SANTA CLARA – Fred Warner’s interception return delivered the 49ers’ first landing of Sunday’s triumph, and a cinematic goal-line dive accomplished a highlight-reel play by the NFL’s most dominant defender.
Then it was Warner’s flip to look at Sunday’s different highlights (and hiccups).
An ankle harm compelled him to the sidelines as a lead of 20-0 was halved to 20-10. As an alternative of repeating final Sunday’s collapse in Los Angeles, the 49ers completed off the New England Patriots 30-13 at Levi’s Stadium.
The 49ers (2-2) return to their dwelling subject subsequent Sunday to host Arizona (1-3) — an NFC West matchup by which Warner’s presence actually will impression the Cardinals’ potent mixture of Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr.
Collection after collection, Warner and the 49ers stymied the Patriots en path to a 20-0 lead, with no indicators of defensive deficiencies that marred their highway losses to the Minnesota Vikings and the Rams the earlier two Sundays.
The 49ers produced six sacks and compelled three turnovers, the final of which got here on Nick Bosa’s strip-sack fumble restoration within the last three minutes. The Patriots’ factors all got here after Warner left for the locker room earlier than halftime.
“The defense was awesome all day,” coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned. “Anytime you score, even better.”
With the 49ers initially settling for 2 subject objectives and a 6-0 lead, Warner equaled that time output with a 45-yard interception return for his second profession landing. He cited his expertise in realizing “where to be in the right spot” to snare a third-and-5 throw, then, “as soon as I got up, I found some green grass,” and off he went towards an final dive for the proper pylon.
Warner could be gone earlier than halftime due to his ankle harm, which he mentioned would require testing to find out its severity however that he in any other case “feels good right now.”
The 49ers took a 20-3 lead into halftime as soon as New England’s Joey Slye made a 63-yard subject aim matched the fourth-longest distance in NFL historical past. Then, with Warner desirous to play and seemingly restrained by teammates on the sideline, the 49ers allowed a 5-yard landing catch to Stanford product Austin Hooper for a 20-10 margin.
The 49ers promptly launched a countermeasure within the type of Deebo Samuel’s 53-yard reception of Brock Purdy’s first-down bomb. That arrange Jordan Mason’s 4-yard landing run for a 27-10 lead with 25 minutes to go. Purdy went deep a few extra instances, together with a 45-yard completion to final recreation’s star, Jauan Jennings.
Purdy’s potential to scramble — twice for third-down conversions on the preliminary drive — served as reminders about his sneaky mobility, and George Kittle additional reminded reporters that Purdy pulled off comparable rambling rescues in January’s NFC Championship Sport comeback.
“I feel I have just the right amount of athleticism to make plays,” Purdy mentioned. “I don’t have to be a freak athlete. I know who I am. If something presents itself I’ll do what I can to move the chains and help my team. … I’m not Lamar Jackson by any means.”
San Francisco 49ers’ Jordan Mason (24) runs in opposition to the New England Patriots within the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
Mason completed together with his third 100-yard speeding recreation in 4 begins rather than Christian McCaffrey, who’s projected to renew his rehabilitation Monday from an Achilles concern. Mason had 24 carries for 123 yards, together with a 25-yard acquire on the penultimate snap.
The offense’s extra creative landing got here from Kittle, who made a 12-yard scoring seize over three defenders for the 20-0 lead. “I had a great view of it. I was amazed and speechless,” left deal with Trent Williams mentioned. “That’s one of the greatest catches I’ve seen in person.”
Kittle was hesitant when he first heard the play name and double checked with Purdy. “I wasn’t really confident in the play call because we originally called it further out,” Kittle mentioned. “It was an out and up that we originally called from the 40. To run a 12-yard out-and-up from 10 yard line is a little aggressive, but what a great play call when it works.”
Kittle later headed to the locker room early with a rib harm however returned to motion within the second half; he declined to disclose the character or severity of his harm after the sport.
Persevering with a troubling development, the 49ers obtained punished for a particular groups gaffe: rookie Isaac Guerendo fumbled on the second half’s kickoff return, and the Patriots parlayed his turnover into Hooper’s landing three snaps later. “It was a big fumble to open it up in the third quarter and it gave them a chance right away,” Shanahan mentioned.
The Patriots (1-3) got here in overmatched and have been much more so as soon as middle David Andrews (shoulder) and proper deal with Caeden Wallace (ankle) exited with accidents. It grew to become a two-score recreation, nonetheless, as soon as New England obtained a 54-yard subject aim with 13:26 remaining from Slye, who had a three-game cameo with the 2021 49ers. Jake Moody’s 41-yard subject aim made it 30-13 with 5 minutes left.
After railing on how poorly they completed in final Sunday’s loss to the Rams — who overcame 14-0 and 24-14 deficits — the 49ers began this recreation in pressure, at the very least defensively with these series-by-series highlights:
First collection: Isaac Yiadom, their embattled No. 3 cornerback, broke up a third-down move to halt a Patriots drive on the 49ers’ 41-yard line. (The 49ers offense responded with a 22-yard subject aim for a 3-0 lead.)
Second collection: Defensive finish Sam Okuayinonu opened the motion by forcing Rhamondre Stevenson’s fourth fumble this season. Maliek Collins recovered on the Patriots’ 30. (The 49ers offense responded with a 26-yard subject aim for a 6-0 lead).
Third collection: Warner delivered his 45-yard pick-six, fooling Jacoby Brissett to snare a third-and-5 throw after which racing to the entrance proper pylon for a 13-0 cushion. Warner dove for the pylon whereas being pushed within the again by operating again Antonio Gibson. Warner grew to become the primary 49ers participant to document at the very least 10 interceptions and 10 sacks in a profession; his different pick-six got here in a December 2019 win over the Los Angeles Rams..
San Francisco 49ers’ Fred Warner (54) returns an interception for a landing in opposition to the New England Patriots within the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
Fourth collection: Warner and Ji’Ayir Brown mixed for a fourth-and-1 cease on the 49ers’ 20-yard line. Brissett obtained sacked twice by Kevin Givens earlier on the drive. The 49ers responded with Kittle’s second landing catch of the season and Purdy’s fifth scoring strike, for a 20-0 lead.
Fifth collection: Floyd (and maybe Givens) compelled a Brissett fumble on a third-and-2 sack shared by Givens and Collins, resulting in a Patriots’ punt.
Sixth collection: With Warner already within the locker room, the 49ers surrendered their factors, on that 62-yard boot by Slye.
NOTES: Deebo Samuel returned from a one-game absence (calf), began at operating again (two carries, 14 yards) and caught 3-of-5 targets for 58 yards. … Jennings, after his three-touchdown outburst for 175 yards in Los Angeles, made three catches for 88 yards in his encore. … Purdy accomplished 15-of-27 passes for 288 yards, with the landing to Kittle and a fourth-quarter interception on a lob towards Brandon Aiyuk. … Aiyuk caught 2-of-5 targets for 48 yards, together with a 38-yard diving seize. … Credited with compelled fumbles have been Okuayinonu, Leonard Floyd and Evan Anderson, the latter of whom made his NFL debut and did so carrying the soft-shell Guardian cap over his helmet. … Brissett was 19-of-32 for 168 yards with one landing, one interception and 6 sacks. … Kyle Juszczyk cleanly fielded his first profession punt return on the 9-yard line and returned it eight yards; rookie Jacob Cowing was sidelined by a shoulder harm and Ronnie Bell was inactive. … Givens had 2 1/2 sacks, Collins 1 1/2 and Okuayinonu one. … The 49ers dominated out defensive deal with Jordan Elliott (knee) for the second half. … Kittle caught 4-of-4 targets for 45 yards, and he returned after a rib harm despatched him early to the locker room earlier than halftime.
Initially Printed: September 29, 2024 at 4:16 p.m.
