The Patriots are now turning the ball over, compounding their problems

Rhamondre Stevenson should give the New England Patriots a position they didn’t have to worry about early in the season.

The Patriots running back gained more than 1,000 yards in 2022 and was good enough in his first three years to earn a four-year, $36 million contract extension this summer. With journeyman Jacoby Brissett holding the quarterback job for first-round draft pick Drake Maye, the Patriots expected to pass the ball frequently.

Stevenson rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown in the season-opening win over Cincinnati and helped New England win with two first downs in the final minutes. But he had a hard time holding onto the ball, and it became a crisis: He turned the ball over in the first quarter of New England’s 30-13 loss to San Francisco on Sunday, giving the 49ers the ball at the Patriots’ 30 – his fourth straight play with a fumble.

“He has a target in his sights compared to a player who doesn’t have good ball security,” Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said. “He knows he has to improve on that, and that doesn’t just apply to him. It’s for anyone who cares about football. We always talk about ball security equaling job security and we just have to develop that further.”

What works

Special teams helped New England avoid an even worse loss with Joey Slye rushing for a franchise-record 63 yards at the end of the first half. That surpassed the previous Patriots record, a 62-yarder by Stephen Gostkowski in Mexico City in 2017. Slye’s kick draw is the fourth-longest in NFL history.

Christian Elliss forced a fumble on the second half kickoff to give the Patriots the ball at the San Francisco 27 ​​and set up their only touchdown. Elliss finished his career with three special teams tackles.

Bryce Baringer added a punt of 61 yards in the second quarter, his 21st straight game with at least a punt of 50 yards or more – the longest active streak in the league.

What needs help

The offensive line continues to be the Patriots’ biggest problem. A week after Brissett was sacked five times and scored 10 goals, he was brought down six times and scored 10 goals in the 30-13 loss to San Francisco.

What’s worse, center David Andrews (shoulder) and tackle Caedan Wallace (ankle) left the game in the first half and did not return.

Asked if they were looking for reinforcements, Mayo said Monday that he and player personnel director Eliot Wolf “have those conversations all the time.”

“We’ll meet today,” Mayo said.

Stock up

Defensive player Keion White has had five pressures, making 14 in the last three games, according to Pro Football Focus.

Inventory reduced

Brissett hasn’t even thrown for 200 yards this season. He also had an interception – his first – and it was returned for a touchdown and lost a fumble. The Patriots are the only team in the NFL that hasn’t thrown a pass over 20 yards downfield (they’re 0-for-5).

Injuries

Andrews, Wallace and safety Kyle Dugger (ankle) all left the 49ers game in the first half and did not return.

Key number

52 – The 52 points are the Patriots’ fewest in four games since Bill Belichick’s first season in New England in 2000, when they scored just 51 points in Week 4.

What’s next?

The Patriots host Miami on Sunday.

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