49ers Defense Trending Up: Signs of Life Without Bosa as Playoff Push Intensifies
Don’t look now, but the San Francisco 49ers’ defense is starting to turn a corner - and just in time. With three straight wins pushing them to 9-4, the Niners are heating up down the stretch, and the numbers back it up. Over the last three weeks, San Francisco ranks seventh in the NFL in defensive EPA per play - a massive jump from their season-long rank of 24th in that same category.
Now, EPA (Expected Points Added) doesn’t capture every nuance of a defensive performance, but it does highlight one key area: explosive plays. And right now, the 49ers are doing a much better job preventing them. That’s a welcome sign for a unit that has struggled to find consistency since losing Nick Bosa for the year.
Yes, the recent opponents - Arizona, Carolina, and Cleveland - aren’t exactly lighting up scoreboards, and some might argue the Niners are simply beating up on weaker competition. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. Improvement is improvement, and this defense is playing faster, more connected, and with a renewed sense of confidence.
Secondary Stability Leading the Charge
One of the biggest reasons for the turnaround? The back end of the defense is finally settling in.
Deommodore Lenoir continues to be a steady force at corner, but the real difference-makers lately have been Renardo Green and safeties Malik Mustapha and Ji’Ayir Brown. Green, in particular, has avoided the dreaded Year 2 regression and is playing with the kind of poise and technique you'd expect from a seasoned vet. Mustapha and Brown have brought physicality and range to the safety spots, giving the 49ers a much more dependable look on the back end.
That uptick in secondary play has had a ripple effect on the defensive front. With coverage holding up longer, the pass rush is finally starting to get home - even without their superstar edge rusher.
Pass Rush Waking Up
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the 49ers’ pass rush has been underwhelming since Bosa went down. Their pressure rate still ranks dead last in the league at 14.4%, per Pro Football Reference.
But Week 13’s win over Cleveland offered a glimpse of what this group might become. San Francisco notched three sacks - their most in a game since Week 2, back when Bosa was still on the field.
Part of that success came from the matchup. Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders held the ball for an average of 3.2 seconds (per Sumer Sports), and against an improving secondary in tough conditions, that’s a recipe for trouble. But credit where it’s due - the 49ers’ front capitalized, and that’s something we haven’t seen enough of this season.
New Faces, New Energy
What’s helping fuel this late-season surge is the emergence of some new names along the defensive line.
Clelin Ferrell has found his rhythm, racking up four sacks in his last four games, including two against the Browns. Keion White, acquired via trade from New England, is starting to look comfortable in the system. His 28.6% pressure rate in Week 13 - the second-best of his career, per NextGen Stats - shows he’s beginning to flash the disruptive potential the 49ers were hoping for.
San Francisco has also been encouraged by second-round rookie Alfred Collins, who’s shown promise, though the interior pass rush remains a work in progress. Kalia Davis has had moments, but the Niners are still searching for consistency up the middle.
Help on the Horizon
The good news? Reinforcements are on the way. The 49ers expect to get both Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring) and Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) back after the bye.
Okuayinonu has quietly been one of the most reliable edge rushers since Bosa’s injury. His pass rush win rate of 11% (per Pro Football Focus) trails only Bryce Huff (16.7%) among healthy 49ers edge defenders. He and Gross-Matos bring valuable versatility - both can rush from the edge or slide inside, giving the coaching staff more flexibility in how they deploy their fronts.
Gross-Matos, in particular, could be a game-changer. Despite being limited to just five games this season, he leads all interior rushers with a 23.4% win rate. That’s an elite number, and if he’s healthy, he could be the missing piece that jump-starts the 49ers’ interior pass rush - especially on third downs when the defense needs to get off the field.
Building a Rotation That Works
This isn’t the dominant, wave-after-wave pass rush we’ve seen from past 49ers teams, but the pieces are starting to fall into place. Huff, Ferrell, White, Okuayinonu, and Gross-Matos may not strike fear like Bosa and company once did, but together, they offer a variety of ways to attack.
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and line coach Kris Kocurek now have the personnel to mix and match - whether it’s stunts, alignments, or NASCAR packages on passing downs. The positional flexibility across the group opens the door for more creative pressure looks, and that could be key in keeping opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable.
The Road Ahead
Let’s be clear: this pass rush still has a long way to go. The loss of Bosa is massive, and no one player - or even group of players - can truly replace what he brings. But the recent improvement, combined with the potential return of key contributors, gives the 49ers a reason to believe.
If Saleh can continue dialing up the right calls and the depth continues to step up, San Francisco might just be able to close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. And if they can get this pass rush humming at even 80% of its full potential, this team becomes a whole lot more dangerous heading into the postseason.
The defense may not be perfect, but it’s starting to find its identity - and that’s exactly what you want to see in December.