Nick Bosa says San Francisco 49ers defense has the personnel to be 'best in the league'

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Much like he wouldn't when given a clear path to an opposing quarterback, San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa didn't hesitate Monday night when he was asked what the ceiling for this Niners defense can be.

«I think it's best in the league,» Bosa said. «That's kind of our mindset every year, and this year we have the personnel to do it. Not that we haven't in the past, but just all three levels are elite players.»

Given what the Niners' defense did to the NFC West rival Los Angeles Rams in Monday night's 24-9 win — on top of what it has accomplished through the season's first four weeks — Bosa's belief is backed by plenty of evidence.

The Niners have won seven consecutive regular-season games against the Rams, though they lost the most meaningful contest between the teams in January's NFC Championship Game. It's their longest win streak against the Rams since winning 17 consecutive regular-season contests from 1990 to '98.

Against these Rams, who entered with a banged-up interior offensive line and have become increasingly dependent on receiver Cooper Kupp, the Niners didn't quite pitch a shutout. But they came close.

The Rams reached the red zone three times but settled for a field goal on each trip and, for the first time in quarterback Matthew Stafford's 25 starts since arriving in Los Angeles in 2021, the Rams did not score an offensive touchdown.

Bosa and his teammates were all over Stafford for most of the game, racking up 17 pressures (second most since Stafford became a Ram) and sacking him seven times. Bosa accounted for two sacks and nine pressures, as he leads the league in both categories with six and 23, respectively.

The Rams managed just 257 yards of offense and averaged 3.5