The San Francisco 49ers enter Sunday’s matchup in opposition to the Houston Texans with a 5-2 report, however Houston’s 2-4 begin doesn’t inform the complete story.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans has constructed a protection that is still one of many league’s most disciplined and efficient items.
Ryans, a former 49ers linebacker coach and defensive coordinator, is aware of tips on how to assemble a scheme that challenges opposing offenses.
His present group has confirmed troublesome to attain in opposition to, notably via the air.
Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. anchors that secondary and not too long ago appeared on The Richard Sherman Podcast to debate what makes Houston’s protection so formidable.
“The D-line, they know tips on how to work with one another. They’re all working collectively, then it’s the identical on the backend. After we all try this on the similar time each play, at the least we attempt to each play, it’s only a good consequence,” Stingley stated.
Derek Stingley Jr. explains why the Texans have the BEST Protection within the NFL pic.twitter.com/78huwVhkgy
— Richard Sherman Podcast (@RShermanPodcast) October 24, 2025
The line of defense works in tandem whereas the secondary operates with the identical cohesion, making a unified effort on each snap.
Houston’s secondary presents the largest problem for San Francisco’s passing assault.
The Texans have allowed simply 4 passing touchdowns this season, the fewest within the NFL.
Atlanta ranks second with seven, highlighting the hole between Houston and the remainder of the league.
The unit has surrendered solely 179 passing yards per sport, rating fifth in that class.
Stingley and security Jalen Pitre have been instrumental in sustaining that stage of protection.
The go rush doesn’t generate overwhelming stress, rating twenty third in stress price at 32 p.c and twentieth in sacks with 14.
Nonetheless, Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. present sufficient menace to disrupt timing.
Houston forces quarterbacks to launch the ball in simply 2.62 seconds on common, the quickest mark in soccer.
That urgency may check San Francisco’s offensive line and decision-making all through Sunday’s sport.
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