On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers ground out a win at home over the Denver Broncos. While the offense did just enough, it was the defense that spearheaded the effort. San Francisco was down 3-0 for most of the first half, and it took a late Brock Purdy-led rally to successfully pull away from the opponent.
At the heart of the defensive affair was, unsurprisingly, linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
After enduring a failed season with the Broncos last year, the bruiser flew around the field and ended up leading the team in tackles.
His desire for revenge was clear, as he was seen jawing at Denver's head coach, Sean Payton, after a tackle. That was in the first quarter, and the big man backed up his words until the game was over.
Dre Greenlaw waited a long time to say his piece
Greenlaw spent all of last year falling out of favor with the Broncos' coaching staff. He was on record expressing his feelings of isolation, and it resulted in a season in which he recorded just 43 tackles in eight games. After the season, he was cut and forced to hunt for a new home.
It's clear the eight-year veteran harbored those feelings for a while, as it came out in a fiery manner. After Greenlaw talked his smack, all Payton could do was stand there and nod his head. The coach later went on record saying how much he loves Greenlaw, but his actions over the past year say otherwise.
Greenlaw's animosity towards his former team was an obvious advantage. For someone who plays with such emotion, as Payton himself admitted, last year's scars helped Greenlaw accrue 12 tackles, five more than the next closest teammate.
Broncos' mistreatment of Dre Greenlaw making him even more effective for 49ers
It's no mystery Greenlaw is the yin to running mate Fred Warner's yang. While the latter plays level-headed and consistent, Greenlaw is the team's emotional engine.
His current 8.5 tackles per game is higher than his last full season in the Bay. In fact, if he were to maintain that pace, it would be the highest rate of his career. Apparently, the 49ers are the beneficiary of Denver's mistreatment of the star. Now, he is playing with a chip on his shoulder and keeping the defense afloat amid its flurry of injuries.
Thanks to last year's catastrophe, Greenlaw has found a new gear, and it culminated in his stellar performance in Week 4.
If the linebacker's choice words for his former coach is any sign of what's to come, the 49ers will be able to ride their emotional leader deep into the postseason.
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