49ers end two-game losing skid behind Fred Warner’s pick 6

Santa Clara – The 49ers returned to their winning ways, snapping a two-game skid with a 30-13 victory over the New England Patriots. San Francisco’s defense dominated, holding the Patriots scoreless until just three seconds remaining in the first half. Highlights included Fred Warner’s pick-six and George Kittle’s spectacular end-zone catch. Despite mounting injuries, the team continues to show resilience.

“I thought the defense was awesome all day,” said 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. “Anytime you score, even better. But to start out the way they did, the first couple drives especially. Fred getting the score, the two turnovers they created. I think, I didn’t get a look at all the stats, but I think they were really good on third down. Defense, it felt like, dominated all day.”

San Francisco’s defense tallied 6.0 sacks on Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett on the day, marking the most they’ve registered in a game since they recorded 6.0 sacks at Seattle on November 23, 2023. Nick Bosa recorded five tackles, 1.0 sacks, and one forced fumble, which he also recovered. His sack on Brissett marked his third of the season. Bosa’s FF is his first of the season and gave him 11 in his career, which is tied for the 4th most FF’s in franchise history.

Brock Purdy completed 15 of 27 passes for 288 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. Jordan Mason impressed with 24 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown, filling in admirably for the injured Christian McCaffrey. Jauan Jennings also contributed with three receptions for 88 yards.

Jauan Jennings

“I always knew what he had is his body,” Bosa said on Okuayinonu’s fumble. “He came in last year late and then you see him in camp. He had a really strong camp and then he had an injury, so it set him back. He played probably no more than 15 plays and affected 10 of them. To have a guy like that, that can give some of our starters a rest and make an impact. It’s huge for us.”

Despite several opportunities in the first quarter, the 49ers struggled to reach the end zone. Purdy managed to get the team into the red zone, but the New England’s defense held firm, forcing Jake Moody to kick field goals of 22 and 26 yards, giving San Francisco a 6-0 lead to end the quarter. Additionally, Sam Okuayinonu forced Rhamondre Stevenson to fumble on the Patriots 30-yard line, but the 49ers had to settle for another field goal.

Warner’s interception marked his second of the season and the 10th of his career. Warner’s INT returned for a touchdown marked the second time he’s returned an INT for a TD in his career [46-yd. INT returned for TD vs. LAR (12/21/19)]. The TD return also marked the first time that a 49ers player returned an INT for a TD since CB Charvarius Ward registered a 79-yd.

Warner made one of the most spectacular plays of his career early in the second quarter. Brissett’s short pass, intended for Tyquan Thornton, was intercepted by Warner, who made a diving catch. Untouched, Warner ran it back 45 yards for a touchdown, extending the 49ers lead to 13-0. 

Deommondore Lenoir

After multiple penalties pushed San Francisco back, Purdy connected with Kittle for a 12-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 20-0. Kittle leaped over three defenders, making an acrobatic catch while falling on his back and securing the touchdown just outside the end zone. New England responded with a 63-yard field goal by Joey Slye, with three seconds left on the clock to close the first half.

“The play was for him to break out and then go up,” said Purdy. “It was more of a third-down play, but we thought we’d get the look for it down there. I saw him break out and then I was getting hit, so I was like, ‘I just need to give my guy a shot here and give him a chance.’ So just put it up for him and let him come down with it. But he made a great play, way better than a throw that was. He made the play. That’s George.”

“That’s saying a lot coming from [T] Trent Williams,” Kittle said. “He’s played a lot of football so yes, it means a lot. It felt fantastic. I just wasn’t really confident in the play call because that was something he called originally from way farther out and when he called it from the 10, I had to double-check with [QB] Brock [Purdy] to make sure it was the right play. I was like, “alright man just throw it”,and he just threw it. It was pretty fun.”

Trent Williams

The 49ers are already dealing with many injuries and has added a few more players to that list at halftime. Fred Warner was listed as questionable to return due to an ankle injury, Kittle has a rib injury, and Jordan Elliott was ruled out for the remainder of the game with a knee injury.

Isaac Guerendo fumbled the kickoff return to start the third quarter, and Christian Ellis recovered for the Patriots, who capitalized on the turnover. Brissett’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Austin Hooper cut the 49ers’ lead to 20-10. However, San Francisco responded quickly. Brock Purdy connected with Deebo Samuel on a deep 53-yard pass, setting up Jordan Mason’s 4-yard touchdown run to extend the 49ers lead to 27-10.

“I chalk it up to an NFL football player getting hit and fumbling it,” said Shanahan on Guerendo’s fumble. “I don’t put it on being a rookie. Biggest thing when someone has a turnover, you want the defense to go out and hold them to three. I think they scored on a fourth down maybe. We had a commitment trying to stop an inside-zone run and they had a good play call getting out there to score, but we’ll come back to him. But yeah, that was a big fumble.”

Photo by 49ers/Twitter

Malaika Bobino

Malaika Bobino, an Oakland, California native, is a Bay Area sports journalism powerhouse and influencer. With nearly two decades of experience at both the Oakland Post and the Huffington Post, she is always on the front lines of the iconic Bay Area sports scene. Bobino covered the Oakland A’s postseason trips, all three of the San Francisco Giants World Series, was present for all three Golden State Warriors three NBA Championships and covered the 49ers last two Super Bowl appearances

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