The hobbled and hopeful 49ers rolled into Boston with the aim of pummelling the Patriots. I guess you could say mission accomplished as the 49ers leave New England with a 33-6 victory in tow.
“We were clearly out-coached. outplayed. Just out-everything.”
Bill Belichick following the 33-6 defeat at the hands of the 49ers.
Tale of the Game
Similar to Week Six, Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers came out hot. Putting together a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped off by a Jeff Wilson three-yard touchdown run. Wilson would go on to finish the game with 17 rushes, 112 yards, and three touchdowns. However, in typical 49ers fashion, Wilson would leave the game with a high ankle sprain after scoring his third touchdown.
From then on out, the tone was set. Cam Newton could not generate any offense outside of some read-options. Outside of a Jimmy Garoppolo interception, the quarterback couldn’t set his feet and sailed a ball over George Kittle‘s head. The Niners played an efficient half of offense.
On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Fred Warner once again showed why he is the best mike-backer in the NFL, picking off Cam Newton and locking up Pats receivers in coverage.
In the second half, the 49ers did not let up. Keeping their foot on the gas pedal, Jeff Wilson scored his third touchdown before getting hurt, and Newton continued to struggle, throwing two more picks before being benched at the end of the third quarter.
Final score, 49ers 33 to the Patriots measly six points. Outside of losing Wilson and Deebo Samuel with a hamstring strain, it was a near-perfect game from the 49ers who now move to 4-3.
Offensive Players Of The Week
Jeff Wilson
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Throughout Kyle Shanahan’s entire 49ers tenure, running back Jeff Wilson has been constantly in and out of the running back rotation. A downhill thumper of a back, Wilson does not fit the mold of a typical Shanahan running back.
However, Wilson is dependable and has made several big plays for the 49ers when called upon in the past (such as the game-winning touchdown score against the Cardinals in Week Eleven last season).
While it’s a killer for Wilson that he will miss a minimum of three weeks with a high ankle sprain, the 49ers should hold up at running back, considering Kyle Shanahan could turn your ordinary accountant into a 1012 yard a season running back.
Jamycal Hasty
The reason that losing Jeff Wilson isn’t a massive problem (aside from Shanahan) is this guy, Jamycal Hasty.
I wrote about Hasty during training camp, where he consistently impressed members of the 49ers defense and the coaching staff. A shifty yet powerful back, Hasty, according to CBS commentator Tony Romo, has a bit of Marshawn Lynch in him.
Hasty finished the game with nine rushes for 57 yards as well as one catch for 16 yards. As the season wears on and the war of attrition continues, make sure to keep an eye out for Hasty.
Kyle Juszczyk
The third member of the backfield to make the list, Kyle Juszczyk (also known as Juice), had his handprints all over the 49ers win on Sunday.
In Kyle Shanahan’s mission to get to the edge on multiple zone runs and screens, Juice was pivotal in blocking and leading the way for the 49ers skill position players. Bill Belichick and the Pats incorporate a 6-1 front against zone run teams to set the EDGE and stop the run game.
However, due to Juice’s impressive blocking, multiple runs were sprung to the outside. His blocking also allowed multiple screens to gain valuable yards. Juice also finished the game with a touchdown on a sneaky full-back run near the goal line.
Against the Pats, Juszczyk proved why he’s known as the ‘offensive weapon’ within the 49ers building.
Defensive Players Of The Week
Fred Warner
Every single week Warner finds himself on this list. Next to Nick Bosa, Warner is the second most valuable 49er on this defense. Maybe the fourth most valuable 49er overall. That’s how important he is to this organization.
Whether it was covering Julian Edelman one-on-one in the passing game, picking off Cam Newton, or making big tackles, Warner was all over the field.
Jamar Taylor
Since borderline Pro Bowl level slot corner K’waun Williams went down against the Eagles in Week Four, Jamar Taylor hasn’t missed a beat.
Taylor leaped to the 49ers first-team roster from the practice squad and has since looked like a wily veteran. On Sunday, Taylor grabbed himself two interceptions. One against Newton when the ball was batted up in the air and one against Stidham, where the nickel ran the Patriots receiver’s route.
When Williams does return (which is presumably soon), the 49ers defensive staff has a lot to consider when it comes to that nickel corner position.
Tarvarius Moore
Another backup, Tarvarius Moore, came in for the injured Jimmie Ward on short notice at free safety and, in a situation similar to Taylor, did not miss a beat.
Moore was all over the field for the 49ers: making a big third-down stop early in the first quarter in the red zone and then later on forcing Cam Newton to redirect his deep throw into the hands of Emmanuel Moseley on a deep post route.
Moore and Taylor have proven that this 49ers defense is tough. While losing countless starters, they still play sound defense and force the quarterback to play a near-perfect game, which will happen fewer times than not.
Onto Seattle…
Next up for the 49ers on this gauntlet of enemies are the Seattle Seahawks. Deebo Samuel‘s health will be the main concern heading into Sunday. With that in mind, after a pummelling of the Pats, the 49ers have plenty of reasons to be positive ahead of this derby game.
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