<Tr> <Td> Q4 </Td> <Td> 10: 29 </Td> <Td> SF </Td> <Td> Bruce 5 yard pass from O'Sullivan (Nedney kick) </Td> <Td> NE 27--21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Q4 </Td> <Td> 4: 47 </Td> <Td> NE </Td> <Td> Gostkowski 49 yard field goal </Td> <Td> NE 30--21 </Td> </Tr> <P> Coming off their bye week, the Patriots traveled to Candlestick Park to face the 49ers in the first of two straight West Coast games for the Patriots . After a 49ers punt on their first series started the game, Cassel's second pass of the game was intercepted by linebacker Takeo Spikes to give the 49ers the ball at the Patriots' 45 - yard line . On the next play, 49ers quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan threw an interception of his own, this one to Meriweather at the Patriots' 4 - yard line . A three - and - out for the Patriots on their ensuing drive ended in a 35 - yard Chris Hanson punt that gave the 49ers the ball at the Patriots' 30 - yard line to begin their next drive . A defensive holding penalty on Patriots cornerback Deltha O'Neal on third down extended the drive, leading to a 16 - yard touchdown catch by running back Frank Gore that gave the 49ers a 7--0 lead . On the Patriots' next drive, a fumbled snap by Cassel set up 3rd and 8 from the Patriots' own 34 - yard line; Cassel then threw a deep pass to Moss, which was caught at the 49ers' 21 - yard line and run in for a 66 - yard touchdown that tied the game at 7--7 . A 38 - yard Isaac Bruce reception from O'Sullivan on the 49ers' ensuing possession backed the Patriots' defense up to their own 22 - yard line, and two plays later, O'Sullivan and Bruce again connected on a pass, this one a touchdown from 6 yards out to give the 49ers a 14--7 lead . </P> <P> An exchange of punts brought the teams into the second quarter, where on the third play of a Patriots drive Cassel threw his second interception of the day, this one to Nate Clements on the 49ers' 6 - yard line on a deep pass intended to Moss . The 49ers went three - and - out, leading to a 13 - play, 40 - yard Patriots drive where a third down sack of Cassel in the red zone set up a 35 - yard Gostkowski field goal that trimmed the 49ers' lead to 14--10 . The 49ers punted again on their next possession, giving the Patriots the ball on their own 20 - yard line with just over three minutes remaining in the first half . 11 plays later, the Patriots faced a 2nd and goal from the 49ers' 2 - yard line, where a Faulk touchdown run gave the Patriots a 17--14 lead at halftime . </P>

When was the last time the patriots missed the playoffs