Three Things to Watch for in the 49ers' Game Against the Patriots
The 2024-25 NFL season isn’t exactly going how the 49ers planned. Whether it’s the Super Bowl hangover or bad luck, nothing seems to be going right for them. They lost their star running back, Christian McCaffrey, to an Achilles/calf injury during the pre-season. Star left tackle, Trent Williams, and breakout star wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk, both held out of training camp as they negotiated new contracts with the team. Additional in-season injuries to tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Deebo Samuel have the Niners with one win and two losses after the first three games of the season. Their next game will be against the 1-2 New England Patriots in what will, hopefully, be a get-right game for the struggling 49ers. Here are the top three things to pay attention to this week for the San Francisco 49ers.
1. Brock Purdy Continues to Impress
Despite the team’s shaky start to the 2024-25 season, Brock Purdy hasn’t let it affect his play and he continues to impress everyone. He is currently third in passing yards, with one less game, behind Cowboys’ Dak Prescott and Giants’ Daniel Jones. Purdy has thrown for four touchdowns and an interception so far and has a 72.6 completion percentage. Expect more of the same from Purdy against the Patriots, who have allowed the eighth most passing yards in the league so far. Even if he’s still without his star patch catchers, Kittle and Deebo, he’s built up a great rapport with Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings. He’s also been able to make good things happen with his legs by buying time in the pocket and scrambling.
2. Defense Gets Right
While the 49ers’ defense isn’t the worst in the league, they certainly haven’t been the game-changing defense we’ve become accustomed to over the years. Opponents are converting at a higher than 50% clip on third downs and have allowed 23.0 points per game, the 12th most in the league. The Patriots are currently averaging 246.3 yards per game, the worst in the league, and 13.0 points per game, second-fewest in the league. They have allowed 11 sacks in three games and only have 102.0 yards per game, the worst in the league. This is a great opportunity for the 49ers’ defense to gain some confidence going up against one of the worst offenses in the league. The Patriots have a decent run game, so look for the 49ers to try bottling that up and forcing the Patriots to pass.
3. Battling Through the Injuries
The 49ers continue to deal with injuries on both sides of the ball. Key players that are still on IR include: running back Christian McCaffrey, rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, cornerback Ambry Thomas, defensive end Drake Jackson, and defensive tackle Kalia Davis. Some other notable players who have already missed games in the first three weeks include wide receiver Deebo Samuel, tight end George Kittle, and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. It continues to be the “next man up” mentality for the team. Running back Jordan Mason and wide receiver Jauan Jennings need to continue to step up in an elevated work role. Their defensive line as a whole also needs to step up and stuff the Patriots run offense this weekend.
