Rushing to give Faulk praise
His two scores via the ground are a highlight
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SAN FRANCISCO - If you look strictly at the numbers - seven rushes for 32 yards and four receptions for 29 yards - then Kevin Faulk's day looks like nothing special. But that's what makes Faulk special - he finds a way to contribute in limited opportunities and usually comes up big.
That was the case yesterday in the Patriots' 30-21 victory over the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park. Faulk, who had the first two rushing-touchdown game of his 10-year career, had the pivotal play in the game when he squeezed in for a 2-yard score on a direct snap on fourth and 2 from the 49ers' 2. The run gave the Patriots a 24-14 advantage with 5:25 left in the third quarter.
If the play, which had Faulk line up beside quarterback Matt Cassel in the shotgun and then take the snap, looked familiar it's because it was the same one the Patriots used in Super Bowl XXXVIII for a 2-point conversion.
"It's just a play that came up in a situation we were in and it worked out," said the laconic Faulk.
Faulk also burrowed into the end zone on a 2-yard rushing TD six seconds before the half to give the Patriots a 17-14 lead.
"Kevin came through. He had two rushing touchdowns. He probably hadn't had that since fourth grade," said coach Bill Belichick. "It's not really what he's known for, but he made a good run down there on the goal line and found a crease twice and those were huge for us.
"Kevin does a great job. It seems like no matter what we ask him to do he does it well, whether it's blitz pickup, pass receiving on third down, or running the ball around the goal line. He's a clutch, dependable player for us."
What Faulk is best known for is catching the ball out of the backfield. He's the franchise's all-time leader in receptions by a running back and with a 2-yard catch in the first quarter he passed Terry Glenn for fifth place on the Patriots' all-time receptions list. The reception was the 330th of Faulk's career. He ended the day with 333, the last of which was an 8-yard reception on a dumpoff pass that picked up a big first down after Belichick challenged the spot via replay.
That helped set up a Stephen Gostkowski field goal that put the 49ers into desperation mode.
Perfect so far
Stephen Gostkowski continues to be true with his aim on field goals. Gostkowski booted three field goals (35, 40 and 49 yards) to extend his perfect start to the season to 10 for 10.
Gostkowski now has hit his last 17 regular-season field goal attempts, the third-longest streak in team history.
Gostkowski's 49-yarder with 4:42 left was his longest of the season and was huge because it came after a Randy Moss pass interference penalty had negated a Wes Welker wide receiver screen that would have put the Patriots at the San Francisco 19. Instead, they had third and 20 from the 44 and gained 13 yards on a pass from Cassel to Jabar Gaffney to set up Gostkowski's 3-pointer.
"Any time you [make] your kicks, you feel like you had a good day," said Gostkowski. "We won, so overall I always feel like I have a good game when we win."
Fine Meriweather
Brandon Meriweather had to wait until the second game of this season for his first career interception, but he had a much shorter wait for his second career INT. The second-year safety picked off 49ers quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan in the first quarter, right after Cassel had been intercepted by Takeo Spikes on the previous play.
On first and 10 from the New England 45, Meriweather deflected a deep pass down the seam intended for Delanie Walker and then reeled in the deflection while on his back at the Patriots' 4 yard line.
"To quote from James Sanders it was luck," said a sheepish Meriweather.
Meriweather did admit the play was key. "Whenever you can answer a team with a turnover after a turnover, that kind of neutralizes the momentum," he said.
Meriweather was hurt later in the first quarter but returned. He said after the game he felt fine.
O'Neal in on act
Cornerback Deltha O'Neal picked a great time for his first interception as a Patriot. O'Neal sealed the win when he grabbed an O'Sullivan pass that had been deflected by Rodney Harrison with 2:45 remaining in the game. All three of the interceptions off of O'Sullivan, including Harrison's third-quarter effort when he caught his own deflection, were redirected by Patriot defensive backs. The pick was the 32d of O'Neal's nine-year NFL career.
Picking his spots
Laurence Maroney, who was back after sitting out the Miami game with a shoulder injury, continues to confound with some of his running decisions. In the second half, Maroney appeared to be set for a gain and then bounced out of the hole. A few times when he came off the field, the coaching staff could be seen talking to Maroney, who finished with 10 rushes for 26 yards . . . Running back LaMont Jordan was hurt with 9:38 left in the first half. He limped off with a right leg injury after a 1-yard carry. He did not return . . . The Patriots were without cornerback Lewis Sanders (hamstring), who had not practiced in the week leading up to yesterday's game. When the Patriots went with six defensive backs, it was rookie Jonathan Wilhite who came on as the slot cornerback. Wilhite left the game with 3:45 left in the fourth quarter with an injury . . . Besides Lewis Sanders, the team was without wide receiver Kelley Washington (right ankle) and linebacker Eric Alexander (hamstring) both of whom also did not practice last week. The other inactives were wide receiver Maurice Price, center Dan Connolly, offensive tackle Wesley Britt, and linebacker Shawn Crable. Matt Gutierrez was the third quarterback . . . Richard Seymour played in his 100th NFL game . . . The Patriots' victory was their first over the 49ers on the road in five tries.
Christopher L. Gasper can be reached at cgasper@globe.com. 
