivers. Only Samuel lined up in the backfield and he carried the ball in a traditional running play. But the rest of the day belonged to Mason, who gained 123 yards on 24 carries and scored a touchdown.
Quarterback Brock Purdy managed to spread the ball around as he completed 15 of 27 passes for 288 yards and one touchdown with one interception. His passer rating was 89.7.
That all came when Samuel and George Kittle were back on the field. A week earlier, wide receiver Jauan Jennings was responsible for almost all of the 49ers’ offense with 175 yards and three touchdowns in a 27–24 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
After the 49ers settled for field goals on their first two possessions, Purdy got the 49ers into the end zone for a 20-0 lead with 3:18 remaining in the first half.
The 49ers had two TDs negated earlier in the game due to penalties. Kittle’s holding penalty nullified Purdy’s 38-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Mason, and an illegal shift nullified Purdy’s 12-yard scoring strike to fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
San Francisco ultimately cashed in the points on Kittle’s leaping 12-yard TD catch between three New England defenders.
The 49ers put the game away early in the third quarter with a four-play, 70-yard touchdown drive, after the Patriots moved within 20-10. Purdy hit Samuel on a 53-yard pass play, and three plays later brought Mason into the end zone on a 4-yard run.
Warner makes a groundbreaking game
The 49ers offense was 0-for-2 in their first two trips inside the red zone.
All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner provided the 49ers with their best offense early in the game when he made a wide interception of Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett, rose up and carried 45 yards into the end zone.
However, Warner suffered an ankle injury late in the first half and did not play again in the second half. Warner stood on the sideline for the 49ers and played an active role in supporting his teammates.
Even with half a day of work, Warner made a huge impact on this game.
With the 49ers up 6-0, he dropped into the middle of the field and made the leaping grab of Brissett’s throw, intended for wide receiver Tyquan Thornton.
Warner scrambled to his feet, picking up some blocks along the way. Ji’Ayir Brown and Charvarius Ward hindered Brissett, and Warner barely made it into the end zone despite Antonio Gibson’s attempt to push him out of bounds near the goal line.
Warner continues his remarkable start to the season. He has two interceptions, three forced fumbles and one sack through the first four games of the season.
Picking up the slack for Hargrave
Two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave is likely out for the season with a torn triceps. The 49ers had several players step along their defensive line on Sunday.
Kevin Givens didn’t start, but came through with his best day as a pro. Givens had 5.5 sacks in 60 career games on the day. He recorded a career-high 2.5 sacks in the first half, and Maliek Collins added 1.5 sacks.
Defensive end Sam Okuayinonu, whom the 49ers promoted from the practice squad on Saturday, had forced a fumble that Collins recovered in the first quarter. The 49ers cashed in the takeaway for a field goal.
The 49ers defensive line put together a strong effort in the run game. Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson gained just 43 yards on 13 rushing attempts and lost a fumble.
The Patriots also struggled in the passing game as Brissett completed just 19 of 32 pass attempts for 168 yards and one touchdown with one interception.
New England’s lone touchdown came early in the second half, after Isaac Guerendo fumbled the kickoff, giving the Patriots possession at the 27-yard line. Brissett capped the five-play touchdown drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Austin Hooper.
It wasn’t all good news for the 49ers defense, however.
Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott, who replaced Hargrave in the starting lineup, suffered a knee injury and was ruled out for the rest of the game early in the second half.
