SAN FRANCISCO -- From Randy Moss' dynamic 66-yard touchdown catch to Kevin Faulk's score on a direct snap, the New England Patriots returned to their usual regular-season form in an unusual place.
Faulk rushed for two scores, Matt Cassel had 259 passing yards, and the Patriots won in San Francisco for the first time, beating the 49ers 30-21 Sunday.
Moss had five catches for 111 yards for the Patriots (3-1), who returned from their bye week with a comprehensive effort that should erase the bad taste of the defending AFC champions' stunning blowout loss to Miami last month, which ended their 21-game regular-season winning streak.
Although the first quarter was filled with impressive throws and big interceptions by both teams, New England turned down the drama with a ball-control offense that largely kept San Francisco (2-3) off the field in the middle two quarters.
New England has won in every NFL city except Washington.
Faulk, just one part of New England's multiplayer rushing attack, got his second touchdown on a direct snap near the goal line in the third quarter, echoing the Dolphins' infamous series of snaps to Ronnie Brown two weeks ago.
With a week off to recover from that debacle, coach Bill Belichick revived a play he's used many times for Faulk -- and he even threw in a handful of unusual defenses to remain unbeaten in the Patriots' last six games following byes.
New England hadn't traveled to Candlestick Park since 1995 and had never won in San Francisco in four previous tries. The Patriots will stay on the West Coast this week, practicing at San Jose State to get ready for next weekend's game at San Diego.
Isaac Bruce caught two scoring passes from J.T. O'Sullivan, while Frank Gore rushed for 54 yards and caught an early scoring pass in San Francisco's second consecutive loss.
After a strong start, the 49ers managed just 23 yards in the middle two quarters, and O'Sullivan misfired regularly in a 14-of-29 effort for 130 yards with three interceptions.
New England kept the ball for more than 32 minutes in the first three quarters, while Mike Martz's 49ers offense couldn't get a first down during a 36-minute stretch spanning the middle two periods.
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