The San Francisco 49ers (3-3, 2-0 away) and New England Patriots (2-3, 2-1 home) engage in a cross coast contest in Week 7 action of the National Football League. This game pits a pair of preseason favorites, with both teams trying to get back on track. The kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. EST inside Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA. The Patriots are a 2.5-point favorite in the NFC vs AFC showdown.
What to Know – San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco suffered a pair of consecutive losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins, but bounced back last week in a home victory over the Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers still sit at the bottom of the NFC West standings, however. The 49ers also may be looking ahead to a matchup with the undefeated and first-place Seattle Seahawks next Sunday.
Jimmy Garoppolo looked better last weekend in the team’s win over the Rams. Garoppolo was battling an injury and missed a few games before returning two weeks ago. The signal-caller is 63-of-99 for 735 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Starting running back Raheem Mostert is out, so backup Jerick McKinnon will get the bulk of the carries for the 49ers. McKinnon has carried the ball 41 times for 211 yards and three touchdowns.
Tight end George Kittle gets most of the looks in the passing game for San Francisco, hauling in 30 receptions for 380 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The defense is banged, up but continues to be one of the better units in the league. The 49ers are 5th in yards allowed (321.0), and 10th in points given up (21.7) per game.
San Francisco is 1-4 against the spread in their last five against the Patriots, but is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 against teams from the AFC.
What to Know – New England Patriots
Cam Newton returned to action last weekend in the loss to Denver, but did not appear 100% healthy. The Patriots are trying to break a two-game skid that has also included a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. New England heads to Buffalo and New York over the next two weeks.
Newton is 79-of-116 for 871 yards, two touchdowns, and four interception through the air, and has added 225 yards and five scores running the football. Newton is the Patriots leading rusher so far this season.
If it isn’t Newton running, Rex Burkhead is second in carries with 35 for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Sony Michel (26 carries, 173 yards, one touchdown) and Damien Harris (26 carries, 119 yards) also handle a portion of the rushing duties for the Patriots.
Veteran Julian Edelman has hauled in 20 receptions for 302 yards, but has yet to find the end zone in 2020. Damiere Byrd (17 catches, 217 yards) and N’Keal Harry (18 catches, 166 yards, one touchdown) are Newton’s second and third options in the passing game.
Defensively, the Patriots are allowing opponents 339.0 yards and 22.0 points per game. New England is tied for third with 10 takeaways this year.
New England is 2-5 against the spread in their last seven games, and the total has gone under in four of the last six.
The Pick is In
Both teams are missing some key pieces, and the starting quarterbacks have been pretty banged up. New England hasn’t lost three games in-a-row since the 2002 season, and I find it hard to imagine that happening this weekend. The pick is the Patriots against the spread with a 3-point victory.
