49ers: Ranking San Francisco's top 10 plays of 2017

San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the top 10 plays of 2017

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 17: Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after catching a pass for a first down against the Tennessee Titans during their NFL football game at Levi's Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

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SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 22: Reuben Foster #56 of the San Francisco 49ers takes the field prior to their NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

No. 8: Reuben Foster Blows Up Running Back Ezekiel Elliott

When it happened: Week 7 vs. Dallas Cowboys

Remember how we said Reuben Foster would return?

Well, he did both literally (coming back against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7) and figuratively, on this list of top-10 plays.

On a 1st-and-10 play from their own 27-yard line, the Cowboys attempted an up-the-middle run with star running back Ezekiel Elliott.

The gap was there. But the only problem? Foster was too:

Foster quickly sidestepped a Dallas blocker to bring Elliott down for a loss of a yard. But it’s how Foster went about doing so that made this particular play so special.

Simply put, Foster is one of the reasons why the 49ers run defense improved so much from 2016.