After a very good week of follow, Patriots have underdog mentality heading into 49ers recreation

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Fast-hit ideas and notes across the New England Patriots and NFL:

1. Underdog mentality: Perception was plentiful within the Patriots’ locker room over the previous week, and maybe nowhere was that extra evident than with eight-year veteran defensive deal with Davon Godchaux.

The Patriots, who go to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox), are the NFL’s largest underdog of Week 4. They’ve a 23% likelihood to win, in keeping with ESPN Analytics.

Inform that to the 6-foot-3, 330-pound Godchaux and he respectfully rejects the premise.

“Carolina got here into Vegas final week and everyone was saying ‘Vegas goes to win this recreation simply.’ Similar factor with Cincinnati in opposition to Washington on ‘Monday Evening Soccer’ — everyone thought Washington was going to be smoked. So what occurred? Jayden Daniels put a whipping on Cincinnati. Andy Dalton did the identical factor to the Raiders. That is the NFL,” Godchaux mentioned.

“The sport nonetheless must be performed in between the traces. I get it, individuals must make the traces, the bets and all that. Nevertheless it does not matter what another person says. It issues what the crew believes in — the three phases, and the 11 guys which can be on the sector at that second.”

Godchaux, 29, says the Patriots are nearer to the crew that beat the Cincinnati Bengals 16-10 in Week 1, and narrowly misplaced to the Seattle Seahawks 23-20 in additional time in Week 2. He factors to holding the Bengals to 70 speeding yards and the Seahawks to 46 for instance of what the unit is able to producing.

What unfolded final week in a 24-3 lackluster loss to the New York Jets on Thursday evening was not reflective of the crew — and particularly, the protection — he says he believes the Patriots actually are. The Jets totaled 133 speeding yards, and 281 by means of the air.

“We had a variety of missed tackles. Too many missed tackles. Uncharacteristic by us,” he mentioned. “The [touchdown] cross [Aaron] Rodgers threw close to the purpose line to Allen Lazard, we missed the deal with at nook. These are issues that we have now to be higher. And we’re higher than that.

“Not making an excuse for a brief week. However we had 6-7 [tackles for a loss] the place we simply missed the deal with on the operating again or the receiver. We’ve got to be higher at fundamentals to begin with. I feel as soon as we do this, we’ll be OK.”

The 49ers are a difficult crew to face for a protection — who blew seven edges and allowed Rodgers to flee the pocket final week — trying to return to its basic roots. “San Fran needs you to be undisciplined so then they’ll hit the house run. Get out of your rush lanes. Get you to not be disciplined in your cross rush,” Godchaux mentioned.

“Brock Purdy is a extremely good scrambler; does not get a variety of credit score however he’s actually athletic. So we simply have to remain dwelling, set the sting of the protection, make them reduce the ball again. And after they reduce it again, we have now to make the deal with. Final week in opposition to the Jets, we missed so many tackles. It was so irritating as a result of we have been like, ‘Why are we on the sector a lot?'”

That almost all current efficiency is why few give the Patriots an opportunity to upset the 49ers, and maybe additionally explains why coach Jerod Mayo mentioned surprising outcomes throughout the league with gamers after they returned from three days off on Monday.

“I attempted to place some issues in perspective,” Mayo mentioned. “You might have a crew that is picked to win the Tremendous Bowl and will get blown out the subsequent week. Proper now it is about who can get higher the quickest. That is what we have now to do — get again to the basics.”

Godchaux mentioned the Patriots responded with two of their finest practices of the 12 months — first on Monday after which in full pads on what defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington known as “a piece day Wednesday” after they “introduced their laborious hat” and targeted on run protection — which is why his perception stays excessive.

2. No Brady in Week 5: Barring an surprising change within the coming days, Tom Brady is not scheduled to work the Patriots’ Week 5 dwelling recreation in opposition to the Dolphins, which can be broadcast on Fox. A supply aware of his schedule expects he’ll name the Cardinals-49ers recreation.

With Fox not having the doubleheader in Week 5, the potential of Brady returning to his longtime dwelling at Gillette Stadium to name the Patriots-Dolphins recreation may need been a consideration a number of weeks in the past. However as soon as the Dolphins misplaced quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a concussion, and the Patriots struggled in a nationally televised Week 3 loss to the Jets, it took some nationwide luster off the matchup.

The Patriots have dominated out beginning LT Vederian Lowe (knee), reserve-turned-starting LG Michael Jordan (ankle) and reserve CB Alex Austin (ankle).

4 questionable: CB Jonathan Jones (shoulder), OLB Anfernee Jennings (shoulder), OT Caedan Wallace (knee), LG Sidy Sow (ankle).

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) September 27, 2024

3. Maye replace: One lingering query is how shut rookie quarterback Drake Maye, who’s getting 30% of the first-team repetitions in follow along with enjoying on the scout crew, is likely to be to taking on as QB1.

Mayo reiterated this week that the crew has no plans to usher in a veteran quarterback, which reinforces that he and govt director of participant personnel Eliot Wolf can be snug turning to Maye now within the occasion of an harm to veteran Jacoby Brissett.

Up to now, Brissett has performed nothing to lose the job and is a crew captain. He has taken a pounding behind shaky offensive line play and blitz pickup from operating backs. However Maye, who Mayo mentioned was making a cost by the tip of the preseason, continues to progress behind the scenes.

“Actually good,” offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt mentioned when requested how Maye has seemed in follow. “I feel the sport expertise [in Week 3] will solely assist him transferring ahead. The plan is in place and I feel we’re seeing him beginning to develop on the follow area as effectively.”

Exterior linebackers coach Drew Wilkins additionally famous Maye’s work with the scout crew.

“The factor that is spectacular, when we have now these scout-team conferences, he needs to know each element and the way that quarterback operates,” he mentioned. “He has such a very good understanding of various schemes, and what individuals are doing, it is like he is been round a very long time and seen a variety of offenses and quarterbacks. I feel he is distinctive in that manner. That isn’t one thing that is quite common within the league, guys which can be conscientious who need to learn about safety guidelines for the [scout] crew. These are uncommon traits.”

4. Keion’s motivation: The 49ers have turned to third-year operating again Jordan Mason with Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve. Second-year Patriots defensive lineman Keion White is aware of him effectively from their time collectively at Georgia Tech and has mentioned he retains in contact with Mason.

Mason went undrafted in 2022, partly as a result of he was splitting time with Jahmyr Gibbs in school, and he has been as much as the problem along with his first NFL alternative as a starter totaling 67 carries, 324 yards and a pair of TDs this season. “He is all the time had the flexibility. It is the chance,” White mentioned. “He is aware of I will attempt to deal with him further laborious, however it’s all love.”

5. Barmore’s presence: Defensive lineman Christian Barmore, who’s on injured reserve after being recognized with blood clots in July, has been spending extra time across the crew of late. Middle David Andrews known as him the funniest participant within the locker room, and which may clarify why Mayo has put him answerable for “Friday Humorous.”

“It is like a 30-second [or] one-minute clip simply to get the fellows laughing,” Mayo defined, whereas including: “I feel it is vital for him to be within the constructing. The idle thoughts, sitting at dwelling on a regular basis, that is nothing however hassle.”

Mayo mentioned Barmore is not cleared by medical doctors at the moment, and made it sound like he wasn’t anticipating that to alter within the close to future.

6. Unusual’s standing: Third-year offensive lineman Cole Strange, who tore the patellar tendon in his left knee final December and is on the bodily unable to carry out record, was a constant presence within the locker room this previous week through the time reporters had entry.

Whereas Unusual is eligible to start training subsequent week, my commentary is that is not at present on the radar. A extra doubtless situation is that others on the PUP record — receiver Kendrick Bourne, linebacker Sione Takitaki and probably security/linebacker Marte Mapu — start training.

7. They mentioned it: “It is like yelling at your baby. You like the man and he does the proper factor the vast majority of the time, however it’s a problem and it’s important to sit down and tackle it. He is extra embarrassed about it than anyone else. He is a prideful man.” — Van Pelt, on operating again Rhamondre Stevenson having a fumble in every of the primary three video games

8. Ximines replace: Reserve exterior linebacker and core special-teamer Oshane Ximines, whom veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones had predicted can be a shock performer this season, was recognized with a torn ACL after he was injured on a Week 2 play in punt protection, in keeping with a crew supply.

Thus, Ximines’ timeline for restoration will not have him returning to the crew this season. The present plan is to attend for swelling to subside earlier than scheduling surgical procedure.

9. Do you know, Half I: By Week 3 video games, Joe Cardona leads all NFL lengthy snappers with three tackles. His profession excessive for a complete season is 4 (in 2017). Since 2000, essentially the most tackles by an extended snapper in a season is 12 — by Zak DeOssie of the Giants in 2008.

10. Do you know, Half II: If the Patriots lose to the 49ers and drop to 1-3, it should mark the fourth consecutive season that the crew has a dropping report by means of the primary 4 video games — the longest streak in franchise historical past.