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Struggling on defense, 49ers meet offense-challenged Patriots

NFL: New England Patriots at New York JetsSep 19, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) sacked by New York Jets defensive end Micheal Clemons (72) and defensive end Will McDonald IV (99) in the 1st half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

The New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers will each be looking to end a two-game losing streak when they meet Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif.

After opening the season with a 16-10 victory at Cincinnati, New England (1-2) dropped a 23-20 decision to Seattle at home in Week 2 before losing to the New York Jets 24-3 on the road in Week 3.

The 49ers (1-2) began their season with a 32-19 home victory against the Jets, but they have since suffered losses at Minnesota (23-17) and at the Los Angeles Rams (27-24).

In addition to missing running back Christian McCaffrey, who is on injured reserve with Achilles tendinitis, the 49ers were without wide receiver Deebo Samuel (calf) and tight end George Kittle (hamstring) against the Rams. Kittle was limited at practice on Wednesday, but Samuel did not take part in the workout. Offensive tackle Trent Williams (illness) also didn’t practice Wednesday.

The Patriots are averaging 13.0 points per game (31st) and their offense ranks 32nd in yards per game (246.3). New England’s biggest issue has come in the passing game, which is averaging 102.0 yards per contest (32nd). Quarterback Jacoby Brissett has been operating behind an offensive line that has been plagued by injuries through the season’s first three weeks, and that may be the case again Sunday as offensive linemen Michael Jordan (ankle) and Vederian Lowe (knee) did not practice Wednesday.

“Obviously (the 49ers’) record is not reflective of the team that they are, and can be going forward because they’re dealing with injuries as well,” New England coach Jerod Mayo said. “What I will say is the challenge for us is just in the front — offensive line and defensive line. I don’t want to sound repetitive, but they are a do-what-they-do type of team. We know what they’re going to do (and) the fans know what they’re going to do, but you still have to stop it.”

Earlier this week, Mayo said Brissett will remain the team’s starting quarterback and rookie first-round pick Drake Maye will be No. 2 on the depth chart. Maye played in the final minutes of New England’s loss to the Jets. Mayo also said the team is not interested in signing a veteran quarterback at this time.

New England’s Rhamondre Stevenson (4.3 ypc) and Antonio Gibson (6.2 ypc) are both averaging more than 4.0 yards per carry, but Stevenson has fumbled the ball three times in three games.

Despite the injuries to some of their offensive stars, the 49ers are averaging 24.3 points per game (tied with Seattle for ninth) and rank third in yards per game (407.3) and second in passing yards per game (267.7). Wide receiver Jauan Jennings had 11 receptions for 175 yards and three touchdowns against the Rams.

The 49ers’ defense has been leaky, however. San Francisco is 30th among NFL teams in both yards allowed per play (6.1) and third-down conversion percentage (52.9 percent). The 49ers can no longer rely on defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, who suffered a torn right triceps during last Sunday’s loss to the Rams and will miss the remainder of the season.

“I think all three levels (of the defense) have had an issue at times,” San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said. “I think we’ve played good at times, too. … We’ve had some new guys in there. We’ve had moments where we’ve been strong, but we’re not playing up to how we usually do and we have to make sure to get back to playing that way.

“Every time you have injuries, everyone knows it makes it tougher, but people have injuries throughout the league. You have to be able to overcome those.”

Sunday’s game will be the first meeting between the teams since 2020, when the 49ers earned a 33-6 road victory.

“We’ll see what this team is made of going forward,” Mayo said. “We have a long trip out west and gotta be ready to play against a good solid football team.”

–Field Level Media

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Dominic Canzone, Randy Arozarena spark Mariners in win over Rangers

Jul 26, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA;  Texas Rangers center fielder Evan Carter (32) slides into second base as Seattle Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson (4) awaits the throw during the fourth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-Imagn ImagesJul 26, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers center fielder Evan Carter (32) slides into second base as Seattle Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson (4) awaits the throw during the fourth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images

Dominic Canzone and Randy Arozarena hit back-to-back homers in the seventh inning as the Seattle Mariners rallied to defeat the Texas Rangers 6-4 Sunday afternoon in an American League West showdown at Arlington, Texas.

Ezequiel Duran went deep for the Rangers, who had won the first two games in the four-game series.

The Mariners snapped a four-game skid and moved past Houston and into second place in the division, 1 1/2 games behind the Rangers.

Reliever Gabe Speier (2-2) pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings with three strikeouts to earn the victory and Andres Munoz struck out the side in the ninth for his 18th save of the season.

Trailing 3-1 with one out in the seventh, Colt Emerson and Cole Young singled to left field off Rangers reliever Tyler Alexander. Cole Winn (5-3) was summoned from the bullpen and got Julio Rodriguez to fly out to second baseman Nicky Lopez. Calzone launched a three-run shot 400 feet down the right-field line to give the Mariners a the lead. Arozarena went deep to right-center on the next pitch to make it 5-3.

The Rangers got a run back in the eighth as Duran hit a solo shot to left with one out off Eduard Bazardo.

Seattle scored again in the ninth as Rodriguez was hit by a Peyton Gray pitch with one out and Canzone lined a run-scoring double to right, giving him four RBIs.

The Rangers wasted no time in taking the lead. Joc Pederson led off the bottom of the first with a double to center field and Wyatt Langford lined a single to left, putting runners at the corners. Duran lifted a sacrifice fly to center to make it 1-0.

Seattle tied it in the third as Young tripled to left-center with two outs on a ball that went off the end of center fielder Evan Carter’s mitt after a lengthy run. Rodriguez followed with a broken-bat single that left fielder Langford trapped with a sliding attempt at the catch.

The Rangers regained the lead with a pair of runs in the fourth. With one out, Brandon Nimmo reached on an infield single on a comebacker off the left foot of Mariners starter Logan Gilbert. Following a walk to Jake Burger, Carter lined a run-scoring single to right with Burger taking third on the throw to the plate. Lopez hit a grounder up the middle on which second baseman Young made a diving stop, but his flip to second from his mitt to shortstop Emerson covering the bag was high, allowing all runners to advance safely and Burger to score to make it 3-1.

Neither starter factored into the decision.

Gilbert allowed three runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander walked two and struck out four.

Rangers righty Jacob deGrom gave up one run on seven hits in five-plus innings. He didn’t walk a batter and fanned four.

–Field Level Media

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Jackson Koivun, 21, tops Scottie Scheffler at 3M Open for first title

Jul 25, 2026; Blaine, Minnesota, USA;  With ball in hand Jackson Koivun acknowledges applause from the gallery for scoring eagle on hole 18, which made him leader in the clubhouse at -20 after the third round of the 3M Open golf tournament at TPC Twin Cities. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn ImagesJul 25, 2026; Blaine, Minnesota, USA; With ball in hand Jackson Koivun acknowledges applause from the gallery for scoring eagle on hole 18, which made him leader in the clubhouse at -20 after the third round of the 3M Open golf tournament at TPC Twin Cities. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images

Rookie Jackson Koivun shot 5-under-par 66 to stave off hard-charging Scottie Scheffler and win on the PGA Tour for the first time at the 3M Open on Sunday at Blaine, Minn.

Koivun, 21, finished at 25-under 259 for a three-shot victory on Scheffler, who closed with a 63 at TPC Twin Cities.

Less than two months ago, Koivun was helping Auburn to its second NCAA championship in a three-year stretch. He demonstrated more poise while playing the final two rounds of his third tournament since turning pro without carding a bogey.

Denny McCarthy (66), Brian Harman (65), Chandler Phillips (67) and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (64) tied for third place at 20 under.

World No. 1 Scheffler birdied three consecutive holes to begin the back nine as part of his bogey-free round. He birdied Nos. 16 and 18, leaving him trailing by two strokes.

Koivun then birdied No. 16, extending the margin to three strokes with two holes to play.

Koivun, a three-time Player of the Year in the Southeastern Conference, surged into the lead across the final nine holes Saturday and then went right to work Sunday, with his approach shot on the first hole spinning back to within 2 feet of the cup for an easy birdie putt. A birdie on No. 4 pushed his lead to five strokes, with Scheffler among five golfers tied for second place at the time.

Jake Knapp shot an early 62 to rise quickly on the leaderboard and finish at 16 under, tying for 13th.

Defending champion Kurt Kitayama (68) finished tied for 24th at 13 under.

–Field Level Media

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Drew Rasmussen, Rays one-hit Guardians to complete series sweep

Jul 26, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen (57) throws a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn ImagesJul 26, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen (57) throws a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Drew Rasmussen allowed one hit over seven shutout innings while Chandler Simpson manufactured the game’s lone run as the Tampa Bay Rays completed a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Guardians with a 1-0 win Sunday in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Rasmussen (9-5) walked one and struck out nine. Garrett Cleavinger pitched a scoreless eighth inning before Bryan Baker worked around a two-out walk in the ninth for his 28th save.

Simpson had two hits for Tampa Bay, which won for the sixth time in its last seven games and has the American League’s best record at 62-43.

Cleveland was held to one hit and lost its fifth straight game. The Guardians were shut out for the second consecutive game and eighth time this season.

Parker Messick (8-6) was a hard-luck loser after giving up one run on six hits over 7 2/3 innings. He struck out six with zero walks.

The Guardians went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and have scored a total of four runs in their last four games.

Tampa Bay broke the scoreless tie with a run in the fifth inning. Simpson hit a leadoff single, moved to second on a wild pitch and then to third on Ben Williamson’s groundout before scoring on Cedric Mullins’ bunt single.

Rasmussen settled in quickly after yielding Steven Kwan’s double to begin the game. He struck out four of the next six batters and retired the last 12 batters he faced.

Cleavinger replaced Rasmussen to begin the eighth inning and recorded three outs with a strikeout on 11 pitches.

Messick retired the first seven batters he faced before Nick Fortes doubled with one out in the third inning. Fortes moved to third on Richie Palacios’ groundout, but he was stranded when Yandy Diaz lined out to first.

Tampa Bay put two runners on with one out in the seventh inning, but Messick struck out Mullins and Fortes to escape unscathed.

Baker completed the Rays’ eighth shutout of the season in the ninth by striking out Brayan Rocchio with a runner at first for his second save in as many days.

–Field Level Media

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