Sorry, Micah Parsons, Nick Bosa is the undisputed DPOY
It's over. Case closed, the writing is on the wall. Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers is the undisputed Defensive Player of the Year. The 25-year-old has been an absolute force in 2022.
Part of the 49ers defense that has only allowed 15.2 points per game (first in the NFL), Bosa has at times been a one-man wrecking crew. With Dallas Cowboys linebacker/defensive end Micah Parsons having a quiet few weeks, Bosa has been head and shoulders above his peers and looks a lock for the DPOY award, even with a few more weeks of the regular season remaining.
Nick Bosa: 16.4% pressure percentage since entering the league
Most among all defenders during that span (min. 1000 pass-rushing snaps) 🔥 https://t.co/FlTf2skkcU
He has a total of 15.5 sacks and a forced fumble through 12 games, making him the driving force of the 49ers defense.
Nick, the younger brother of Chargers outside linebacker Joey, is nearly at his total sack count from last year and there are still three games to go. That is some kind of production from the defensive end. After being a slow burn in his first two years (only played two games in 2020) as he totaled nine sacks, the defensive end has been on another level.
For many, the Defensive Player of the Year is down to two players. Bosa and Micah Parsons. With the Cowboys #11 being used in a variety of roles in Dan Quinn’s defense, the 49ers #97 is a long pass rusher, which has made his efforts this season even more impressive.
Bosa having superb season for 49ers defense
One incredible stat that may have slipped people's minds is that throughout the season, Bosa has only had one game where he hasn't registered a sack. Parsons has seven. Yikes!
While that is no slight on the Cowboys star, but with the San Francisco pass rusher playing at a high level consistently for many, that has him placed at number one for the award. The 49ers star also has 35 quarterback hits (13 more than Parsons), 15 tackles for loss (two more than Parsons) and 15.5 sacks (one vs. the Seahawks), three and a half more than Parsons.
Case closed for most.
While Parsons has been a freight train at times for Dallas, over the last few weeks, has seen his production drop. The 49ers superstar has been a more consistent player.
Whether that will translate into becoming the winner of the award between now and the end of the season remains to be seen, but right now, its the 49ers' star's to lose, and quite a surprise it would be if he didn't win it.