As the New England Patriots head into halftime of their wet Week 10 match up with the San Francisco 49ers with a 13-10 lead, here are some first half thoughts. 

A Rainy Day- Both teams struggled a bit in the first half, due in large part to pretty heavy rain in San Francisco.The rain, of course, threw off each offense and complicated matters for the defenses as well.

Welcome Home- In his first career start in San Francisco, which is just 25 miles away from his hometown of San Mateo, California, Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady was given the hero's welcome back home. Chants of "Brady" rang out early and the future Hall-of-Famer gave the fans plenty of reason to continue throughout the half. The All-Pro signal caller completed 12 of 17 first half pass attempts for 108 yards and 2 scores, while battling the pouring rain. It's safe to say Brady's homecoming is going well, personally, so far. Now if his teammates can play up to their abilities and pull away from the struggling Niners, the homecoming will be complete.

The Kicking Woes Continue- Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski has scuffled all season long in a surprising turn of events. Gostkowski has been among the top kickers in the league since joining the Patriots back in 2006, but ever since missing a PAT in last season's AFC Championship game loss to the Denver Broncos the previously sure-footed kicker has developed a case of the yips. Gostkowski's kicking woes continued in the first half, as he missed the point after attempt on the team's first score. The missed kick is Gostkowski's third unsuccessful extra point try this season and his sixth missed kick overall.

Getting Back Into The Action- Patriots' running back Dion Lewis was active for the first time this season, as he makes his comeback from a torn ACL suffered in Week 9 last season. In his first action of the season, Lewis was targeted three times in the passing game. The Pitt product caught two of the three balls thrown his way for 18 yards and a first down. He also had two carries for 17 yards, including a 12-yard scamper for a first down.

Not looking Much Better- After their worst defensive game of the season last week, the Patriots' defense isn't looking much better through the first half of this one. Against a lowly San Francisco offense, they have given up 163 total yards and 10 points. Niners' quarterback Colin Kapernick, who is much more famous nowadays for his pregame kneeling rather than his play under center is having his way with the defense as well, going eight of nine for 116 yards and a score through two quarters. Though the pats have sacked the quarterback five times, its been more of a case of the weather and their own ineptitude stopping the Niners than the New England defense so far. that needs to change quickly if the Pats want to put this one in the win column

 

 

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