New England Patriots

Patriots at 49ers: Game preview, odds, prediction

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The New England Patriots are looking to get back on the beam after losing last Sunday, and have a good chance to do so against the San Francisco 49ers.

New England is 7-2, but likely furious after losing in the final seconds at home against the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday. While the Patriots will be without star tight end Rob Gronkowski, the rest of the group is making its trip to the Bay Area.

Tom Brady, a native of California and former 49ers fan, should have a huge game. While the 49ers so have a terrific young safety in Eric Reid, the rest of the group is underwhelming. Frankly, it looks to be a total mismatch when New England has the football.

The 49ers are going to have to control the clock with Carlos Hyde, something that head coach Chip Kelly is borderline allergic to. Kelly loves his up-tempo style, something that served him well throughout his tenure at the University of Oregon. However, Kelly has not enjoyed the same level of success in the NFL, struggling to reach the playoffs in his first year with the Philadelphia Eagles before missing them altogether in the final two.

San Francisco is 1-8, and there are ample reasons for that. The roster might be the worst in football and the quarterback situation is a mess, with Colin Kaepernick all but playing out the string before going elsewhere in 2017.

Pick: New England 34, San Francisco 13