Brissett’s streak without an interception ended when 49ers star LB Fred Warner returned one to the Patriots quarterback’s house. From this perspective, this interception is all about Brissett looking at Tyquan Thornton’s route based on the “super” mesh-like concept. With three breakers to Brissett’s left, Thornton isn’t a bad option here against a coverage zone of two. However, Brissett doesn’t move the zone with his eye and stares at Thornton. Tyquan is open behind the second level, but Warner reads the quarterback falling into the passing lane.

Brissett must start with his eyes in the middle of the field to set a trap for Warner to follow Pop and Polk’s routes within the formation. Yes, those two look open, but they’re not as open as they seem because Brissett is staring at the left side the whole time. If the Pats QB started right or center, the zone would have followed him there, covering Pop and Polk while opening the passing window to Thornton. Again, it’s not a bad route to take against this reporting. It just wasn’t a good quarterback from Brissett.

As always, the key to a good passing attack is all facets working together: quarterback, protection and receivers creating separation. To that end, it would be unfair to put all of this on the shoulders of Brissett, who has shown great toughness under pressure. Still, the results are the results.

3. Pressure and sack numbers remain shaky for the Patriots’ O-line

The Patriots entered the week as the worst pass-blocking unit in the NFL and were headed for their fourth-string left tackle. As you might expect, it was a bumpy ride during Sunday’s loss.

Despite a faster average release and fewer deep throws, Brissett was still sacked six times and pressured on 53.8% of his dropbacks. According to NextGen Stats, these were the pressure drops: LT Trey Jacobs (10 pressures, sack), RG Layden Robinson (2.5 sacks, nine pressures), RT Mike Onwenu (seven pressures), LG Sidy Sow (seven pressures), C Nick Leverett (six presses).

It wasn’t good, even when AVP’s play-calling worked along the offensive line. To make matters worse, captain David Andrews did not return to the match after suffering a shoulder injury early in the match. Additionally, rookie OT Caedan Wallace had a walking boot and crutches in the locker room.

We’ll have to watch the film to assess the offensive line, but the NGS data wasn’t pretty, and putting yourself in a 20-point hole never helps the O-Line. As we continue to discuss rookie QB Drake Maye stepping into this situation, we need to keep these numbers in mind.

4. Explosive plays by the 49ers prove costly for the Patriots defense

While most of the talking points will be about the offense, the Patriots defense has some recurring issues that Coach Mayo and DC DeMarcus Covington will need to address.

To the defense’s credit, they held the 49ers to two field goals on their first two drives as San Fran drove the ball into the red zone, including one on a short field. However, the 49ers drove 90 yards on their opening drive thanks to three third-down conversions by QB Brock Purdy. Pats pass-rush discipline continued to be an issue, with Purdy rushing for two first downs and finding TE George Kittle on an off-script play for another conversion.

On the Kittle conversion, New England performed a T/E stunt with DE Deatrich Wise looping into the inside penetration of the hybrid EDGE Keion White. The rush came home, but there were no defenders around to close off the pocket as Wise and White attacked the field. Over the past three weeks, the Pats pass rush discipline has been inconsistent, with quarterbacks extending their drives by beating good initial coverage via scrambling or improvising on the run.

After the opening drive, the pass rush settled down and pressured Purdy on 46.7% of his drop backs, a season high. However, the pass defense then surrendered five explosive plays through the air with gains of 53, 45, 38, 32 and 24 yards for the Niners offense.