FOXBOROUGH – This isn’t where the Patriots wanted to be, but after two losses in a row, the show must go on.

On Friday, the Patriots left New England for a cross-country trip to San Francisco to take on a talented 49ers team. After a strong start and upset win, to start the season, Jerod Mayo’s team is coming off a blowout loss to the New York Jets.

Now, they’ll take on the NFC favorites, on the road.

The 49ers have a roster full of elite players but are also dealing with health issues. San Francisco’s offense will be without All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey and Pro Bowl receiver Deebo Samuel. On top of that, four Pro Bowlers – tight end George Kittle (hamstring), tackle Trent Williams (illness), defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (triceps), and quarterback Brock Purdy (back) – were on the injury report this week.

The Patriots must turn the page and forget about their performance in New York.

“What I will say is the challenge for us is just in the front: offensive line and defensive line. I don’t want to sound repetitive, but they are a do-what-they-do type of team, and we know what they’re going to do, the fans know what they’re going to do, but you still have to stop them,” Mayo said. “They have a lot of good players on that team, offensively and defensively, All-Pro-caliber players almost at every level if you really look at the roster. So, it’s definitely a challenge, and I think the guys – I tell them all the time, look at it as an opportunity to go out there and perform.”

Here are five things to watch when the Patriots take on the 49ers:

Brandon Aiyuk

This matchup is like when you see someone in public who once rejected your advances and hope to show them what they’re missing.

The Patriots had a trade in place with the 49ers to acquire All-Pro receiver Brandon Aiyuk. They even had a contract offer on the table that would’ve reportedly made him one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL.

Instead, Aiyuk rejected the Patriots, used them as leverage, and ended up re-signing with the 49ers for less money.

Ouch.

The Patriots will get a chance to see Aiyuk on Sunday. It’ll be fascinating to see if Christian Gonzalez can slow down the receiver. Aiyuk clearly didn’t think much of the Patriots roster. We’ll see how they respond.

Jacoby Brissett

The Patriots passing attack is ranked last in the NFL, averaging 102 passing yards per game. Of course, the team is also ranked first in the NFL in interception rate (0.0%).

Jacoby Brissett has a tough job. He’s being used as a piñata this season, taking hits from opposing defenses while keeping the seat warm for Drake Maye. The veteran hasn’t exactly lit up the stat sheet this season, but he’s also not making too many egregious mistakes.

Out of all quarterbacks, who’ve started three games, Brissett is last in the NFL with 368 passing yards, but his interception percentage of zero is tied for first. The 49ers are ranked 20th in the NFL in passing defense. They’ve allowed 217.7 passing yards per game.

We’ll see if Brissett can put together a better effort this time.

Offensive line

Brissett has been sacked at an alarming rate this season.

Entering this week, he’s fourth in the NFL in sack percentage (the times sacked on plays where he’s supposed to pass the ball). Last week, he was sacked five times and hit 12 times overall.

That won’t work on Sunday. San Francisco has one of the better pass rushes in the NFL. Four-time Pro Bowler and former Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa anchors this defensive line. On Thursday, Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt called Bosa a “nightmare.”

The Patriots should be getting back left guard Sidy Sow this week. That’s positive. However, they’ll likely start third-string left tackle Caedan Wallace. He’s been elevated due to Vederian Lowe’s knee injury and Chuks Okorafor leaving the team.

We’ll see if the results are any different.

Rhamondre Stevenson

The San Francisco 49ers have one of the best-run defenses in the NFL. They head into this game ranked ninth in the league, allowing 104 yards per game on the ground. Opposing teams, however, are averaging 4.52 yards per carry against the 49ers – and that’s 21st in the league.

That brings us to Rhamondre Stevenson.

He’s arguably the Patriots best offensive player. He’s why the Patriots offense didn’t look putrid in the first two weeks. However, he’s fumbled three games in a row. That’s bad news because after going away from the run last week, the Patriots need to hammer the ground game again.

Will Stevenson bounce back? It’s the Patriots best bet to move the football, so they are probably hoping he does.

Defensive performance

Expectations for the Patriots offense were already low. The big hope for this year’s team was that the defense would be a top-10 unit. However, they haven’t looked the part in the past two games.

Now, they enter this week ranked tenth in points allowed (19.0 per game) so that’s solid. The defense struggled the past two weeks against Aaron Rodgers and Geno Smith. Their passing defense is currently ranked 27th in the NFL while their run defense is among the best at No. 5.

Last week, the Patriots struggled to tackle, so that needs to improve on Sunday. They also need more turnovers and sacks. So far, the secondary has zero interceptions while the group is 22nd in sacks per pass attempt.

Can the Patriots defense turn it around in San Francisco?

Prediction: 49ers 23, Patriots 16

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The Arizona Diamondbacks faced a challenging series against the San Francisco Giants, leaving fans with mixed emotions and heightened anxiety as the playoff race intensified. In a critical weekend for the team’s postseason chances, the Diamondbacks dropped two out of three games to the Giants, bringing a wave of frustration and doubt to the fan base. This series loss, paired with inconsistent performances, has left many wondering if Arizona’s playoff dreams are slipping away.

Game 2 of the series was a breaking point for both fans and the podcast hosts of Dbacks Dispatch. The Diamondbacks suffered a brutal 11-0 loss to the Giants, leading to heightened concern about the team’s chances. “That was the most down I’ve been all season,” Brandon admitted, capturing the collective sentiment of many Arizona supporters.

Despite holding on to postseason hopes, the tone was one of uncertainty. As Brandon pointed out, “Even if we make it in, I’m not feeling confident.” The crushing loss highlighted issues that have plagued the team for weeks, including pitching struggles and inconsistent offense.

Zac Gallen’s stellar performance in Game 3 was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise tough series. In what many viewed as a must-win game, Gallen delivered under pressure. “This was probably the biggest game of the season, and one of the biggest of his career,” Gabriel noted, praising Gallen’s ability to settle in after a rough start.

The right-hander managed to keep the Giants at bay, giving Arizona a chance to salvage the series. However, concerns lingered about the team’s bullpen, which has been stretched thin in recent weeks. “Our bullpen is absolutely exhausted right now,” Brandon pointed out, referencing the frequent use of relievers like Justin Martinez, who has struggled lately.

The upcoming series against the San Diego Padres looms large for the Dbacks. With only a few games remaining, Arizona’s playoff hopes are far from secure. The hosts of Dbacks Dispatch discussed the anxiety surrounding these final games, emphasizing that every game is now a must-win. “The amount of anxiety this is going to cause…my anxiety is at like fifty,” Gabriel said, a sentiment likely shared by many in the fanbase.

The Diamondbacks need a series win to secure a wild-card spot, but even then, they may need help from other teams. As Gabriel explained, “We might not even know if they’re in until late Monday night.” The uncertainty has left fans on edge, with little room for error as the season winds down.

One of the biggest questions surrounding the team is how they manage their roster, particularly key players like Zac Gallen. There’s speculation about whether Gallen should be used out of the bullpen if necessary, given the team’s dire situation. “Do they try him on Sunday if we’re still in it and need to win?” Brandon asked. The dilemma revolves around whether to sacrifice Gallen’s availability for the wild-card game to secure a win in the final series.

Other lineup decisions, such as resting key players like Ketel Marte and Lourdes Gurriel Jr., have sparked debate. Fans were vocal about their displeasure with Marte’s absence in a critical game earlier in the series, even though Marte reportedly asked for a rest day. As Gabriel summarized, “If our best players aren’t playing, we’re managing ourselves out of the playoffs.”

If the Diamondbacks fail to make the playoffs, will the season be considered a failure? The hosts of Dbacks Dispatch were unanimous in their assessment. “Complete failure,” Oscar said, echoing the sentiments of many fans who expected more from a team that reached the World Series just last year. “If you don’t make the playoffs, it’s a disappointment,” Oscar added, citing the team’s high expectations and significant offseason spending.

Despite some progress, such as standout performances from young players, the overarching feeling is that missing the playoffs would negate much of the success seen during the season. “This isn’t 2022. This team was expected to make the playoffs,” Brandon remarked, highlighting the heightened stakes this year.

As the Diamondbacks head into their final series of the season against the Padres, the pressure couldn’t be higher. A sweep could not only secure a playoff spot but potentially give them home-field advantage in the wild-card round. However, anything less than a series win may leave the team relying on help from other teams, a position no one wants to be in.

Gabriel encapsulated the situation perfectly: “It’s all hands on deck at this point.” Fans and players alike are bracing for a weekend filled with stress, anxiety, and hopefully, triumph as Arizona’s postseason fate hangs in the balance.