Getty Nick Bosa of the 49ers was frustrated after a zero-sack day against the Vikings in a 22-17 loss on Monday night.
When the 49ers were 5-0 and rolling through their NFL schedule, no matter how difficult the opponent, Nick Bosa did not sound all that frustrated with his lack of sacks—just 2.5 on the season. But now, with San Francisco coming off back-to-back losses against teams they really should have handled with relative ease, that has changed.
Bosa was frustrated after the 49ers’ 22-17 upset loss in Minnesota on Monday night. That was obvious in his postgame press conference. The entire 49ers’ defensive front, vaunted as it may be, struggled to contain the Vikings, who allow 2.1 sacks per game. The 49ers had zero sacks against Kirk Cousins, who threw the ball 45 times on the night.
“I think a lot went into it,” Bosa said from the postgame podium. “Wasn’t making the plays when they were there. The way the game went definitely played into their hands, especially in the first half. Definitely, going to look at the tape and not be too happy about how we performed in the moments where we could have changed it.”
49ers Defensive Line Struggled vs. Vikings
Of course, Nick Bosa is just one piece of the 49ers defense and though his lack of sacks has been an issue, he was still doing a very good job of rushing the passer.
Entering Week 7, the 49ers were No. 1 in the league in interceptions (10) and No. 3 in the league in yards per pass completion (5.5). They’re only 15th in sacks as a team, mostly because opposing quarterbacks get rid of the ball quickly. Cousins fits that quick-release mold.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game that the defensive front simply did not do a good job pressuring Cousins.
“I mean, last week I don’t think they had as many opportunities. This week it seemed like they did, watching it live,” Shanahan said. “I’ll have to check it out on the plane. We didn’t have any sacks today. When you go against a quarterback like that, you got to make him uncomfortable, and he didn’t seem too uncomfortable.”
Are Nick Bosa’s Lack of Sacks a Worry for 49ers?
At Pro Football Focus, they grade out each player individually based on performance on each play, and Bosa’s grade entering Week 7 was 93.4, No. 1 among all edge rushers. It’s also the highest grade of his career, up from the 90.6 he posted last year.
But don’t tell that to Bosa now, not with two straight losses and paltry sack numbers. He knows well that, after holding out in training camp before being awarded a $170 million contract over five years—the biggest in the NFL for a non-quarterback—he is under pressure to produce, no excuses.
“We have a lot of really good players on the D-line and, obviously, a lot invested in it,” Bosa said. “We have to make plays when they are there, we got lulled to sleep by some of the protections. When those opportunities come you have to be ready for them.
“I’m not sure how it went for the other three guys. I can only focus on myself. There was definitely a couple opportunities there where I could have changed the game. And I need to do that with the kind of player I’m supposed to be.