4 reasons why 49ers will be better vs. Packers this time around

Reason No. 2: 49ers pass rush is much more diversified now

Early in the season, San Francisco’s pass rush primarily resided on the shoulders of EDGE Nick Bosa, and it struggled to get much of any production from anyone else.

Interestingly enough, Bosa didn’t record a sack in Week 3, yet the 49ers managed only one quarterback takedown of Aaron Rodgers, and it was provided by defensive tackle Arik Armstead.

In subsequent weeks, though, the rest of the Niners’ pass-rushing cast has come into form, thanks largely to the full-time move of Armstead and fellow defensive end Arden Key moving inside and playing more of a 3-technique role, freeing up the outside rushing duties to Bosa and other edge rushers like Samson Ebukam.

Subsequently, players like Armstead, Key and Ebukam have seen their 2021 sack totals increase from the relative handful they all had together over the first half of the year. Armstead is now at six, Key at 6.5 and Ebukam at 4.5, trailing Bosa’s team-high 15.5 during the regular season.

True, Bosa remains in the concussion protocol after suffering that injury during the Wild Card game, so his potential return is going to be a major X-factor for San Francisco’s pass-rushing hopes versus Rodgers.

But, if the 49ers can fluster Rodgers as they did in the 2020 NFC Championship game, the end result might emulate that game instead of what happened in Week 3.