Daily Madden: 49ers Need A Lot Of Scoring To Beat Patriots
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - The San Francisco 49ers are known for their defense, but John Madden told the KCBS morning crew that won't be enough to beat the Patriots in Foxborough Sunday night.
"I think it's going to be tough for the 49ers," Madden said. "(Patriots quarterback Tom) Brady is going to score his points... Your defense can play well, play very well, and (the Patriots) are going to get at least 21 or 23, right? So now, that puts the pressure on the (49er) quarterback. You have to be prepared to score four or five touchdowns."
Madden said that changes the 49ers game strategy. "You have to start early. It's not one of those games where you're going to run Frank Gore, you know, ball control, play-action pass. That doesn't work when you play the Patriots and Brady. You have to be ready -- if you're going to win -- you have to be ready to get in a shootout."
Madden said it will help if the defense and special teams can contribute to 49er scoring. "It can be a turnover score, it can be a special teams play. I mean there are a lot of ways other than (quarterback Colin) Kaepernick having to make a lot of plays that can get five touchdowns for you. But I think you have to go in knowing that you better get five."
Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM. And catch John's extra report at 9:15 a.m. Mondays and Fridays during the NFL season.
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