Eight takeaways from the Patriots’ Week 4 loss to the 49ers

Brissett’s streak without an interception ended when 49ers star LB Fred Warner returned one to the house from the Patriots quarterback. From that perspective, this interception is all about Brissett going after Tyquan Thornton’s route on the “super” mesh style concept. With three in-breakers to Brissett’s left, Thornton isn’t a bad option here against a cover two zone. However, Brissett doesn’t move the zone with his gaze and stares at Thornton. Tyquan is open behind the second level, but Warner reads the quarterback dropping into the passing lane.

Brissett needs to start with his eyes in the middle of the field to trap Warner so he can follow Pop and Polk’s routes inside the formation. Yes, these two appear to be open, but they’re not as open as they look because Brissett is staring at the left side the whole time. If the Pats QB started right or center, the zone would have followed him there, covering Pop and Polk while opening the passing window for Thornton. Again, it’s not a bad way to combat this reporting. It just wasn’t very good quarterbacking from Brissett.

As always, the key to a good passing offense is having all facets working together: quarterback, protection and receiver to create separation. Because of this, it would be unfair to blame all of this on Brissett, who has shown great toughness under pressure. Still, the results are the results.

3. The pressure and sack count continue to be uncertain for the Patriots O-line

The Patriots entered the week as the worst pass-blocking unit in the NFL and were down to their fourth left tackle. As expected, Sunday’s loss was a bumpy ride.

Despite a faster average release and fewer deep throws, Brissett was still sacked six times and was pressured on 53.8% of his dropbacks. According to NextGen Stats, the pressing beakdown here was: LT Trey Jacobs (10 presses, sack), RG Layden Robinson (2.5 sacks, nine presses), RT Mike Onwenu (seven presses), LG Sidy Sow (seven presses), C Nick Leverett (six pressures).

It wasn’t good, even if AVP’s playbook around the offensive line worked. To make matters worse, captain David Andrews did not return to the game after sustaining a shoulder injury early in the contest. Additionally, freshman OT Caedan Wallace had a walking boot and crutches in the locker room.

We need to watch the film to evaluate the offensive line, but the NGS data wasn’t pretty and putting yourself in a 20-point hole never helps the O-line. As we continue to debate whether rookie quarterback Drake Maye will end up in this situation, we need to keep these numbers in mind.

4. Explosive plays by the 49ers prove costly to the Patriots defense

While most of the talking points will revolve around the offense, the Patriots defense has some recurring issues of its own that Coach Mayo and DC DeMarcus Covington will need to address.

To their credit, the defense held the 49ers to two field goals on their first two drives as San Fran drove the ball into the red zone, including once on a short field. However, thanks to three third-down conversions from QB Brock Purdy, the 49ers managed 90 yards on their first drive. The Pats’ pass-rush discipline continued to be an issue, as Purdy scrambled for two first downs and hit TE George Kittle on an off-script play for another conversion.

In the Kittle conversion, New England ran a T/E stunt with DE Deatrich Wise running an inside penetration on hybrid EDGE Keion White. The rush came to an end, but there were no defenders nearby to close the gap, and Wise and White attacked upfield. Over the past three weeks, the Pats’ pass-rush discipline has been inconsistent, with quarterbacks extending their drives by beating good initial coverage by scrambling or improvising on the run.

After the first drive, the pass rush began and Purdy pressured 46.7% of his dropbacks, a season high. However, the pass defense then allowed five explosive plays through the air, with gains of 53, 45, 38, 32 and 24 yards for the Niners offense.