Tom Brady Throws 4 Touchdowns As Patriots Beat 49ers 30-17
By The Sports Xchange | Box Score
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Tom Brady threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns, leading the New England Patriots to a 30-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at Levi's Stadium.
Brady, who grew up as a 49ers fan in the San Francisco suburb of San Mateo, faced them in the Bay Area for the first time in his NFL career. He completed 24 of 40 passes while playing in a stadium that appeared to have as many Patriots fans as fans of the home team.
Running back LeGarrette Blount rushed for 124 yards on 19 carries for New England (8-2), which bounced back from a 31-24 loss to Seattle. It was his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season.
Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman caught eight passes for 77 yards and a touchdown. Malcolm Mitchell caught four passes for 98 yards and a score.
Colin Kaepernick completed 16 of 30 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns for the 49ers (1-9), who lost their ninth straight game -- matching a franchise record set in 1978. Kaepernick was sacked five times while running back Carlos Hyde carried 19 times for 86 yards.
New England built a 13-10 halftime lead and extended its edge to 20-10 on Brady's 5-yard touchdown pass to Danny Amendola on the first play of the fourth quarter. Brady delivered a strike over the middle while going to the turf avoiding a sack. His third touchdown pass of the game capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive.
Brady's 56-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell made it 27-10 with 10:16 remaining. Stephen Gostkowski hit a 38-yard field goal with 6:13 left, increasing New England's lead to 30-10.
The 49ers were scoreless in the second half until Kaepernick threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to running back Shaun Draughn with 2:06 left to play.
The Patriots struck first on a rainy day in Santa Clara, driving 73 yards for a touchdown on their opening drive. Brady hit Edelman with a 4-yard touchdown pass, making it 6-0 with 10:16 left in the first quarter. Gostkowski missed the extra point.
San Francisco cut the deficit to 6-3 on Phil Dawson's 33-yard field goal with 2:45 left in the first quarter.
New England extended its lead to 13-3 on Brady's 9-yard touchdown pass to running back James White opening the second quarter. The 49ers cut the Patriots' lead to 13-10 on Kaepernick's 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Vance McDonald with 5:03 remaining in the first half.
NOTES: Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski (chest) and WR Chris Hogan (back) were inactive. ... Former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year, was honored during a half-time ceremony and received his ring. ... 49ers PK Phil Dawson became the 10th player in NFL history to make 400 career field goals. His 33-yard field goal in the first quarter was No. 400. ... 49ers WR Torrey Smith (shoulder) was inactive, missing a game for the first time in his six-year NFL career. Rookie WR Aaron Burbridge started in Smith's place. ... Patriots RB Dion Lewis (knee), who began the season on the physically unable to perform list, was active for the first time this season.
