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The 49ers travel to Foxborough, Massachusetts to face their toughest test of the season in a red-hot New England Patriots squad. The Patriots have won seven straight and are coming off a total demolition of the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football. It is safe to say, confidence is high with Tom Brady & Co.
The 49ers task is tough, yet simple. Control the clock, get points on the board, get some shots on Tom Brady. It will be interesting to see how exactly Greg Roman and the offensive braintrust game plans this one. I have to think they use the ground game to try and control the clock at some point. The best way to keep the Patriots from scoring is keeping the offense off the field. Then again, do they take some early shots deep to stretch out that secondary and get some quick points on the board?
The 49ers offense has a general philosophy, but it's hard to predict the specifics. When you think they'll zig, they zag. In hindsight it is often a lot more predictable than expected, but that's the glory of hindsight.
And then of course, there is the 49ers defense against the Patriots offense. Vic Fangio and his crew are in for a long night of figuring out how best to disrupt an offense that has scored almost 97 more points than the No. 2 Broncos. It's a daunting test, but it's also interesting to consider since it will tell us something about the 49ers own defense. I'm nervous and excited about this one.
Broadcast Schedule
Game Time: 5:20 p.m. PT
TV: NBC
Announcers: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michelle Tafoya
Live Online Stream: Via NBCSports.com
Radio
49ers Radio Network: KGO 810 & The Bone 107.7 FM - Ted Robinson, Eric Davis
Spanish Radio: KBRG 680 - Erwin Higueros, Juan Carlos Sierra
Dial Global Radio Sports - Dave Sims, James Lofton, Steve Tasker
Radio Affiliates
| CALL LETTERS | FREQUENCY | CITY |
|---|---|---|
| KNBR | 680 AM | San Francisco |
| KGO | 810 AM | San Francisco |
| KSAN | 107.7 FM | San Francisco |
| KURY | 95.3 FM | Brookings, OR |
| KTHU | 100.7 FM | Chico |
| KATA | 1340 AM | Eureka/Arcata |
| KFIG | 1430 AM | Fresno |
| KNCO | 830 AM | Grass Valley |
| KPUA | 670 AM | Hilo, HI |
| KHKA | 1500 AM | Honolulu, HI |
| KRKC | 1490 AM | King City |
| KEZX | 730 AM | Medford, OR |
| KUNK | 96.7 FM | Mendocino |
| KESP | 970 AM | Modesto |
| KPRL | 1230 AM | Paso Robles |
| KUIK | 1360 AM | Portland, OR |
| KBLF | 1490 AM | Red Bluff |
| KKXS | 96.1 FM | Redding |
| KBZZ | 1270 AM/96.1 FM | Reno, NV |
| KCTC | 1320 AM | Sacramento |
| KION | 1460 AM | Salinas |
| KKJL | 1400 AM | San Luis Obispo |
| KJDX | 93.3 FM | Susanville |
49ers vs. Patriots Odds
The 49ers enter Sunday's game as an underdog for the first time since they started the season as underdogs at the Green Bay Packers. The line has been moving up and down all week. The 49ers opened as three points underdogs, and then saw the line climb to six points by mid-week. It is now down to between four and five points depending on where you are looking. I think/hope this is going to be a tight game either way as I think these are actually quite evenly matched teams.