Patriots lose third straight game, falling 30-13 to 49ers
The New England Patriots lost 30-13 to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, dropping to 1-3 on the 2024 season.
Pats quarterback Jacoby Brissett finished the game 19-of-32 passing (59.4%) for 168 yards, one touchdown, and one interception (70.8 passer rating). His interception resulted in a 49ers touchdown that put his team in an early hole. The Pats lost the turnover battle 3-1, as ball security ultimately made a big difference in the game.
The Patriots netted 24 yards in nine plays on their first drive of the afternoon, but ended up punting. The Niners then drove 90 yards in 15 plays, but the Pats were able to hold them to a field goal, starting off the scoring at 3-0 San Fran.
Patriots starting center David Andrews left the game in the first quarter with what the team reported as a shoulder injury. Nick Leverett entered for Andrews, starting on the Pats’ second offensive drive. The snap was clean on the first play, but Rhamondre Stevenson lost a fumble to give it back to the 49ers. That marked Stevenson’s fourth lost fumble in as many games in 2024.
The Niners took over at the Patriots’ 30-yard line off the fumble, but were held to another field goal to make it 6-0. Disaster struck for the Patriots on the ensuing drive, though, as Brissett threw his first interception of the season to linebacker Fred Warner, who returned it 45 yards for a defensive touchdown to make it 13-0.
The Patriots responded with an at-first promising drive, which went 45 yards, but they ultimately got stopped on a fourth-and-1 try for a turnover on downs. San Fran took advantage, as quarterback Brock Purdy hit triple-covered tight end George Kittle for another touchdown to put them up 20-0.
The Patriots managed to scratch three points across the board as the first half came to a close, and did it off the massive leg of kicker Joey Slye, who set a new career-high with a 63-yard field goal to make it 20-3 at halftime.
The Pats had a chance to pick up some momentum at the start of the third quarter, as they recovered the opening kickoff to regain possession, and cashed in with a Brissett touchdown pass to Austin Hooper on a crafty fourth-down play-call.
Unfortunately, the Patriots defense didn’t get the memo on capitalizing on the momentum they’d gained. First, they gave up a 53-yard catch to 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel, then two plays later a 4-yard touchdown run by Jordan Mason, putting the Niners right back up by 17 at 27-10.
Slye drilled a 54-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to make it 27-13, but besides the scoring drives, the Patriots punted twice, had another turnover on downs, then finished their last possession with another lost fumble, this time by Brissett.
The Patriots have now lost three games in a row since a season-opening win over the Cincinnati Bengals. They will return home to face the Miami Dolphins in Week 5 at Gillette Stadium.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
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