San Francisco 49ers 30, New England Patriots 13: Performance Grades…
The San Francisco 49ers secured a 30-13 victory over the New England Patriots. Here’s a breakdown of how the 49ers performed in this matchup.
Brock Purdy: B
Purdy had a decent game, though not spectacular. He completed a couple of deep throws, including a beautiful touchdown pass to George Kittle, who was tightly covered by three defenders. While these were his standout plays, it’s worth noting he was up against one of the league’s worst pass defenses, with New England allowing a passer rating of 103.6 before this game.
Late in the game, Purdy forced a throw to Brandon Aiyuk in the end zone, which resulted in an interception. Currently, Purdy ranks sixth in the NFL for passer rating, a drop from last season when he led the league. The loss of Christian McCaffrey seems to have affected the offense overall.
Running Backs: A-
Jordan Mason had a standout performance, averaging 5.1 yards per carry, racking up 160 scrimmage yards, and scoring a touchdown. His running style remains one of the toughest in the NFL. However, he fumbled twice, though he managed to recover both. Mason’s strong season continues, but the 49ers lack a reliable backup for him. Kyle Juszczyk contributed with a single catch, as usual.
Wide Receivers: C
The wide receivers had a mixed outing, catching just 8 of 18 targets. Each of the top three wideouts made a big catch, but none were consistently dominant. Aiyuk, in particular, had a passer rating of just 35.8 when targeted. His recent contract extension may go down as one of the worst in history, as his performance hasn’t justified the cost.
Tight Ends: A
George Kittle was a key contributor, recording 45 receiving yards and a touchdown, while also excelling as a blocker in the run game. The 49ers’ rushing attack noticeably improves when Kittle is on the field.
Offensive Linemen: A
The offensive line only allowed one sack and helped the team gain 148 rushing yards. Although the Patriots’ pass rush is weak, their run defense is solid, yet the 49ers managed to dominate in the trenches.
Defensive Linemen: A+
For the first time this season, the defensive line excelled in both stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback. With Javon Hargrave out for the season, Kevin Givens stepped up and recorded 2.5 sacks in the first half alone, proving to be an upgrade in this game.
Linebackers: A
Fred Warner was the star of the defense, sealing the game with an impressive pick-six in the first half. He’s the best player on the team right now. However, De’Vondre Campbell and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles struggled, and Dee Winters may be a better option than both.
Defensive Backs: B
The secondary faced a Patriots offense lacking weapons and a backup-caliber quarterback, handling them with ease. They weren’t truly challenged.
Special Teams: D
Isaac Guerendo fumbled a kickoff, which was recovered by the Patriots, and Jacob Cowing hurt his shoulder returning a punt. This marks the third consecutive game with significant special teams issues.
Coaches: A
Nick Sorensen delivered an excellent game plan, helping the team create a pass rush against a weak Patriots offense. He now needs to prove he can do the same against stronger offenses. Kyle Shanahan is still searching for an offensive identity without McCaffrey, as the team moves the ball well but struggles in the red zone. While today’s game didn’t require much, as the Patriots were self-destructive early on, tougher challenges lie ahead, and the 49ers will need to step up to compete.
