Patriots
Can the Patriots bounce back from a miserable Thursday Night Football loss to the Jets and get back to .500? Follow us here.
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NFL Insider: Drake Maye is ‘far’ from starting for the Patriots
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49ers HC Kyle Shanahan praises Alex Van Pelt for key aspect of Patriots offense
Despite a 24-3 loss to the Jets on Thursday Night Football in their last outing, the Patriots (1-2) are one win away from a .500 record.
They will look to bounce back against the 49ers, who lost in last year’s Super Bowl, on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. The game will be televised on Fox (WFXT-TV 25) and 98.5 The Sports Hub will carry radio broadcasts.
The Patriots’ pass protection woes reached a new level last week, as the team allowed seven sacks, including two involving rookie quarterback Drake Maye in his NFL debut.
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that Maye is still “far away” from taking over as the Patriots’ starter, as the Patriots have not begun the “step-up process” for him.
The Patriots, who are averaging a league-worst 102 passing yards per game with Jacoby Brissett under center, will try to keep up with one of the league’s most potent passing attacks. San Francisco enters the game ranked first in passing yards (267.7) per game.
New England’s offensive line will be shorthanded without left tackle Vederian Lowe (knee) and offensive guard Michael Jordan (ankle). Offensive guard Sidy Sow, out the first three weeks of the season, is considered questionable. He told Boston.com that he hasn’t suffered any setbacks and believes he can play Sunday. Cornerback Alex Austin (ankle) was placed on injured reserve and the Patriots placed Isaiah Bolden on the 53-man roster to replace him.
The 49ers will be without star running back Christian McCaffrey and two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, who were both placed on injured reserve.
The 49ers still have plenty of star power without McCaffrey, including quarterback Brock Purdy, receiver Brandon Aiyuk and defensive lineman Nick Bosa.
As the Patriots attempt to climb back to .500 for the first time since 2019, check out Chad Finn’s unconventional preview plus 5 things to watch for this game.
Here you can find live updates during the game, as well as post-match observations, analysis and takeaways.
3:45 p.m.: With Anfernee Jennings out, Josh Uche is warming up with the starters according to Mark Daniels of MassLive. Uche has shown promise as a situational speed-rusher, but at 6-foot-1 and 240 pounds, he’s undersized and could leave the Patriots more vulnerable than usual against the run.
3:34 p.m.: Another starting left tackle for the Patriots? According to Christopher Price of the Globe, Demontrey Jacobs warmed up with the starters.
If he starts the game, he will be the fourth different starter at the position in four weeks.
Chukwuma Okorafor has left the team and Vederian Lowe and Caedan Wallace are both injured. There has been no continuity at arguably the most important position on the Patriots offensive line this year.
Meanwhile, the 49ers have Nick Bosa who offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt called a “nightmare” and a “generational player” looking to take advantage and wreak havoc.
3:20 p.m.: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is at the game, the Globe’s Ben Volin reports.
3:13 p.m.: Good news as Rapoport reports that the Patriots anticipate Kendrick Bourne to start practicing next week. Bourne has been out for nearly a year with an ACL injury and could help bolster a struggling receiving corps. Bourne also traveled with the team to San Francisco for the game against his former team.
3:08 a.m.: Ouch, Tom Brady just roasted Baker Mayfield. Mayfield said it was stressful playing with Brady, and Brady responded by saying he thought not having Super Bowl rings would be more stressful.
“It’s not a daycare… If I wanted to have fun, I went to Disneyland with my kids,” Brady said.
2:35 p.m.: The Patriots’ inactives are LB Anfernee Jennings, DE Jamree Kromah, OT Vederian Lowe, OG Michael Jordan and tight end Jaheim Bell. Quarterback Joe Milton is the third emergency quarterback.
Inactive 49ers are QB Joshua Dobbs, WR Ronnie Bell, CB Darrell Luter, SS Talanoa Hufanga and OG Ben Bartch.
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