The 49ers didn’t put much pressure on quarterback Matthew Stafford in the first half Sunday at SoFi Stadium, when all three Los Angeles Rams possessions ended in points.
And while they never got many hits on the 15-year-old veteran, the 49ers were able to apply more pressure to help generate two game-changing interceptions in their 30-23 win over the Rams.
“I was expecting more of a pass rush, which is what we saw toward the end of the game,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “I thought we were doing well there.”
Stafford completed 34 of 55 pass attempts for 307 yards with one touchdown, two interceptions and a passer rating of just 67.8. Linebacker Fred Warner recorded the 49ers’ only sack of the game.
Nick Bosa, the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, was held without a sack for the second game to open the season. He was credited with three quarterback hurries.
“I saw him make a number of plays there at the end.” Shanahan said of Bosa. “I thought he pushed it at times, but I’ll see when I study the tape.”
The Rams made a concerted effort — as did the 49ers on the other side against Aaron Donald’s Rams — to slow down Bosa with their tactics.
Bosa often faced double-team blocks, and Stafford relied on a short passing game that didn’t give the 49ers’ rushers much opportunity to get to the quarterback.
“Stafford is a Hall of Fame quarterback, and whenever they get him, they have a chance,” Bosa said after the 49ers’ win.
Bosa, who missed all of training camp during the contract period, played 63 of the 49ers’ 80 defensive snaps (79 percent).
He said he felt better than he did in his first appearance of the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bosa played the season opener just three days after reporting to the team’s facility to sign a five-year, $170 million extension.
“I think I’ve improved from last week for sure,” Bosa said. “I was a little more comfortable. I had some answers to some of the things they were throwing at me.
“[There are] Definitely some things I want to work on, which is tough especially with Thursday night. “I am happy that we won.”
The 49ers have a quick turnaround to face the New York Giants in their home opener Thursday night at Levi’s Stadium.
Bosa believes he will once again be ready to take on the full workload.
“I’m not too worried about it,” Bosa said. “I feel good. I think I needed a couple of games to get my body into football shape for sure. You can’t simulate that.
“Now that I’ve finished two, and gotten some pretty good results on this one, I think I’ll go up from here.”
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