Week 15: 49ers survive Patriots late rally, win in Foxborough

If there was any one game football fans had circled on their calendar in week 15, it was the Sunday Night showdown between the 9-3-1 San Francisco 49ers and the 10-3 New England Patriots. In what many predicted to be a Super Bowl preview coming into the season, the meeting between these two teams would be nothing short of a classic. Expected to be a dog fight from play one in the cool, rainy climate of New England's Foxborough Stadium, all eyes were on the 49ers and how well they would adjust to the conditions. Having won 21 straight games at home in the month of December, the Patriots would witness one of the greatest streaks in NFL history finally come to an end.

Making his return to New England where he called home for 3 1/2 seasons and set numerous receiving records alongside Tom Brady, Randy Moss would make this a homecoming to remember as he capped off the 49ers opening-drive on offense by hauling in a 24-yard touchdown reception to put San Francisco up early, 7-0. After a Steven Gostkowski field goal, Colin Kaepernick connected with his tight-end Delanie Walker from 34-yards out for his second touchdown pass in as many quarters. In what would be a slippery turnover fest highlighted by five fumbles and an interception, the 49ers took a 17-3 lead into the locker room at the half following a David Akers field goal, but could have easily been up by more. 

Facing the team he grew up rooting for, Tom Brady would soon find himself needing to channel his inner boyhood idol in Joe Montana as the Patriots found themselves trailing, 31-3 in the third quarter after the 49ers capitalized on a Steven Ridley fumble and a Brady interception. San Francisco turned the two costly mistakes into 14-points in a matter of only 18 seconds, giving New England their largest deficit at home since November of 1998 vs the Atlanta Falcons. While the game appeared to be out of reach right then and there as San Francisco had their boot on the neck of their opponent, Brady rallied the troops and eventually tied the game as the Patriots scored 28 unanswered-points to tie the game at 31-all. Though blowing a 28-point lead would be demoralizing for the average quarterback making only his fifth career start, the debacle only fueled Colin Kaepernick who stole the momentum right back by finding Michael Crabtree for a 38-yard touchdown set up by a brilliant 62-yard kick return from rookie LaMichael James.

In need of some help from the Niners defense which would later allow the most points ever under coach Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco got back-to-back stops including a turnover on downs that gave New England a season-high four turnovers and set David Akers up for his second field goal on the day. Brady would follow up by marching his team down field for a field goal of their own to bring them within a touchdown, but his late game heroics wouldn't be enough as New England failed to recover the ensuing on-side kick, giving the 49ers the 41-34 win, snapping the Patriots seven game winning-streak and handing them their first home loss in the month of December since 2002. For the 49ers, the win against the Patriots was their first since 1995 and the first on the road in New England since '92. With the victory, San Francisco improved to 10-3-1 on the year and clinched a playoff berth for the second consecutive season.

Noteworthy: 49ers defensive-end Aldon Smith failed to tally a sack to add to his league-leading sacks total and chase of Michael Strahan's single-season sacks record, but did manage to record his first career interception. Tom Brady threw for 443 yards on 65 attempts, while throwing for a touchdown and rushing for another. Colin Kaepernick threw for a career-high 4 touchdowns against only 1 interception and added 221 passing yards. Frank Gore led all rushers with 83 yards on 21 carries. Michael Crabtree hauled in 7 receptions for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead SF. Former 49er Brandon Lloyd finished with 10 receptions for 190 yards. San Francisco won the turnover battle, 4-2. 

Week 16 Preview: In case Week 15's visit to New England wasn't enough, the 49ers will get set to pay Seattle a visit where they'll take on the red-hot Seattle Seahawks and the 12th Man in the most hostile environment known to a visiting football team. With the NFC West still undecided, the 49ers can clinch the division with a win against the Seahawks, but it won't be an easy task as Seattle appears to be a different team since their Week 7 meeting in which the 49ers won at home, having scored 50-points or more in back-to-back games. But after watching the 49ers defining all odds to leave New England with a win, I'm putting my money on San Francisco winning this one, 24-17, in what should be a game highlighted by defense and some power running from both Frank Gore and Marshawn Lynch. 

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