49ers vs. Chiefs: 5 matchups San Francisco must win in Week 7
By Peter Panacy
49ers vs. Chiefs matchup No. 3: Nick Bosa pressuring Patrick Mahomes
A week ago, Bills EDGE Von Miller provided the key pressure on Patrick Mahomes late in the fourth quarter to force a turnover and ensure Buffalo walked away with the win.
Mahomes might have been sacked only three times in that game, but as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers showed in Super Bowl LV, pressuring Mahomes has its merits.
Too bad the Chiefs spent considerable effort upgrading the offensive line ever since that point, though.
Granted, the Niners have already restocked their defensive line. Yet it, too, is a unit dealing with plenty of injuries right now, and it’s not expected to see defensive tackles Arik Armstead (foot) and Javon Kinlaw (knee) back on the field for some time.
Pro Bowl EDGE Nick Bosa is also banged up, coming off a groin injury suffered in Week 5, yet there’s considerable hope he’ll be back for this matchup and looking to increase his team-high six sacks on the year.
San Francisco has received some modest pass-rushing production elsewhere on its roster, but Bosa is the biggest difference-maker.
He’ll need to be both available and on point this Sunday.