Kevin Faulk picks up yardage in the first half of Sunday's game.

The Providence Journal / Gretchen Ertl

SAN FRANCISCO -- You know it's been a particularly good day for the Patriots when coach Bill Belichick starts cracking jokes at his postgame interview session.

"Kevin [Faulk] had two rushing touchdowns. He probably hasn't done that since the fourth grade," Belichick said.

Faulk smiled in the locker room when he heard about his coach's comment.

"I might have done it in college," he said.

Faulk can be forgiven if he doesn't remember, because that was a long time ago.

A second-round draft choice out of LSU in 1999, this is the 10th season in New England for the versatile, 5-foot-8, 202-pound Faulk, who does a little bit of everything for the Patriots.

"He does a great job," Belichick said. "Seems like, no matter what we ask him to do, he always does it well -- whether it's blitz pickup, or pass receiving on third down, or running the ball near the goal line.

"He's a clutch, dependable player. He had some big plays today."

The biggest came five minutes into the third quarter, with the Patriots leading, 17-14, and facing a fourth and goal at the 2-yard line.

Instead of kicking a field goal, the Pats opted to try for a touchdown -- and got it, when Faulk took a direct snap from center Dan Koppen and darted into the end zone.

"It's a play we've been working on for I don't know how many weeks, months, years," Belichick said. "We needed it today and hit it."

"It was good execution," Faulk said. "The center snapped it. The quarterback [Matt Cassel] faked, the offensive line blocked well, and I just had to find a seam. It always feels good to get into the end zone."

Faulk had to be feeling doubly good Sunday, because he also scored just before halftime, on another 2-yard run.

He wound up with 32 rushing yards on a season-high seven carries, caught four passes for 29 yards, and also returned two punts for 19 yards.

"I'm just trying to help out any way I can," he said.

As Belichick pointed out, Faulk helps the Patriots win in a number of ways.

Now 3-1, the Pats will be spending this week on the West Coast, practicing at San Jose State, while trying to find a way to win Sunday at San Diego.

"This is a business trip," Faulk said. "The coach made that clear.

"We're out here to take care of business - nothing else."

jdonalds@projo.com