Niners’ Kyle Shanahan Dissects Reasons For Patriots’ Slow Start

Kyle Shanahan is one of the top offensive minds in the NFL, so it's why his take on this season's iteration of the Patriots offered interesting insight.

New England faces its toughest matchup early in the season with a fourth-string left tackle likely starting opposite a terrifying pass rush led by Nick Bosa. The San Francisco 49ers also likely will get Deebo Samuel and George Kittle back this Sunday.

The 49ers also enter Week 4 with a 1-2 record, and Shanahan highlighted how the Patriots defense will present similar challenges that Brian Flores brought in Week 2 when San Fran lost to the Minnesota Vikings. Shanahan praised Alex Van Pelt on NBC Sports Bay Area's "49ers Game Plan" this week before pointing out a key error from New England's two losses.

"Alex has been doing it for a while, does a really good job," Shanahan said, per NBC Sports Bay Area. "His history comes from Cleveland, so they do some similar stuff to that. In these three games, especially their first two games, they're playing to their personnel very well. They got two very good running backs, they're committing to the run.

"They've had close to 40 carries in ... I wanted to say both their two wins, but both their first two games that they should have won. Had a couple mistakes there at the end that cost them."

Head coach Jerod Mayo and Patriots fans knew very well how winnable their last two games were. And Shanahan seems to be ready for what New England will bring in Week 4.

"They got away from it a little bit against the (New York) Jets once they got down, 21-3 I believe, they lost it and ended up only having 15 carries," Shanahan said. "That was the game they ran the ball the best in terms of yards per carry. So, they got a formula to win. They got the right quarterback to tie with that, the right running back and definitely the right defense and special teams to balance that out."

This possibly could be a psychological play from Shanahan where he pumps up an inferior opponent and doesn't want to offer up bulletin-board material. On the other hand, it could be the Niners head coach offering a game plan that he dares the Patriots to play. Fans will have to wait until Sunday afternoon to see if New England can pull off the upset and hand the 49ers their third-straight loss.