Across The Shield: Nick Bosa Makes His Case to Be the DPOY, Joey Bosa Mauls the Bears and Michael Thomas Still Can't Be Guarded

By JL Kirven on October 28, 2019 at 2:10 pm
Michael Thomas
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
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Once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye. Across the Shield follows those who once wore Scarlet and Gray on their journeys through the NFL.

Nick Bosa for DPOY 

Nick Bosa may be the best rookie in this year's class, but his play could garner him even greater accolades.

The self-proclaimed "smaller bear" was an animal for the 49ers in their win on Sunday against Carolina. The second overall pick looked like the best defender in football, recording four tackles, three sacks and this interception here: 

This game wasn't an isolated moment.

Bosa has been a force all season and is a major reason why the Niners boast an unblemished record. Through seven games, Bosa has registered 16 solo tackles and seven sacks. It's a start that's turned heads around the league. He seems to be a frontrunner for the defensive rookie of the year award, but some people, like teammate Richard Sherman, feel that he can achieve something a little bit better. 

Big brother Bosa balls out against the Bears

Nick wasn't the only Bosa putting in work on Sunday. Joey Bosa represented the family well in an impressive showing in Chicago. 

The bigger bear registered seven tackles and two sacks of his own. While Nick dominated the headlines, Joey was a force of nature as well. 

I can imagine they're enjoying each others success and maybe a claim to the most dominant family in football right now.

Be Like Mike

Michael Thomas has made this list nearly every week, but it's because he really is just that good nearly every week. 

Just look at his stat line from Sunday. He finished11 catches – on 11 targets – for 112 yards and a touchdown.

With games like that it's not surprising that Thomas leads the league in receptions (73) and yards (875).

It takes a bad man to say nobody can guard him, but it takes an even badder man to prove it week after week. 

Special Teams are Special

Denzel Ward's speed isn't just an asset in coverage. He can create havoc on special teams as well.

Exhibit A:

Ward making a big play on special teams? That looks familiar.

BLOCKED

The Browns still lost decisively, but that play was a rare bright spot.

Across the Shield: Week 8
PLAYER TEAM POSITION STATS
SAM HUBBARD BENGALS DL 2 TACKLES 
MICHAEL JORDAN BENGALS OL  
BILLY PRICE BENGALS OL  
KURT COLELMAN BILLS S  
JEFF HEUERMAN BRONCOS TE 1 CATCH FOR 11 YARD S
DRE'MONT JONES BRONCOS DL  
DENZEL WARD BROWNS CB 5 TACKLES 2 PASSES DEFENDED, BLOCKED FIELD GOAL
JOEY BOSA CHARGERS DL 7 TACKLES, 4 TACKLES FOR LOSS, 2 SACKS 
DARRON LEE CHIEFS LB 1 TACKLE
MALIK HOOKER COLTS S 5 TACKLES 
TYQUAN LEWIS COLTS DL  
PARRIS CAMPBELL COLTS WR  
EZEKIEL ELLIOTT COWBOYS RB BYE WEEK 
DEVIN SMITH COWBOYS WR BYE WEEK 
RAEKWON MCMILLAN DOLPHINS LB MONDAY NIGHT 
JEROME BAKER DOLPHINS LB MONDAY NIGHT 
ISAIAH PRINCE DOLPHINS OL MONDAY NIGHT 
CAMERON JOHNSTON EAGLES P 4 PUNTS FOR 184 YARDS
MALCOLM JENKINS EAGLES S 6 TACKLES 1 PASS DEFENDED 
KENDALL SHEFFIELD FALCONS CB 5 TACKLES 
ANDREW NORWELL JAGUARS OL  
TAYLOR DECKER LIONS OL  
CURTIS SAMUEL PANTHERS WR 4 CATCHES FOR 46 YARDS
COREY LINSLEY PACKERS OL  
NATE EBNER PATRIOTS DB 2 TACKLES 
JOHN SIMON PATRIOTS DL 2 TACKLES
JOHNATHAN HANKINS  RAIDERS DL 4 TACKLES AND A SACK 
JAKE MCQUAIDE RAMS  LS  
DWAYNE HASKINS REDSKINS  QB 3/5 FOR 33 YARDS AND AN INTERCEPTION 
TERRY MCLAURIN  REDSKINS WR 4 CATCHES FOR 39 YARDS 
ELI APPLE  SAINTS  CB 3 TACKLES 
VONN BELL SAINTS S 5 TACKLES 
TED GINN JR.  SAINTS  WR 2 CATCHES FOR 42 YARDS 
MICHAEL THOMAS  SAINTS WR 11 CATCHES FOR 112 YARDS AND A TOUCHDOWN 
MARSHON LATTIMORE  SAINTS CB 2 TACKLES 
JAMARCO JONES  SEAHAWKS  OL  
NICK VANNETT STEELERS  TE MONDAY NIGHT 
CAMERON HEYWARD  STEELERS DL MONDAY NIGHT 
GAREON CONLEY TEXANS  CB 4 TACKLES 2 PASSES DEFENDED 
BRADLEY ROBY TEXANS CB OUT 
CARLOS HYDE TEXANS RB 19 CARRIES FOR 89 YARDS 
PAT ELFLEIN VIKINGS OL  
JALYN HOLMES VIKINGS DL  
NICK BOSA 49ERS DL 4 TACKLES, 3 TACKLES FOR LOSS, 3 SACKS AND AN INTERCEPTION 
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