The 49ers use game against Patriots as a get-well opportunity after back-to-back losses

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — A matchup with the banged-up, struggling New England Patriots was just what the San Francisco 49ers needed following back-to-back losses on the road.

That doesn't mean there wasn't plenty to clean up for the 49ers once the competition gets stiffer if they have designs of making another deep postseason run.

Big plays from Fred Warner, Brock Purdy, George Kittle and the defensive line on Sunday were more than enough to overcome the mistakes as the 49ers rolled to a 30-13 victory over New England.

“I just felt like we were playing from behind a little bit there in the third and fourth quarter,” Kittle said. "We need to clean that up, especially when we’re playing like very dominant teams that have like really good offenses. Not saying the Patriots don’t, but our defense was playing very good against them today.”

San Francisco turned the ball over twice, committed two penalties that wiped out TD passes from Purdy and allowed the Patriots to convert their first two third downs of the game before buckling down.

But the big plays made those moot. Warner returned an interception 45 yards for a score, Purdy connected on four big pass plays of at least 30 yards and Kittle outjumped three defenders on a spectacular touchdown catch as the Niners put the losses to Minnesota and the Los Angeles Rams in the past.

“It was chippy,” Warner said about the week of practice. “I think it was exactly what it needed to be. You dropped two, especially the one last week. It left a sour taste in our mouth. I think it was the right type of week.”

Now the Niners get ready for back-to-back division games in a five-day span as they host Arizona on Sunday before traveling to face first-place Seattle on Thursday night.

Purdy scrambling. Purdy did a good job extending plays and generating a couple of key first downs with his legs early in the game. Purdy scrambled twice for first downs on San Francisco's opening drive of the game, giving him eight first downs on runs already this season.

Red zone offense. The Niners stalled twice in the red zone on the opening two drives of the game, setting for field goals. San Francisco did score two TDs later in the game — overcoming a pair of penalties that wiped out touchdowns on one drive — but haven't been as efficient near the goal line this year without All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey. The 49ers are converting 50% of red zone drives into TDs after leading the NFL last season at 67.2%.

DT Kevin Givens. With Javon Hargrave likely out for the rest of the season, the 49ers needed a boost from one of their backup interior pass rushers and Givens delivered. Givens had 2 1/2 sacks and four pressures Sunday and has 3 1/2 sacks on the season after getting just 4 1/2 in his first five NFL seasons.

Isaac Guerendo. The rookie running back committed the latest special teams blunder for the Niners when he fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half after running into the back of a teammate. Guerendo has gotten very few chances on offense and now might see his time as a returner reduced after committing a turnover.

The Niners got favorable injury news from the game with Warner (ankle), Kittle (ribs), DL Jordan Elliott (knee), WR Jacob Cowing (shoulder), FB Kyle Juszczyk (shoulder) and WR Chris Conley (oblique) all day to day. ... Coach Kyle Shanahan said RB Christian McCaffrey's Achilles tendinitis that has him on IR has been an issue in both legs but the main issue remains in the right leg. ... Shanahan said no decision has been made whether to open the practice window for first-round WR Ricky Pearsall, who went on the NFI list after being shot in the chest during a robbery attempt. ... Shanahan said DT Kalia Davis could have his practice window opened this week.

55.8. The connection between Purdy and Brandon Aiyuk has been off early this season after Aiyuk's lengthy contract dispute that kept him out of training camp practices. Aiyuk has been held to fewer than 50 yards receiving in all four games and Purdy was intercepted on a pass to Aiyuk in the end zone Sunday. Purdy has a 55.8 passer rating when targeting Aiyuk, the second lowest among any tandem with at least 25 attempts. Purdy had a 124.6 rating when targeting Aiyuk last season.

San Francisco hosts Arizona on Sunday.

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San Francisco 49ers' Brock Purdy scrambles for a first down during an NFL football game against New England Patriots in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

San Francisco 49ers' Jordan Mason rushes during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

San Francisco 49ers' Robert Beal Jr. (51) and Sam Okuayinonu (91) celebrate after a defensive stop in the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) catches a touchdown pass between New England Patriots safety Dell Pettus, middle left, and cornerback Jonathan Jones (31), as cornerback Marcus Jones (25) watches, during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, left, is congratulated by linebacker Tatum Bethune (48) after Bosa sacked and recovered a fumble by New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Widespread devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene came to light Monday across the South, revealing a wasteland of splintered houses, crushed cargo containers and mud-covered highways in one of the worst storms in U.S. history. The death toll topped 130.

A crisis was unfolding in western North Carolina, where residents stranded by washed-out roads and by a lack of power and cellular service lined up for fresh water and a chance to message loved ones days after the storm that they were alive.

At least 133 deaths in six Southeastern states have been attributed to the storm that inflicted damage from Florida's Gulf Coast to the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia.

The toll steadily rose as emergency workers reached areas isolated by collapsed roads, failing infrastructure and widespread flooding. During a briefing Monday, White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall suggested as many as 600 people hadn’t been accounted for as of Monday afternoon, saying some might be dead.

President Joe Biden said he will travel to North Carolina on Wednesday to meet with officials and take an aerial tour of Asheville.

He said earlier that the federal government would be with affected residents in the nation’s southeast “as long as it takes.”

Government officials and aid groups worked to deliver supplies by air, truck and even mule to the hard-hit tourism hub of Asheville and its surrounding mountain towns. At least 40 people died in the county that includes Asheville.

The destruction and desperation were unimaginable. A flattened cargo container sat atop a bridge crossing a river with muddy brown water. A mass of debris, including overturned pontoon boats and splintered wooden docks and tree trunks covered the surface of Lake Lure, a picturesque spot tucked between the mountains outside Ashville.

A woman cradled her child while people around her gathered on a hillside where they found cellphone service, many sending a simple text: “I'm OK.”

The North Carolina death toll included one horrific story after another of people who were trapped by floodwaters in their homes and vehicles or were killed by falling trees. A courthouse security officer died after being submerged inside his truck. A couple and a 6-year-old boy waiting to be rescued on a rooftop drowned when part of their home collapsed.

Rescuers did manage to save dozens, including an infant and two others stuck on the top of a car in Atlanta. More than 50 hospital patients and staff in Tennessee were plucked by helicopter from the hospital rooftop in a daring rescue operation.

Several main routes into Asheville were washed away or blocked by mudslides, including a 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) section of Interstate 40, and the city’s water system was severely damaged, forcing residents to scoop creek water into buckets so they could flush toilets.

People shared food and water and comforted one another in one neighborhood where a wall of water ripped away all of the trees, leaving a muddy mess nearby. “That’s the blessing so far in this,” Sommerville Johnston said outside her home, which has been without power since Friday.

She planned on treating the neighborhood to venison stew from her powerless freezer before it goes bad. “Just bring your bowl and spoon,” she said.

Others waited in a line for more than a block at Mountain Valley Water, a water seller, to fill up milk jugs and whatever other containers they could find.

Derek Farmer, who brought three gallon-sized apple juice containers, said he had been prepared for the storm but now was nervous after three days without water. “I just didn’t know how bad it was going to be,” Farmer said.

Officials warned that rebuilding would be lengthy and difficult. The storm upended life throughout the Southeast, where deaths were also reported in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia.

Helene roared ashore in northern Florida late Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane and quickly moved through Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee. The storm upended life throughout the Southeast, where deaths were also reported in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia.

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials said Monday that shelters were housing more than 1,000 people.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper took an aerial tour of the Asheville area and later met with workers distributing meals.

“This has been an unprecedented storm that has hit western North Carolina,” he said afterward. “It’s requiring an unprecedented response.”

Officials implored travelers from coming into region to keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles. More than 50 search teams spread throughout the region in search of stranded people.

Several dozen people gathered on high ground in Asheville, where they found one of the city's hottest commodities — a cell signal.

“Is this day three or day four?” Colleen Burnet asked. “It’s all been a blur.”

The storm unleashed the worst flooding in a century in North Carolina. Rainfall estimates in some areas topped more than 2 feet (61 centimeters) since Wednesday.

Ten federal search and rescue teams were on the ground and another nine were on their way, while trucks and cargo planes were arriving with food and water, FEMA said. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell surveyed damage with Cooper Monday.

Volunteers were showing up, too. Mike Toberer decided to bring a dozen of his mules to deliver food, water and diapers to hard-to-reach mountainous areas.

“We’ll take our chainsaws, and we’ll push those mules through,” he said, noting that each one can carry about 200 pounds (90 kilograms) of supplies.

Western North Carolina suffered relatively more devastation because that’s where the remnants of Helene encountered the higher elevations and cooler air of the Appalachian Mountains, causing even more rain to fall.

Asheville and many surrounding mountain towns were built in valleys, leaving them especially vulnerable to devastating rain and flooding. Plus, the ground already was saturated before Helene arrived, said Christiaan Patterson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

“By the time Helene came into the Carolinas, we already had that rain on top of more rain,” Patterson said.

Climate change has exacerbated conditions that allow such storms to thrive, rapidly intensifying in warming waters and turning into powerful cyclones, sometimes within hours.

Along Florida's Gulf Coast, several feet of water swamped the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, forcing workers to move two manatees and sea turtles. All of the animals were safe but much of the aquarium’s vital equipment was damaged or destroyed, said James Powell, the aquarium’s executive director.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said the storm “literally spared no one.” Most people in and around Augusta, a city of about 200,000 near the South Carolina border, were still without power Monday.

With at least 30 killed in South Carolina, Helene was the deadliest tropical cyclone to hit the state since Hurricane Hugo made landfall north of Charleston in 1989, killing 35 people.

Tropical Storm Kirk formed Monday in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and is expected to become a “large and powerful hurricane” by Tuesday night or Wednesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. The storm was located about 800 miles (1,285 kilometers) west of the Cabo Verde Islands with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph). There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect, and the storm system was not a threat to land.

Associated Press reporters Gary D. Robertson in Asheville; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia; Beatrice Dupuy in New York City; Zeke Miller and Aamer Madhani in Washington; and Jeff Amy in Atlanta contributed.

Volunteers stage water for people in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Asheville, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

People wait to buy groceries as they stand in line outside an Ingles grocery store in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Asheville, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Volunteers stage water for citizens in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Asheville, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Flood debris from Hurricane Helene floats by in Rutherford County, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Tariq Bokhari via AP)

A gas natural gas tank lies with other debris on a train bridge in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Asheville, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

President Joe Biden speaks about the federal response efforts for Hurricane Helene, from the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump tours downtown Valdosta, Ga., a town that was impacted by Hurricane Helene, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

A medical helicopter takes off near downtown in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Asheville, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Employees Linda Bandy, left, and Carissa Sheehan clean up International Moulding frame shop damaged by flood water from Hurricane Helene on North Green Street, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Morganton, N.C. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

Debris is seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Asheville, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Carrie Owenby looks at her phone as a neighbor with power dropped an extension cord for neighbors who have no power in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Asheville, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

A worker moves debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Asheville, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Debris is seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Asheville, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Debris is seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Asheville, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

People wait to gather water at Mountain Valley Water in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in West Asheville, N.C., Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

A sign hangs outside a closed barber shop and bar in Asheville, N.C., Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper speaks with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell on Monday, Sept. 30, at the Asheville Regional Airport in Fletcher, N.C. (AP Photo/Gary Robertson)

People wait to gather water at Mountain Valley Water in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in West Asheville, N.C., Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

Rescue workers from the Pamlico County rescue team are shown working in the aftermath of Helene the area of Chimney Rock, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Pamlico County Special Operations via AP)

Rescue workers from the Pamlico County rescue team are shown working in the aftermath of Helene the area of Chimney Rock, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Pamlico County Special Operations via AP)

Rescue workers from the Pamlico County rescue team are shown working in the aftermath of Helene the area of Chimney Rock, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Pamlico County Special Operations via AP)

Rescue workers from the Pamlico County rescue team are shown working in the aftermath of Helene the area of Chimney Rock, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Pamlico County Special Operations via AP)

Crews work to clean up the tons of sand and debris pushed onto Gulf Boulevard from Hurricane Helene storm surge, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Madeira Beach, Fla. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

The sun shines through a hole in a building after storm surge from Hurricane Helene sent tons of sand into homes, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Madeira Beach, Fla. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

A home completely destroyed by fire due to Hurricane Helene is pictured on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Madeira Beach, Fla. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

An aerial view of flood damage along the Pigeon River left by Hurricane Helene, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Newport, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

A barrier blocks a flooded Carbon City Road due to the torrential rain from Hurricane Helene , Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 in downtown Morganton, N.C. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

After waiting on long lines to fill up their gas tanks at the Sheetz station, people were also filling up containers of gas for their generators after Hurricane Helene caused power outages, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Morganton, N.C. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

A Dominion Energy lineman works on a power line in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in North Augusta, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)

Residents wait in line with gas cans at a Gas Plus gas station in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in North Augusta, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)

Daniel Dickert walks to plant an American flag on is property were his boat shed was destroyed and his home damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, in Jena, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Residents wait in long lines for gas at Parker's Kitchen in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Aiken, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)

Jose Salazar dumps debris as he helps gut a property that took on a storm surge in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, in Steinhatchee, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A passerby checks the water depth of a flooded road, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Morganton, N.C. Torrential rain from Hurricane Helene left many area streets flooded. In addition, traffic lights are inoperable due to no power, with downed power lines and trees. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

A vehicle sits outside of its garage after storm surge from Hurricane Helene, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Madeira Beach, Fla. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

Chris Jordan, maintenance manager for Horseshoe Beach, tries to find a water shutoff valve amid the rubble of the destroyed city hall in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, in Horseshoe Beach, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

The Riverside RV park was flooded from the overflowing Catawba River after torrential rain from Hurricane Helene, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Morganton, N.C. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

Workers clean up a dock where a boat shed was destroyed in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, in Jena, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A tattered American flag hangs on a rope on a now closed road in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, in Jena, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

An uprooted tree landed on a pickup truck in front of a home on East Main Street after Hurricane Helene, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Glen Alpine, N.C. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

Workers clean and gut a property that was flooded from the storm surge, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, in Steinhatchee, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A stop sign can be barely seen above a flooded parking lot after torrential rain from Hurricane Helene caused severe flooding, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Morganton, N.C. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

This aerial drone view shows damaged homes and a vehicle collapsed into water after storm surge from Hurricane Helene, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Madeira Beach, Fla. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP)