Okay, so Week 1 for the San Francisco 49ers kicked off with an “undressing” of the Los Angeles Rams all the way in Australia, and while everyone was hyped for Nick Bosa’s pass rush return, it was his surprising play against the run that stole the show. He was back after that season-ending injury in 2025, and seriously, his run-stopping ability? That was the real headline coming out of the opener.
Bosa’s Unseen Impact
Look, the 49ers’ defense collectively had a tough time shutting down the run, letting the Rams chew up 122 yards on 29 carries. But Bosa? He was a different story. The dude led the Niners with four run stops on just 16 run-play snaps! That’s insane, he was responsible for a third of the team’s total run stops all by himself. His pass rush, though, left a bit to be desired, getting just one pressure and one quarterback hit on 20 pass-rush snaps, even though the team as a whole racked up 14 pressures on 28 Rams pass attempts. Everyone knows Bosa’s pass rush will come back, it always does, but if we get this consistent run-stopper Bosa too? That just adds another layer to an already stacked defensive end talent.
Meanwhile, Fred Warner was exactly who we expected him to be. He lived up to his standard, walking out of Week 1 as the most impressive 49er on that Australia trip. Some things never change, and Warner being a beast is one of them.
The Rookie Who Out-Carried CMC
Now, here’s the juicy part: Christian McCaffrey, one of the league’s top backs, got out-carried by a rookie. Kaelon Black, in his debut, got 14 carries for 65 yards, including an explosive 14-yard run on a 99-yard touchdown drive. McCaffrey still showed he’s the man, though, gaining more yards on fewer carries with a 10-carry, 68-yard performance, plus five receptions for 20 yards. Black had just one reception for five yards.
But the fact that Black out-carried McCaffrey is super significant. When has that happened before? Only Elijah Mitchell in Week 10 of 2022 (18 carries) and Week 17 of 2023 (17 carries) has had 14+ carries in a game where McCaffrey played. So, was Black’s workload a one-off thing, a blip, or was it a deliberate move by the coaching staff? That’s probably the most interesting dynamic to watch unfold over the next few weeks.
As the 49ers get ready to turn the page to the Miami Dolphins, we’ll be glued to see if Bosa keeps up that surprising run-stopping consistency and what the heck happens with that running back room. Is this a new era for their backfield, or was Week 1 just a strange opening act?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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