3 bold predictions for 49ers defense in Week 4 against Patriots

The 49ers need a get-right game, and they potentially have one versus an offensively challenged Patriots squad.

Week 3 was supposed to be a get-right game for the San Francisco 49ers, matching up against what was then a winless Los Angeles Rams squad that was dealing with all kinds of injury problems.

Instead, an epic fourth-quarter collapse by the Niners dropped them to 1-2 and exposed plenty of issues, many of them on the defensive side of the ball.

San Francisco needs to bounce back in a hurry, and fortunately, it hosts another one-win team that's particularly challenged on the offensive side of the ball this season, the New England Patriots.

Through three weeks, the Pats own the NFL's second-worst scoring offense with a mere 39 total points and rank third from the bottom with a paltry average of just 4.2 yards per play.

For a 49ers defense struggling with plenty of its own issues, Sunday's affair offers the perfect opportunity to "get right."

Let's look at some bold defensive predictions for the Niners in Week 4.

No. 1: 49ers hold Patriots to less than 125 pass yards

New England quarterback Jacoby Brissett isn't exactly lighting things up through the air this season, and about the only pass-catching weapon of note at his disposal is tight end Hunter Henry, who is dealing with an ankle injury.

To date, Brissett is averaging a lowly 122.7 pass yards per game on the season, which includes a 61-yard passing effort in the Patriots' Week 3 loss, a 24-3 defeat at the hands of the New York Jets.

In fact, Brissett has yet to pass for more than 125 yards in a game this season, and a run-first offense trying to take advantage of San Francisco's perceived biggest defensive weakness will only keep him from tallying more yards through the air anyway.

Despite the 49ers' own defensive woes, look for the Pats' pass game to come up awfully short.

No. 2: 49ers notch 3 sacks on Jacoby Brissett

For the most part, the Niners' defensive line and pass-rushing efforts have been a disappointment.

Defensive end Nick Bosa has two sacks, yes. But fellow pass-rusher Leonard Floyd has largely been a non-factor since his one-sack Week 1 performance against the Jets. And losing Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to a triceps injury doesn't help matters either.

San Francisco is near the bottom in blitz percentage this season, meaning it'll have to figure out a way to generate pressure when applicable. Perhaps this is an opportunity for assistant head coach Brandon Staley to get into defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen's ear about sending more pressure on third downs, especially in light of New England's own passing issues.

A few more blitzes can help generate sacks, and the prediction calls for three while matching up what Pro Football Focus regarded as the NFL's worst offensive line entering Week 4.

No. 3: 49ers fully bench De'Vondre Campbell

Week 2 was a lowlight-reel example of why the 49ers wiffed by signing veteran linebacker De'Vondre Campbell to alleviate the injury loss of Dre Greenlaw.

Campbell not only was primarily responsible for allowing one of Rams running back Kyren Williams' touchdowns last Sunday, but the former also committed a ghastly pass-interference penalty on a crucial LA drive late in the fourth quarter.

If run defense was supposed to be Campbell's calling card, it hasn't been great. And the Patriots figure to give heavy doses of carries to running back Rhamondre Stevenson anyway.

Provided he's cleared from a knee injury suffered in Week 3 after being limited in practice this week, second-year linebacker Dee Winters winds up getting the nod over Campbell, either immediately in the starting lineup or as the go-to option if the veteran winds up having yet another rough outing.

The Niners and Pats kick off on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 4:05 p.m. ET from Levi's Stadium.

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