Patriots have an underdog mentality heading into 49ers game

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

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

The Patriots, who go to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox), are the NFL’s greatest underdog of Week 4. They’ve a 23% probability to win, in line 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 sport simply.’ Identical factor with Cincinnati in opposition to Washington on ‘Monday Night time 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 stated.

“The sport nonetheless needs to be performed in between the strains. I get it, individuals must make the strains, the bets and all that. But it surely does not matter what another person says. It issues what the staff believes in — the three phases, and the 11 guys which are on the sphere at that second.”

Godchaux, 29, says the Patriots are nearer to the staff that beat the Cincinnati Bengals 16-10 in Week 1, and narrowly misplaced to the Seattle Seahawks 23-20 in time beyond regulation in Week 2. He factors to holding the Bengals to 70 dashing 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 staff — and particularly, the protection — he says he believes the Patriots really are. The Jets totaled 133 dashing yards, and 281 by way of the air.

“We had loads of missed tackles. Too many missed tackles. Uncharacteristic by us,” he stated. “The [touchdown] move [Aaron] Rodgers threw close to the purpose line to Allen Lazard, we missed the sort out at nook. These are issues that we now have 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 sort out on the working again or the receiver. We’ve got to be higher at fundamentals to start with. I believe as soon as we do this, we’ll be OK.”

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

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

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

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

Godchaux stated 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 referred to as “a piece day Wednesday” once they “introduced their onerous hat” and targeted on run protection — which is why his perception stays excessive.

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

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 sport may need been a consideration just a few 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 observe along with taking part in on the scout staff, is likely to be to taking on as QB1.

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

Thus far, Brissett has executed nothing to lose the job and is a staff captain. He has taken a pounding behind shaky offensive line play and blitz pickup from working backs. However Maye, who Mayo stated was making a cost by the top of the preseason, continues to progress behind the scenes.

“Actually good,” offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt stated when requested how Maye has regarded in observe. “I believe the sport expertise [in Week 3] will solely assist him shifting ahead. The plan is in place and I believe we’re seeing him beginning to develop on the observe subject as nicely.”

Outdoors linebackers coach Drew Wilkins additionally famous Maye’s work with the scout staff.

“The factor that is spectacular, when we now have these scout-team conferences, he desires to know each element and the way that quarterback operates,” he stated. “He has such understanding of various schemes, and what persons are doing, it is like he is been round a very long time and seen loads of offenses and quarterbacks. I believe he is distinctive in that method. That’s not one thing that is quite common within the league, guys which are conscientious who need to find out about safety guidelines for the [scout] staff. These are uncommon traits.”

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

Mason went undrafted in 2022, partly as a result of he was splitting time with Jahmyr Gibbs in faculty, 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 couple of TDs this season. “He is all the time had the flexibility. It is the chance,” White stated. “He is aware of I’ll attempt to sort out him further onerous, but it surely’s all love.”

5. Barmore’s presence: Defensive lineman Christian Barmore, who’s on injured reserve after being identified with blood clots in July, has been spending extra time across the staff of late. Heart David Andrews referred to 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 blokes laughing,” Mayo defined, whereas including: “I believe it is necessary for him to be within the constructing. The idle thoughts, sitting at dwelling on a regular basis, that is nothing however hassle.”

Mayo stated Barmore is not cleared by docs presently, 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 Unusual, 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 in the course of the time reporters had entry.

Whereas Unusual is eligible to start working towards subsequent week, my commentary is that is not presently 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 working towards.

7. They stated it: “It is like yelling at your little one. You like the man and he does the appropriate factor the vast majority of the time, but it surely’s a difficulty and you need to sit down and deal with it. He is extra embarrassed about it than anyone else. He is a prideful man.” — Van Pelt, on working again Rhamondre Stevenson having a fumble in every of the primary three video games

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

Thus, Ximines’ timeline for restoration will not have him returning to the staff 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 whole season is 4 (in 2017). Since 2000, probably the most tackles by a protracted 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 would mark the fourth consecutive season that the staff has a dropping file by way of the primary 4 video games — the longest streak in franchise historical past.