SANTA CLARA – Business trips to Minnesota and Los Angeles went bust for the injury-laden, mistake-prone 49ers the past two Sundays.
Avoiding a third straight loss is atop this Sunday’s agenda when they host the New England Patriots, a team that has a matching 1-2 record but comes into Levi’s Stadium with a “fun vibe” admired by 49ers spirit animal George Kittle.
The 49ers have not had much fun since their season-opening win here, a 32-19 rout of the New York Jets.
“I think our sense of urgency is 100% there,” Kittle said, “and if it’s not, that’s bad ball for the Niners, and hopefully you can tell me who doesn’t have a sense of urgency and I’ll address it with them.”
“I’ve liked the attitude this week. It’s not been real pleasant out there,” general manager John Lynch said on KNBR 680-AM. “Guys are a little ticked off, and that’s the way it should be.”
They’re more than a little banged up. Although Brock Purdy (back) and Kittle (hamstring) are fully expected to play through issues, listed as questionable are wide receiver Deebo Samuel (calf), left tackle Trent Williams (toe), safety Talanoa Hufanga (ankle), defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (foot) and linebacker Dee Winters (ankle). Season-ending injuries have sidelined defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and linebacker Curtis Robinson.
Here are five keys to skirting a three-game losing streak:
1. ONE-DIMENSIONAL PATS
The Patriots rely on their rushing attack for what little offensive threat they pose. Jacoby Brissett has thrown one touchdown pass, no interceptions and been sacked nine times as the bridge starter until No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye gets promoted. Brissett threw for just 121 yards in their Week 1 upset at Cincinnati.
Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson are 6-foot, 227-pound power backs, and the 49ers can’t allow through like they did Kyren Williams for three touchdowns last Sunday. Of Stevenson’s 224 yards, 120 came in the season opener.
“Power backs, there are not a whole lot of them left in this league. He’s as true of a power back as there is, the big body and the way he runs the football,” linebacker Fred Warner said.
Facing a power back instead of a shifty, speedy rusher appeals to Elliott, noting: “I’m not trying to get juked out of my cleats.” Elliott, if Thursday’s ankle and foot injury allows, could move into the starting lineup after Hargrave’s triceps tear last Sunday.
Stevenson has fumbled three times this season. Warner, in turn, has forced three fumbles. Watch not only that game-within-the-game aspect, but also whether the 49ers sub out De’Vondre Campbell, who’s better in the run game than pass coverage.
A successful rushing attack will set up play-action passes to spring on the 49ers’ defense. Although the 49ers rank ninth in allowing 104 yards per game, opponents are averaging 4.5 yards per carry, and that ranks 21st. The Patriots’ rushing attack is top-10 in both categories: 144.3 yards per game, 4.0 ypc.
2. D-LINE ADJUSTMENTS
The 49ers’ defensive line must improve, and now it must do so without Pro Bowler Hargrave (triceps tear). Elliott rolled his ankle in Thursday’s practice but looked solid Friday. Still, the next-man-up syndrome has struck the 49ers’ defense after so much of their offense the past month. Kevin Givens and T.Y. McGill figure to rotate in next to Maliek Collins.
Meanwhile, Nick Bosa is not about to stop attracting double-team blocks and overlooked holding penalties by offensive linemen. The Patriots’ offensive coordinator, Alex Van Pelt, described Bosa as a “nightmare” and “generational player.” Bosa has just two sacks, but he remains the biggest threat to batter Brissett, unless Leonard Floyd awakens from a two-game slumber, and unless Yetur Gross-Matos’ versatility comes to the line’s rescue.
The Patriots’ injury-laden, backup-strewn offensive line is a liability, but the Rams weren’t ruined by their own last Sunday.
Brissett is being sacked the fourth-most times when attempting a pass (11.5%), and he’s being afforded only 2.4 seconds in the pocket to throw, leading to nine sacks and 14 hits. His 368 yards are the fewest by a quarterback through three starts this season, and his 5.3-yard average per attempt is near the NFL’s bottom with rookies Caleb Williams and Bo Nix.
3. BLOCK KEION WHITE
Jordan Mason, the 49ers’ starting running back, vividly recalls Keion White as a 2021 Georgia Tech teammate. Mason described White as a big-body beast who moves so well he was a tight end at Old Dominion before transferring to Georgia Tech.
White has four sacks and seven quarterback hits, which is a lot considering he had only one sack last year as a rookie. “He’s off to a great start, but hopefully not this week,” said Mason.
Right tackle Colton McKivitz’s pass protection has been a liability, and right guard Dominick Puni has had mixed results since his debut, so shoring up that side of the line and blocking White are pivotal goals. Things are concerning enough at right tackle that offensive line coach Chris Foerster has summoned Jaylon Moore (typically the backup left tackle) and Spencer Burford (formerly the starting right guard) to get in practice reps there.
4. END SPECIAL TEAMS SLUMP
Kyle Shanahan’s biggest public beefs with the special teams units were the Week 2 block punt and last Sunday’s fake punt that triggered the 49ers’ path to defeat. So much more has gone wrong along the way: a muffed punt, a missed field goal, a generous return, and more.
There is such a black cloud over these units that, early in Thursday’s practice, Curtis Robinson was running down on punt coverage when he suddenly fell to the ground with a non-contact knee injury. Rookie Jacob Cowing batted an illness in recent days, so there could be a new return specialist.
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5. THIRD-DOWN OFFENSE
Both defenses are far too generous on third down. The 49ers have allowed a 53% conversion rate, and the Patriots 51%. The only defenses with worse marks are the Washington Commanders (61%) and the Rams (54%).
For the 49ers’ offense, that invites Brandon Aiyuk to have his breakout game a month into his mega contract, but it also should offer a welcome-back party to Kittle and Samuel after they missed last game. Also, don’t forget about Jauan Jennings’ encore after last game’s 175-yard, three-touchdown showcase.
“We just have to make the plays when they are there,” Samuel said.
In converting 41 percent of their third-down snaps, the 49ers offense also will seek third-and-short situations after early-down runs by Mason, whose 67 carries are the NFL’s most and his 342 yards rank second, though his average has dipped to 4.8 yards per carry.
Third downs are where the 49ers particularly miss Christian McCaffrey, who is on injured reserve but is slated to resume rehabilitation Monday from Achilles tendinitis. “When we’ve had a third-down back — we’ve had a great one the last two years — it’s been as easy of football as I’ve had in my 20 years,” said Shanahan, noting that this team’s other options are trustworthy and serviceable but McCaffrey is “on another level.”