NaVorro Bowman 'unofficially' leads NFL in tackles

San Francisco 49ers All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman is currently leading the league in tackles according to CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco, depending on what defensive metrics you choose to use, that is.

Over at NFL.com's statistics headquaters Bowman is atop the list as the league's top tackler with 37 combined tackles with 15 assists and 22 solo.

Defensive statistics are part of the stats package distributed after every NFL game. They are totaled by a stats crew at the stadium, with many tackle identifications somewhat unreliable due to the speed of the game. it's not an official NFL stat because there are different "tabulations" as Maiocco puts it, and causes discrepancies.

Each team recalculates tackle totals after reviewing film. Bowman was credited with 18 tackles against the Vikings, but after reviewing the film 49ers coaches credited him with 17 tackles last Sunday.

Bowman, the third year player out of Penn State currently already has 226 tackles and an interception in his short tim in the NFL.