SANTA CLARA – Ninety minutes before kickoff Sunday, 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa showed more emotion than he would all day.
Bosa was in the team’s workout pool adjacent to the 49ers' locker room warming up for the key NFC matchup against the Carolina Panthers. As Bosa and defensive tackle D.J. Jones went through a workout in water, Bosa was also soaking in the Los Angeles Chargers-Chicago Bears game on TV.
Bosa’s older brother, Joey, plays of the Chargers. He had quite a game for himself as Nick watched.
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“He was cheering on his brother, man,” Jones said. “It was pretty cool to see. He saw his brother get a sack. He saw his brother get a TFL (tackle for loss), and he was cheering him on. Then, he goes out there and does what he did today.
“Just being able to watch all that unfold in a day, it was amazing.”
Nick Bosa, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 draft, had his most dominant game since his days as a prep star at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Bosa registered three sacks and a 46-yard interception return in the 49ers’ 51-13 thrashing of the Panthers on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
Earlier in the day, Joey Bosa registered two sacks and four tackles for losses in the Chargers’ 17-16 victory over the Chicago Bears. The Bosas became the first brothers to record multiple sacks on the same day since Toby and Jimmy Williams in Week 2 of the 1985 season, according to the NFL.
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After the 49ers' surprisingly easy victory, Nick Bosa stood in front of the media and answered questions in his typical monotone delivery. The 49ers are 7-0 after another impressive defensive showing, but you could not tell by the tone of Bosa’s voice.
“It’s just who I am,” Bosa said. “Um, I’m just happy. I’m super-happy, don’t get me wrong.”
The 49ers are certainly happy the Arizona Cardinals selected quarterback Kyler Murray with the No. 1 overall pick. The 49ers had no need for a quarterback with the top selection, so it guaranteed that general manager John Lynch would select the No. 1 player on the 49ers’ draft board.
Bosa was the easy selection at No. 2 overall.
“There’s nothing that he can’t do right now,” 49ers veteran defensive end Dee Ford said. “He has a counter move. He has a power move. I actually have to work on my power when I came into the league. He has that. He has the edge. He can beat you inside. He’s a three-way rusher, and that’s what makes you elite. And if he keeps doing what he’s doing, he’ll go down as one of the best.”
Bosa now leads the 49ers with seven sacks in seven games. But his most impressive play might have been his leaping interception of Carolina quarterback Kyle Allen at the line of scrimmage. Bosa returned the interception to the Panthers’ 9-yard line.
“It was pretty damn impressive,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “I’m sure when I watch the tape, it’ll look even better. The play that he made on the interception was one of the more impressive plays that I’ve seen from a D-Lineman.
“Thought he should have scored, but it’s always nice when they don’t and they let the offense score, too. So, it was all right.”
Bosa, who was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Cleveland, during which he registered two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He is appears to be in line for another honor this week. His brother might win the honor in the AFC.
Joey Bosa was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2016. Nick Bosa might be following in his brother's footsteps. He has stepped in as a rookie and made it look easy.
Said 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander, “I just think he was born like that.”
“Nick’s been ballin’. He’s an awesome player,” said defensive lineman Arik Armstead, who picked up two sacks of his own as part of the 49ers’ seven-sack performance. “We knew he was super-talented when he got here, but it’s all falling into place for him. Now he has to keep working hard and keep stacking them.”
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Bosa said he got into a zone as a pass-rusher and rode the defensive momentum from the entire unit. He said his job is made easier because Armstead and DeForest Buckner are such forces on the interior.
“Whenever your moves are working really good, it’s just a good feeling,” he said. “And once you get a sack early, it just allows you to calm down. Two of those sacks could’ve been Buckner’s, easily. We’ve gone back and forth giving each other sacks this year. I’m just lucky to have to interior guys who close the pocket so well.”