The Patriots left the Bay Area with their eighth win of the season, but they lost one of their most important players for a period of time.
Special teams captain Matthew Slater left the game in the third quarter after covering a punt, and he was later ruled out with what the team called a foot injury. After the game, Slater was spotted in a walking boot and using a crutch. He was carted away from the visitor's locker room in order to stay off his feet.
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Should Slater be forced to miss any time, the Patriots would be without one of their most important special teamers and their third leading tackler in the kicking game. Players like second-year safety Brandon King and rookie Jonathan Jones could be asked to take on greater responsibility should the five-time Pro Bowler be at all limited moving forward.