Kendrick Bourne has had a quiet first season with the New England Patriots, but he made a loud statement late in their wild 35-29 overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.
The former 49ers wide receiver caught what looked to be a potential game-winning 75-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Mac Jones late in the fourth quarter. With the two-point conversion, the Patriots took a brief 29-26 lead before the Cowboys sent the game to overtime with a late field goal.
Jones threaded the needle between two Cowboys defenders and Bourne did the rest. The reception was Bourne's only catch of the day. He was targeted twice by Jones.
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Bourne's go-ahead touchdown got the attention of injured 49ers running back Raheem Mostert.
Bourne and the Patriots ultimately would lose to the Cowboys when quarterback Dak Prescott hit CeeDee Lamb for a game-winning 35-yard touchdown in overtime.
Bourne, 26, spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the 49ers. During his tenure in San Francisco, he caught 137 passes for 1,769 yards and 11 touchdowns. He signed a three-year, $22.5 million contract with the Patriots last offseason.
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Entering Sunday's game, Bourne had caught 17 passes for 207 yards and one touchdown with the Patriots.