The 49ers defense played well in Week 1, intercepting three passes and forcing two fumbles. The rush defense wasn’t great however. They allowed 121 yards on 26 carries. The Bengals threw 51 times against Seattle in Week 1, but could balance out more if the 49ers continue to struggle against the run.
Here are the six players to watch on defense for San Francisco:
CB Ahkello Witherspoon
Witherspoon played well against Tampa Bay. He broke up three passes and returned an interception for a touchdown. He’ll likely match-up against John Ross, one of the fastest receivers in the NFL on Sunday. Ross had seven catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns against Seattle, including a 55-yard touchdown at the end of the first half. Ross will be a tough matchup for Witherspoon, and a test to see if the cornerback can be consistent against smaller, faster receivers.
LB Kwon Alexander
Alexander was impressive in his limited time on Sunday. He recorded three tackles in the first quarter before being disqualified late in the quarter for a helmet-to-helmet hit. Sunday should be the first complete game Alexander plays as a 49er, barring another ejection. If it’s anything like his brief Week 1 appearance, expect him to be all over the field against a new-look Bengals offense.
DL Nick Bosa
It might be an understatement to say Bosa dominated the Tampa Bay offensive line in Week 1. According to Pro Football Focus, Bosa had a 28-percent win rate, the highest rate of any defender in the opening week. His six total pressures were the most by a rookie in Week 1. He was brought in mostly in passing situations and could have a chance to make a huge impact against a Bengals club that threw it 51 times against Seattle. Bosa is officially listed as questionable with an ankle injury.
DL Arik Armstead
Armstead had a quietly good game in Tampa Bay. He started the game at left defensive end, and finished the game with five tackles, one for a loss, one sack, and one quarterback hit. Armstead played on two-thirds of the defensive snaps and had some nice plays in the run game. With a challenge ahead in Bengals running backs Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard, Armstead will need to be just as effective.
DL DeForest Buckner
The 49ers were able to apply pressure on Jameis Winston, sacking him three times and hitting him six, but Buckner accounted for zero of the sacks and just one of the hits. The fourth-year defensive tackle was the anchor of the defensive line last season could have a similar impact this year with added help over the offseason. Buckner should have more opportunities to get to the quarterback if the Bengals are going to throw it around the yard the way they did in the opener.
CB Richard Sherman
Sherman’s pick-6 in the third quarter put a shine on what was a pedestrian game for him. While he had two pass deflections and five tackles to go with his interception, Sherman allowed a touchdown and was called for three penalties, including two on one drive. The penalties can’t be as frequent for Sherman against the Bengals, but he could have a tough assignment if he gets matched up against Ross.
