SAN FRANCISCO – From Randy Moss' dynamic 66-yard touchdown catch to Kevin Faulk's score on a direct snap, the New England Patriots returned to their usual regular-season form in an unusual place.
Faulk rushed for two scores, Matt Cassel had 259 yards passing and the Patriots won in San Francisco for the first time in franchise history, beating the 49ers 30-21 Sunday.
Moss had five catches for 111 yards for the Patriots (3-1), who returned from their bye week with a comprehensive effort that should erase the bad taste of the defending AFC champions' stunning blowout loss to Miami last month, which ended their 21-game regular-season winning streak.
Although the first quarter was filled with impressive throws and big interceptions by both teams, New England turned down the drama with a ball-control offense that largely kept San Francisco (2-3) off the field in the middle two quarters.
New England has now won in every NFL city except Washington.
Faulk, just one part of New England's multiplayer rushing attack, got his second TD on a direct snap near the goal line in the third quarter, echoing the Dolphins' infamous series of snaps to Ronnie Brown two weeks ago. With a week off to recover from that debacle, coach Bill Belichick revived a play he's used many times in the past for Faulk – and he even threw in a handful of unusual defenses to remain unbeaten in the Pats' past six games following byes.
New England hadn't traveled to Candlestick Park since 1995 and had never won in San Francisco in four previous tries. The Patriots will stay on the West Coast this week, practicing at San Jose State to get ready for next weekend's game at San Diego.
Isaac Bruce caught two TD passes from J.T. O'Sullivan, while Frank Gore rushed for 54 yards and caught an early scoring pass in San Francisco's second straight loss. After a strong start, the 49ers managed just 23 yards in the middle two quarters, and O'Sullivan misfired regularly in a 14-of-29 effort for 130 yards with three interceptions.
New England kept the ball for more than 32 minutes in the first three quarters, while Mike Martz's Niners offense couldn't get a first down during a 36-minute stretch spanning the middle two periods.
Stephen Gostkowski kicked three field goals, including a 49-yarder with 4:42 to play. Cassel was a solid 22-of-32 despite taking five sacks, but New England relied on its run game and defense.
After the clubs traded early interceptions, Gore lined up as a wide receiver and beat Ellis Hobbs down the middle for a 16-yard TD catch. Cassel replied with his perfect strike to Moss, who caught it in full stride behind Nate Clements and Walt Harris, San Francisco's top two defensive backs – but the Niners went 64 yards on their next four plays, culminating in Bruce's first TD catch.
Then the Patriots settled down to the grind. LaMont Jordan hobbled off the field in the second quarter with a leg injury, but New England's committee of rushers had no trouble during an 80-yard drive ending in Faulk's first TD dive 6 seconds before halftime.
Four players had at least four carries in the first half as New England took a 17-14 lead.
O'Sullivan threw a terrible interception to Rodney Harrison on San Francisco's second play of the second half, and the Patriots scored moments later on a direct snap to Faulk for a 2-yard run.
Both teams used unorthodox defensive alignments in the first half. New England sometimes went to a speed-based scheme that featured just one lineman and six defensive backs on a few occasions, while San Francisco again employed its Big Sub package – featuring four linemen and five defensive backs – to guard against big plays, though it didn't help on Moss' long catch.
