Returns of Buckner and Bosa help spark dominant defensive performance for the 49ers

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The two big additions the San Francisco 49ers made to their starting defense since coming back from the bye helped them deliver the type of defensive performance they will need to make a playoff run.

With star defensive end Nick Bosa back after missing five games because of a calf injury and DeForest Buckner playing his first game since being traded back to the 49ers during the bye week, San Francisco dominated defensively in a 38-17 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

“Those are two super disruptive players for our D-line and the offense has to have a plan for them at all times,” linebacker Fred Warner said about Bosa and Buckner. “It frees up a lot of things for the rest of the defense.”

While Bosa and Buckner didn't make many splash plays, their presence helped the defense deliver a lot.

The Niners (7-1) generated five takeaways in a game for the first time in nearly 12 years. All five came in the second half, starting with a pick-6 by rookie Jaden Dugger on the first snap of the third quarter.

San Francisco ended the game with takeaways on the final four drives, with Warner forcing a fumble and recovering one, while Renardo Green and Malik Mustapha had interceptions.

The 49ers also held Las Vegas to 24 yards rushing for the lowest total they allowed in a game since holding Atlanta to 17 yards on Nov. 8, 2015.

That's the formula they will need to replicate on defense down the stretch.

“We have the guys to do it,” Bosa said. “We're going to keep getting better. ... It's great to have (Buckner) back and we have the guys to do it.”

Buckner played his first game for the Niners since the Super Bowl following the 2019 season. He was traded the following offseason to Indianapolis and returned Oct. 27 when he was acquired from the Colts for a fourth-round draft pick.

Buckner had two quarterback hits and got one of the loudest cheers during pregame introductions.

“I definitely had some butterflies today,” he said. “Obviously, my first game being back, I was definitely nervous. I just had to tell myself, ‘Just go out there and play football.’”

Generating takeaways. After back-to-back games with no takeaways, the 49ers had five in a game for the first time since Nov. 16, 2014, against the Giants.

Guarding tight ends. The 49ers allowed 10 catches for 148 yards to Las Vegas tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer. That was the second-most yards they allowed to opposing tight ends in the last 19 seasons behind the 172 against Arizona on Dec. 17, 2023.

WR Jordan Watkins. With Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel sidelined, Watkins came through with four catches for 86 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown. Watkins has seven catches for 142 yards in his past two games. The 2025 fourth-round pick had only five catches for 82 yards in his career before that.

“J-Wat's done a good job with the opportunity that he's been given,” quarterback Brock Purdy said. “If he's got a one-on-one matchup, I'm not going to shy it down.”

Kick coverage unit. The Niners allowed a 54-yard kick return by Dylan Laube that set up a field goal. San Francisco has allowed the fourth-highest return average this season (27.8 yards per return) and the sixth-worst average starting field position after kickoffs (32).

DT Gracen Halton will miss the rest of the season after breaking his ankle. ... Green (back) and CB Deommodore Lenoir (foot) left the game with injuries that aren't considered serious.

18 — Christian McCaffrey extended his record with his 18th career game with at least one touchdown run and catch. Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk is second with 15.

The 49ers visit Dallas on Sunday in search of the team's second 8-1 start to a season in the last 15 years. They also did it in 2019 on the way to the Super Bowl.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner (54) celebrates next to linebacker Jaden Dugger (53) after forcing a fumble, which the 49ers recovered, against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Jaden Dugger (53) gestures after returning an interception for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) passes as San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (99) applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)

San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (99) is introduced before an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)

The College Football Playoff will double in size to 24 teams beginning next year, bringing an end to a three-decade era of conference title games that used to be among the marquee events of the season.

College leaders announced the new format Monday, after ESPN agreed to rework its contract to add the 11 new games. Terms were not announced, though ESPN said it was a deal for five years and additional $1.7 billion, on top of the $7.8 billion contract that runs through the 2031 season.

The revenue generated from the new games will presumably make up for the estimated $345 million the Power Four conference title games were worth. ESPN would then not be on the hook for $140 million of the extra money due to cancellation of the title games, the network reported.

The new format will have five automatic qualifiers — the champions of the Power Four league s and the best-ranked team in the smaller Group of Six conferences — with the other 19 teams being chosen by a selection panel. Notre Dame does not receive any guarantees, the way it does this year if it's ranked in the top 12 for what will be the last year of the 12-team postseason.

The top eight seeds will receive first-round byes in the new format and the playoff will start on the second weekend in December, with the first two rounds of games on campus. The traditional Army-Navy game will be played on the first weekend in December, which used to be reserved for conference title games.

Both the Southeastern and Big Ten conferences, whose approval was needed to adopt this change, and their Power Four brethren — the Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference — are banking that most of the additional spots will go to their membrers so some of the second-tier teams have new motivation to keep spending big in an era of NIL and $50 million football rosters.

“Opening the playoff to more programs, more student-athletes and more fan bases across the country is great for college football,” said Mississippi State president Mark Keenum, who is chair of the CFP board. "We look forward to seeing this expanded format come to life next season.”

The first final for the 24-team playoff remains set for Jan. 24, 2028, in New Orleans. Traditional bowl games will still host the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds.

As part of the expansion, the CFP is requiring Power Four teams to play at least 10 “qualifying” regular-season games against conference foes, other Power FOur opponents and Notre Dame. Group of Six teams will have to play 10 games against conference opponents and a mix of G6 teams, Notre Dame and other independents.

The agreement guarantees two off weeks during a regular season that will begin the week before Labor Day.

Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college football coverage here

UCLA defenders tackle Nevada wide receiver Perrion Williams, center bottom, during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Georgia linebacker Chris Cole (9) scores a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Fans storm the field after an NCAA college football game between Southern California and Ohio State, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)