Randy Moss streaked downfield with more urgency than he ever
showed during two years playing on the other side of the Bay, grabbing Matt
Cassel’s stellar throw and speeding away for a score before the first quarter
was even half over.
The New England Patriots didn’t forget how to win just because their
regular-season winning streak is over. From Moss’ dynamic 66-yard TD catch to
Kevin Faulk’s gutsy fourth-down score on a direct snap, the Patriots were back
in their usual October form, even in an unusual place.
Faulk rushed for two scores, Cassel had 259 yards passing and the Patriots won
in San Francisco for the first time in franchise history, beating the 49ers
30-21 Sunday....
J.T. O'Sullivan passed to Frank Gore down the middle for
16 yard gain (Joe Nedney made PAT)
0 - 7
7:35
NE
TD
Matt Cassel passed to Randy Moss down the middle for 66
yard gain (Stephen Gostkowski made PAT)
7 - 7
5:25
SF
TD
J.T. O'Sullivan passed to Isaac Bruce to the right for 6
yard gain (Joe Nedney made PAT)
7 - 14
2nd Quarter
5:22
NE
FG
Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 35-yard field goal
10 - 14
0:06
NE
TD
Kevin Faulk rushed up the middle for 2 yard gain
(Stephen Gostkowski made PAT)
17 - 14
3rd Quarter
5:25
NE
TD
Kevin Faulk rushed up the middle for 2 yard gain
(Stephen Gostkowski made PAT)
24 - 14
4th Quarter
14:53
NE
FG
Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 40-yard field goal
27 - 14
10:22
SF
TD
J.T. O'Sullivan passed to Isaac Bruce down the middle
for 5 yard gain (Joe Nedney made PAT)
27 - 21
4:42
NE
FG
Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 49-yard field goal
30 - 21
Team Statistics
NE
SF
First Downs
24
11
Passing
13
7
Rushing
10
3
Penalty
1
1
Third Down Efficiency
8-17
1-9
Fourth Down Efficiency
1-1
0-2
TOTAL NET YARDS
377
199
Total Plays
80
48
Average Gain Per Play
4.7
4.1
NET YARDS RUSHING
144
77
Rushes
43
18
Average Per Rush
3.3
4.3
NET YARDS PASSING
233
122
Completions-Attempts
22-32
14-29
Yards Per Pass Play
6.3
4.1
Times Sacked
5
1
Yards Lost to Sacks
26
8
Had Intercepted
2
3
PUNTS
4
5
Average Punt
35.5
54.0
PENALTIES
4
6
Penalty Yards
56
37
FUMBLES
1
0
Fumbles Lost
0
0
TIME OF POSSESSION
39:52
20:08
Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News
New Page 1
Preview:
The New England Patriots went nearly two years between regular
season losses. They've had two weeks to think about their last one.
Looking to bounce back from a humbling defeat after their bye week, the Patriots
visit the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
After losing 21-0 at Miami on Dec. 10, 2006, New England strung together an
NFL-record 21 consecutive regular season victories - a run which included the
first 16-0 season in league history in 2007 before a loss to the New York Giants
in the Super Bowl.
Even after losing quarterback Tom Brady to a season-ending knee injury midway
through the first quarter of their Week 1 game against Kansas City, the Patriots
persevered behind inexperienced backup Matt Cassel, beating the Chiefs 17-10 and
winning 19-10 at the New York Jets in Week 2.
That was the longest they could sustain the streak. Hosting a Dolphins team that
had gone 1-20 since beating New England, the Patriots gave up 461 yards of
offense, four rushing touchdowns and a passing TD to Ronnie Brown, and never
seriously threatened the lightly regarded Dolphins in a 38-13 defeat Sept. 21...more
Notable:
New England is back on
the field for the first time since the Dolphins ended its 21
game-winning streak in 38-13 fashion in Week 3
San Francisco enters Week 5 tied atop the NFC
West along with similarly 2-2 Arizona
San Francisco quarterback J.T.
O'Sullivan spent a month on the New England practice squad in 2006
15.8
16.1