Four Bold Predictions For Lopsided Patriots-49ers Matchup

The Patriots have an opportunity to bounce back from a pair of bitterly disappointing losses Sunday.

It's a very slim opportunity, but an opportunity nonetheless.

New England will head out west to face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4, and despite the home team dealing with a few injuries, it's expected to be a tough week for the visitors. Christian McCaffrey (out), Javon Hargrave (out) and Deebo Samuel (questionable) might not play, but Joey Bosa, Trent Williams, Brock Purdy, Brandon Aiyuk and Fred Warner all will.

How can the Patriots keep things interesting? Can they capitalize on having so much room for improvement? We believe there are a few things that favor New England heading into the lopsided matchup, so let's make some bold predictions:

DEMARIO DOUGLAS "POPS" OFF
The Patriots have struggled to get much of anything done through the air in the first few weeks of the season, with Jacoby Brissett averaging a rather pedestrian 122.7 passing yards per game. How can that change?

Alex Van Pelt needs to play into his personnel's strengths.

New England has (rightfully) been ridiculed for its offensive strategy thus far, with the majority of passing plays taking way too much time to develop. Brissett was able to make it work in Week 1, but as his offensive line continues to cycle through differently-named turnstiles at left tackle, it has become abundantly clear that the quick passing game needs to become more of a focus. Douglas is the primary option underneath, so we expect him to feast amid the effort to get the ball out of Brissett's hands quickly.

Prediction: Douglas leads the team in receiving yards.

GIBBY GETS HIS TURN
Rhamondre Stevenson has fumbled three times over the first three weeks of the season. How will that impact him Sunday? The Patriots might look elsewhere for a spark.

Antonio Gibson has been superb in his limited role thus far, averaging 6.2 yards per carry and accounting for the longest play from scrimmage (45-yard run against Seattle) the Patriots have produced all season. It's been extremely helpful to have a change-of-pace back behind Stevenson over the last two seasons, and it's our belief that Gibson will see an increase in carries against San Francisco.

Prediction: Gibson has more rushing yards than Stevenson.

GONZO GETS HIS FIRST
Christian Gonzalez has been tasked with following Ja'Marr Chase, D.K. Metcalf and Garrett Wilson across the first three weeks of the season, and while he's performed admirably, it has been an overall detriment to New England.

The Patriots have long tasked their shutdown corner with taking the No. 2 receiver in whatever game they're playing, while bracketing coverage on the No. 1 guy with multiple defenderd. Gonzalez would be tasked with covering Jauan Jennings in that scenario, which we believe could be fruitful for the 22-year-old.

Prediction: Gonzalez secures his first interception of the season.

SIDY STABILIZES SUBSTANDARD O-LINE
The Patriots' offensive line has been absolutely abhorrent thus far, but reinforcements do appear to be coming in the form of starting left guard Sidy Sow. It would be foolish to expect that Sow's reinsertion into the lineup just magically fixes all of New England's problems, but it definitely will help.

Prediction: New England eclipses 300 yards in total offense.