The San Francisco 49ers are officially 2-0 after a tough win against the Los Angeles Rams. After being tied at half-time, 17-17, the 49ers got the 30-23 win. It wasn’t easy, and there is a lot to fix before next weekend, but the 49ers are leading the NFC West early in the season. After the win, here is a look at the San Francisco 49ers’ top players and the ones that will need to improve by next week’s matchup.
San Francisco 49ers Slays
It took a little while for cornerback Deommedore Lenoir to make an impact in the game. The entire San Francisco defense struggled in the first half. Then Lenoir really stepped up for the team. There is still room for improvement from the cornerback, but he is a factor in why the 49ers are now 2-0.
Lenoir only had nine tackles, eight solo, and one pass deflection, according to ESPN. This is nothing crazy, as the defense did have a slow start to the game. What made him stand out was his interception in the fourth quarter of the game. He returned the ball for 21 yards. It is a shame he could not get the pick-six, as a member of the 49ers has continued to get one for the past couple of years against the Rams. The other defensive player to get an interception was cornerback Isaiah Oliver. Lenoir’s play essentially sealed the 49ers their win, giving fans a chance to breathe.
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (23) – Ashley Landis/AP Photo
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey played his heart out against the Rams. He was the only official running back to rush in the game. Of course, wide receiver Deebo Samuel also ran the ball, but other running backs, such as Elijah Mitchell, never got their chance. McCaffrey has been such an important addition to this team, and he did not slow down this week. McCaffrey ended the game with 20 carries, according to ESPN. It is a bit surprising the team did not put in Mitchell, or even Jordan Mason, for a couple of snaps, but McCaffrey played well anyway.
In those 20 carries, McCaffrey rushed for 116 yards and one touchdown. This was the first scoring play of the game and a tone-setter for how physical this 49ers offense was going to be. While not every run was pretty, even when hit on most plays, McCaffrey got the extra yards. His longest run of the game was for 51 yards. It will be interesting to see how his reps are split up on a short week with San Francisco playing Thursday Night Football.
San Francisco 49ers Bombs
49ers CB Charvarius Ward (7) – Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
It was a rough game for cornerback Charvarius (Mooney) Ward. He could not complete tackles and kept getting beat by rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua. He almost had a sack at one point but could not wrap quarterback Matthew Stafford up. Ward ended the game with ten combined tackles, eight solo, and one pass deflection, according to ESPN.
Ward had an interception in the week one game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but just could not get the job done this weekend. On a short week, it should be watched for how Ward bounces back. Hopefully, he can complete these tackles and give the opposing team’s receivers a more difficult time.
Star defensive end Nick Bosa is having a slow start to the season. That was expected, but some bounceback was also expected this weekend. Bosa has now gone two weeks without a sack. The effects of not participating in any off-season work are definitely being seen now. Following the game, Bosa spoke to the media, saying that while he feels good, he thinks he needs a few games to get his body into “football shape.” Luckily, the team is 2-0, but they need Bosa back to his full self soon.
It was not all bad for Bosa. As the game progressed, there were plays where he got closer and closer to his first sack of the season; he just didn’t get it. By the end of the game, Bosa had two combined tackles, one tackle for loss, and three quarterback hits, according to ESPN. Perhaps his sack can come this Thursday.
49ers DE Nick Bosa – Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Next up for the San Francisco 49ers is Thursday Night Football. The 2-0 Niners are facing the 1-1 New York Giants. It will be the home opener for San Francisco, and the energy will be high as the team looks to remain undefeated. Watch for the top players of Sunday’s game to continue with this momentum and for the players who struggled to bounce back.
