originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The New England Patriots will travel west for a tough matchup vs. the San Francisco 49ers. While few expect them to pull off the upset as 10.5-point underdogs, it's still a pivotal week for head coach Jerod Mayo and Co.
Mayo's group is coming off a dismal 24-3 loss to the New York Jets. The defeat followed an uplifting win over the Cincinnati Bengals in their season opener and a hard-fought overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2.
As the Patriots continue to search for their identity, our Phil Perry believes Sunday's game marks a critical juncture for the new regime.