49ers dominate Patriots: Rapid reactions

On a New England Patriots fans podcast on Friday night, I predicted the San Francisco 49ers would win 31-13. I was close. The 49ers beat the Patriots 30-13. But it should have been much worse.

The 49ers thrashed the Patriots, but they still made a lot of mistakes that will need to be cleaned up before facing the gauntlet of games coming up over the next four weeks. Still, the team did what they needed to do. Now if they could just get healthy and stop losing players to injury.

Here are my rapid reactions as the game unfolded:

• One of Malik Mustapha's strengths was supposed to be tackling. But he's missed some easy ones in the past two weeks.
• Oh, no. Dominick Puni is slow getting up, which means Spencer Burford is coming in. Fortunately, Puni was out only one play.
• It's nice to see Brandon Aiyuk getting involved early. But he wasn't much more involved the rest of the game.
• Brock Purdy isn't the runner Lamar Jackson is, but he can hurt you with his legs.
• The 49ers red zone offense has not been as good so far this season. Playing without Christian McCaffrey can do that.

• Sam Okuayinonu has not wasted any time making an impact, forcing a first-quarter fumble.
• This defense has moves.

• How is it that Purdy's receivers can't seem to get open against the Patriots?
• Fred Warner is a heat-seeking missile.
• And he scores touchdowns, too.

• There was a point early in the game in which Warner had outscored the 49ers offense.
• DeVondre Campbell is not good in coverage. I may or may not have written that sentence before.
• Who had Kevin Givens being the 49ers best defensive lineman on Sunday?
• Jauan Jennings doesn't hear footsteps. Footsteps hear Jauan Jennings.
• I don't think "The Faithful" are happy with the officiating.

• What a catch by George Kittle.

• That throw by Purdy wasn't bad either. I continue to be amazed by what he does.
• The pass rush and defense look much better. Then again, the Patriots offense is pretty bad. Even so, it's great to see the defense play like we expect them to play.
• Maliek Collins is a force inside. And he made a lot of noise in this game.
• Isaac Guerendo losing a fumble on a kick return isn't the way to get Kyle Shanahan to trust you.

• I'm not used to seeing Nick Bosa miss sacks.
• Jordan Elliott is out with a knee injury. This defensive line cannot continue to lose players.

• Warner is not in the game either. He has an ankle injury. When it rains…
• For the second week in a row, the 49ers special teams allows the other team to get back into the game.
• Thankfully, the 49ers still have Purdy, and the offense was able to close the door on New England.

• Ji'Ayir Brown still makes mistakes as young players do, but he also makes big plays, as well.
• The 49ers' pass rush is punishing Jacoby Brissett. I'm not sure how that guy keeps getting up.
• Maybe that diving catch will get Aiyuk going.
• Well, maybe not. That was his second, and final catch of the day. Both were nice catches, but he disappeared for most of the game—again.
• Through four weeks, Aiyuk has 13 catches for 167 yards and no touchdowns. Jennings had 11 catches for 175 yards and three touchdowns last week.
• Jordan Mason runs like he's being shot out of a canon.
• Unfortunately, Mason put the ball on the ground a couple of times. Neither fumble was lost, but that needs to be cleaned up.
• Jennings is amazing. What a catch in the 4th quarter. He has a knack for making contested catches.

• Bosa is feasting today. He only has one sack, but he has terrorized Brissett.
• Mason went over 100 yards rushing again. He's been so good this season.
• Purdy and Jennings are seventh-rounders. Mason was undrafted. Crazy!

The 49ers are still a little sloppy, but they dominated this game. Up next is the Arizona Cardinals. That won't be an easy win.