The New England Patriots headed to the West Coast as double-digit underdogs.

Head coach Jerod Mayo’s team couldn’t survive the forecast on Sunday afternoon, falling to the San Francisco 49ers in a 30-13 runaway.

Here’s a look back at what happened at Levi’s Stadium when the calendar turned to October 1-3.

A ‘get the ball out of your hand’ week for defeated Brissett

Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt had called it a “get the ball out of your hand week” against the 2019 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and the 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. That turned out to be the case for Jacoby Brissett on a Sunday across from Nick Bosa.

The New England quarterback completed 19 of 32 passes for 168 yards against San Francisco. He found one touchdown and one interception. The first drive was broken by the group of “12” personnel and became a pair of first downs before the punt team stepped up to midfield. The next series ended with a turnover on the ground. Perennial All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner added another through the air with 13:59 left before halftime. His skyscraper interception on a dig route would be returned for a touchdown from 35 yards out. A hit on the throw set up a pick-less fall for Brissett.

The chains were moved with tight ends of the responsive drive. But the hard counting went softly toward a turnover on downs. A strip bag brought up the warning. More were in the cards. By halftime, the Patriots had seen 76 yards of offense on 30 plays. Then veteran Austin Hooper slid to the goal line for his first touchdown catch as a Patriot. It brought the game back to 20-10. Short.

The fourth tackle from the left starts in front of a line that loses its captain

Another week, another left tackle for the Patriots. With Chukwuma Okorafor on the left side, Vederian Lowe ruled out and Caedan Wallace downgraded from questionable, it would be Demontrey Jacobs on the blind side. The fourth starter of the month there.

The August waiver claim was alongside returning left guard Sidy Sow, who had not taken the court since the preseason finale due to an ankle injury. They were joined by center David Andrews, right guard Layden Robinson and right tackle Mike Onwenu. And Andrews went into the locker room after the first drive, resulting in his first missed snaps since 2022. The Ironman captain at center did not return due to a shoulder injury. Backup Nick Leverett checked in at the pivot.

Six sacks were collected by the 49ers. 2.5 homecomings would be Kevin Givens. 1.5 homecomings would be Maliek Collins. And the aforementioned Bosa beat his one-on-one to get teammate Evan Anderson into the column as San Francisco cut from the inside to the outside. No. 97 then stripped the ball for a pocket of his own with 2:44 to go.

Facing the run in the absence of Bentley and Jennings

The Patriots placed Ja’Whaun Bentley on injured reserve ahead of the game with the reigning NFC champions. Without the defense’s linebacker, captain and green dot due to a torn pectoral muscle, the tackle and communication had to be clear.

Neither had fallen into a 24-3 loss the week before. To make Sunday’s sledding tougher, starting outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings went from questionable to inactive with a shoulder injury. The edges even had to be set that way. They wouldn’t be.

Jordan Mason, whose touchdown catch was wiped out by a holding penalty, entered the end zone untouched after the intermission as Joshua Uche crossed the arc. San Francisco’s rising back handled 123 total yards on 24 carries, including longs of 24 and 25. New England opened the afternoon with Jahlani Tavai and Raekwon McMillan off the ball. Backup linebacker Christian Elliss stepped in for both before forcing a fumble and falling through rookie kick returner Isaac Guerendo.

The target remains on Stevenson’s back as the fumble continues

Rhamondre Stevenson got a “target on his back” after three straight fumbles. It stayed there.

New England’s lead turned 13 carries into 43 yards against a San Francisco front that came in and allowed 4.5 per carry. A stuffed fourth-and-1 and a loss of seven were among them. He hit the ball four times in the opening sequence. But the next time out, a fourth fumble in four games surfaced. It was forced by 53-man roster promotion Sam Okuayinonu and reinstated by the 49ers.

Antonio Gibson was confused to start the next possession. The all-purpose defender had six carries for a dozen yards by the end of the game. He added three catches for 67 yards, dropping a throw in the flat to start the fourth quarter before leading the next quartet. A 50-year-old came down the stretch.

Rookie leads New England’s wide receiver room in targets

After leading the Patriots in targets, DeMario Douglas couldn’t keep the trend going on Sunday. The slot receiver accounted for 13 receiving yards, and a hook-and-ladder throw on third down was erased by a block in the back.

KJ Osborn added one reception wide. Ja’Lynn Polk started next to him and finished with 30 yards on three catches and a team-high seven looks, including a back-shoulder snag of 21. The Washington rookie later had defensive pass interference on some closer an interception was then a completion. He also had a fourth and fifth chance in the closing minutes.

All six members of the depth chart were active again.

Purdy escapes 288 meters through the air

A number 262 from the past met the Patriots for the first time on Sunday. Brock Purdy went 15 of 27 passing for 288 yards with one touchdown and one interception from there.

The 49ers starter extended the first drive twice with his legs. Deebo Samuel lent a hand with a throw of 53 yards unassisted after the safety. Brandon Aiyuk broke out of zone coverage on his first look for 38. And fresh off a career outing that included 11 catches, 175 yards and a hat trick, Jauan Jennings passed for 88 for the receivers room, led by a pick-up from 45 where the Patriots couldn’t do anything about it.

Christian Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones started on the fringes of high school in New England. Marcus Jones joined them in the slot, deflecting a pass into the end zone. And at safety were captains Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers. The former acted as defensive signal caller, but left the field before half-time with an ankle injury and was ruled out. Shortly thereafter, decorated tight end George Kittle ripped the ball away in the end zone for a third-and-10 touchdown. But in the end zone of the final quarter, Peppers had his first interception of 2024 for the Patriots.

Pass Rush manages one sack

After making it four in two games, Keion White was held out of the pocket against the New York Jets last week. The Old Dominion and Georgia Tech product sat out Sunday and was credited with a pair of quarterback hits.

White booked a Patriots starting defensive line with Davon Godchaux and Daniel Ekuale on the interior. Inclusion proved to be a problem early and often. Multiple clumsy exchanges were not recovered by a unit in need of a sudden change.

New England picked up one sack on the scrambling Mr. Irrelevant alum, courtesy of meandering captain Deatrich Wise Jr.

From a franchise record to a bevy of inside-the-20 punts

After a 49ers sub, Joey Slye returned as the Patriots incumbent on Sunday, converting both of his field goals and one extra point.

The experienced kicker made good from 63 meters going into the break. It marked a long career and a new franchise record. He then hit from 54 yards out in the fourth quarter.

His holder also had an eventful afternoon. Bryce Baringer punted four times for 196 yards at Santa Clara. A lunge of 61 was launched from his right leg, with each of his kicks landing in the opponent’s 20.