5. Patriots are now 1-3
With the injury and mistake-riddled defeat, the Patriots dropped their third game in a row and fell to 1-3 in 2024, somehow with even bigger injury questions than they entered the game with. Even after an extended break, the performance featured too many mistakes that carried over from the loss to the Jets. Turnovers on two of their first three possessions set an early tone and New England was never able to claw their way back into the game even after flashing a little bit of life that bookended halftime.
Things settled down in the second half, with the 49ers getting in on the mistake parade and giving the Patriots some opportunities. Jabrill Peppers’ interception in the fourth quarter gave the Pats another chance to cut it to a one-score game, but that drive would fizzle out on fourth down still on New England’s side of the 50-yard line.
The 49ers late run of mistakes kept the score relatively close, but after the first touchdown of the third quarter, New England was held out of the end zone.
David Andrews left the game in the first quarter with a shoulder injury and did not return. After the team’s struggles at center throughout the summer this will be a major development to watch. The offense line has been hit hard by injuries but Andrews has been one of their few constants. Now that reliability could be up in the air.
Kyle Dugger and Caedan Wallace also left with ankle injuries and did not return. Wallace was already fighting a knee injury this past week. His potential absence would further deplete an already-beleaguered tackle group.
New England will continue to look for answers after back-to-back losses and they need to find some quick before their season spirals away from them. The injuries continue to pile up and will certainly complicate any attempts to reverse the losing trend.
The Patriots will return home for the second game at Gillette Stadium this season to face the Miami Dolphins, who are scheduled to face the Titans on Monday night.
