San Francisco 49ers: 5 takeaways from the team’s MNF rout of the Cleveland Browns
1. Nick Bosa is a star
Over the first few weeks of action, working around a sprained ankle, Bosa had shown flashes of his potential. The rookie second overall pick had been the most productive pass rusher in football according to Pro Football Focus. With just one sack though, greater production was due.
With the bye week, Bosa was finally clear of his ankle injury and absolutely obliterated the Browns offensive line. Whenever he wasn’t double-teamed, Bosa was at Baker Mayfield’s back. At times, even a double team couldn’t stop him.
Bosa clearly remembered Mayfield’s famous flag celebration in college. Back in 2017, when Bosa was playing at The Ohio State University, Mayfield led his Oklahoma team to an upset over the Buckeyes. After the game, Mayfield spiked the Sooners flag over midfield.
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At the end of the first half, when Bosa recorded what should have been called a sack, he stood up and imitated Mayfield’s flag plant. In his postgame interview with ESPN’s Lisa Salters, Bosa said, “I had to get him back for it.”
Now Bosa is in the driver’s seat for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, but he looked better than that. Frankly, Bosa was the best player on the field Monday night.
For the last couple of seasons, 49ers fans have lamented the failed development of third overall pick Solomon Thomas, but Bosa is making those concerns disappear.