San Francisco 49ers Need Bounce-Back Nick Bosa Display In Divisional Round

The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Dallas Cowboys within the playoffs final season partly due to their power within the trenches, they usually seem to as soon as once more have a big edge in that space as they appear to repeat the feat within the Divisional Spherical this Sunday.

Within the playoffs on the finish of the 2021 season, San Francisco’s line of defense dictated its matchup with the Cowboys within the Niners’ 23-17 Wild Card spherical win on the street. San Francisco claimed that victory in a recreation that noticed Nick Bosa undergo an harm. This time, with the stakes even greater, they may have Bosa obtainable to face a susceptible offensive line coping with accidents on its left aspect.

Dallas dominated out veteran left deal with Jason Peters for the Divisional Spherical recreation at Levi’s Stadium, which means the Cowboys will likely be compelled to shuffle their deck. Versatile rookie Tyler Smith is about to maneuver from deal with to protect, with Connor McGovern filling his spot on the within.

Smith has loved a powerful rookie 12 months, nonetheless, going up towards Bosa would characterize the sternest check of his embryonic profession, particularly with the Defensive Participant of the 12 months absolutely eyeing a bounce-back recreation after being saved comparatively quiet in San Francisco’s Wild Card spherical blowout of the Seattle Seahawks.

Bosa didn’t have a stress towards the Seahawks, based on Professional Soccer Focus (h/t Akash Anavarathan of Niners Nation), however his clean in that regard was negated by the efforts of his team-mates on San Francisco’s deep defensive entrance, most notably Charles Omenihu, who registered two sacks together with one which resulted in a Geno Smith fumble recovered by Bosa to finish what would have been a Seattle scoring drive and protect what was then a one-score lead for the Niners.

Omenihu, who has demonstrated spectacular growth as a cross rusher in his first full season with the Niners, will undoubtedly have a considerable position to play in offering cross rush from the sting and the inside towards the Cowboys.

Defensive tackles Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw will likely be tasked with clogging run lanes in addition to producing inside penetration whereas Samson Ebukam and Jordan Willis might even have a giant affect dashing off the sting.

However in a recreation the place one of many subplots would be the comparative impacts of Bosa and the earlier frontrunner for Defensive Participant of the 12 months, Micah Parsons, the onus will primarily be on the 2019 second general choose to make the most of a really favorable matchup, even with Smith’s performances this season typically belying his inexperience on the highest stage.

The 49ers will line Bosa up on each edges however with Tyron Smith beginning at proper deal with, it’s seemingly San Francisco will line him up towards Tyler Smith extra typically and guarantee he proves a weak hyperlink for Dallas.

Bosa has been the most effective defensive participant within the NFL this season, however the playoffs are all a few workforce’s elite expertise delivering within the largest moments.

The 49ers didn’t want Bosa to be at his dominant greatest final week, nonetheless, if he can dictate his matchup with Tyler Smith and persistently get Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott off his spot and out of the rhythm he was in throughout Dallas’ Wild Card win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, then the 49ers will likely be in a superb place to progress to a 3rd NFC Championship Sport in 4 seasons.

Dashing with integrity will likely be vital for Bosa and Co. to keep away from leaving gaping rush lanes for Prescott to take advantage of however, so long as he and the 49ers’ entrance persistently win its rushes towards an injury-hindered O-Line, San Francisco could have a recipe for as soon as once more defeating Dallas and taking one other step in the direction of the Tremendous Bowl.