The San Francisco 49ers escaped Seattle with a hard-fought 17-13 victory over the Seahawks in their season opener, thanks to a clutch defensive performance led by Nick Bosa. In a game where points were at a premium, the 49ers defense stepped up to secure the win.
After an improbable go-ahead touchdown catch by third-string tight end Jake Tonges with just 1:34 remaining, the Seahawks mounted a late drive, reaching the 49ers' 9-yard line with 42 seconds on the clock. That's when Nick Bosa made the play of the game, bull-rushing past tackle Abraham Lucas and sacking quarterback Sam Darnold, forcing a fumble that Bosa himself recovered.
"Thank God for Nick Bosa," exclaimed linebacker Fred Warner. "That was major. To find a way to win in the division in Week 1 is major." Warner acknowledged that the coverage wasn't perfect on the play, but Bosa's heroics saved the day.
Head Coach Kyle Shanahan, relieved by the win, praised Bosa's performance. "In those two-minute situations, you want to go tee off on the quarterback, and it was an awesome job by Nick. It was huge to just finish it right there and not worry about what else was going to happen."
The 49ers' defense held Seahawks running backs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet to just 67 yards on 22 carries. Robert Saleh's return as defensive coordinator saw the team blitzing Darnold effectively, disrupting his rhythm. Although Darnold initially targeted rookie nickel corner Upton Stout, Stout ultimately contributed to the defensive effort.
While the offense had Christian McCaffrey available after a concerning few days, they suffered injuries to George Kittle and Jauan Jennings. Quarterback Brock Purdy threw a couple of interceptions, and the team missed two field goals, but the defense ultimately carried the team to victory.
This Week 1 win was anything but easy, but the rebuilt 49ers defense, spearheaded by Nick Bosa, proved to be the difference-maker in a crucial divisional matchup.