- Programming Notes: “49ers Game Plan” airs Saturday, December 31 at 7 p.m. PT on NBC Bay Area.
Coach Kyle Shanahan knows star defensive end Nick Bosa can make history in the final two games of the 49ers’ 2022 NFL season. But Shanahan also knew he had a bigger goal in mind.
In a chat with 49ers broadcaster Greg Papa on this week’s episode of “49ers Game Plan,” Shanahan explains how San Francisco balances Bosa’s journey to surpass the 49ers’ single-season sack record – 2012 Al Den Smith’s 19.5 — while keeping him fresh for the playoffs. Bosa needs just 2.5 sacks to set the record for himself.
“I mean Nick is smart,” Shanahan told Dad. “I mean, he wanted the records badly, but he knew the big picture.”
Shanahan shared that he “hated” pulling Bosa during the 49ers’ 37-20 win over the Washington Commanders last weekend, and that Bosa thanked him for making sure he wasn’t hurt unnecessarily.
“We have to make sure nothing bad happens, so it’s easy for me to move on,” Shanahan continued. “We’ve got a lot of work to do – we’re going to keep it that way.”
Bosa recorded two sacks against the Commander on the way to earn another NFC Defensive Player of the Week award. That said, the 49ers coach knows exactly what his plan is with just two regular-season games remaining.
“If he ever falls or something like that, or if the race gets out of hand and we know who the winner is going to be, then we shut him down immediately,” Shanahan asserted. “We don’t have to say, ‘Hey, you go out there and try Get that record.’
“So it’s limited, but I think he still has a good chance of doing it.”
Playing in the 49ers’ game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, the 25-year-old has a league-high 17.5 sacks and believes he can pass Smith over the final two weeks.
RELATED: 49ers’ Bosa named NFC Defensive Player of the Week again…
Expect the 49ers to continue to be steadfast in keeping their pass rushers out of harm’s way, especially since the team has bigger ambitions in February.
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