The one good factor you possibly can say in regards to the 49ers’ efficiency Sunday in Houston was that issues improved.
Then once more, there was really nowhere for the Niners to go however up after the primary 29 minutes of the competition.
For just a few, fleeting moments, the Niners’ H-City showdown with the Texans was a contest.
For the remainder of the sport, it was a lopsided beatdown harking back to an early-season school soccer sport between a blue-blood program and a directional college that was bused in for a blowout sport and a pleasant test.
The Niners misplaced 26-15, however in a contest the place the Texans didn’t punt till the ultimate minutes of the fourth quarter and the Niners have been doubled in yardage, that hardly informed the story.
The studs and duds may, nonetheless:
STUDS 💪
Brian Robinson • RB
» The operating again’s 46-yard kick return within the remaining minute of the primary half was a catalyst for the 49ers in a sport the place — and I imply this nearly actually — nothing was going proper. San Francisco didn’t have a primary right down to that time. A couple of snaps later, the Niners scored a landing.
George Kittle • TE
» That was an superior landing catch.
Dee Winters • LB
» Earlier than his harm, Winters appeared like the one Niner defender who was making something occur.
Siran Neal • ST
» Now THAT was a particular groups sport. After two months of not understanding in anyway why the Niners invested severe American {dollars} right into a special-teams-only participant, I now see the imaginative and prescient. The gunner reps, the jammer reps. It was a factor of magnificence — maybe the one factor of magnificence for the Niners on Sunday.
DUDS 📉
Deommodore Lenoir • CB
» The primary 49ers interception in 15 video games didn’t matter as a result of Lenoir made probably the most bone-headed performs in current group historical past.
After catching the CJ Stroud go on the San Francisco 45-yard line with six seconds remaining within the first half, down 16-7, Lenoir tiptoed to remain in bounds and began operating down the sidelines.
Okay, not unhealthy thus far.
He made it again to the unique line of scrimmage — roughly the Houston 30-yard line — with three seconds remaining on the clock.
Nice job, in reality.
However that’s when Lenoir made a crucial mistake. He merely may have turned left, run out of bounds, and arrange a field-goal try for Eddy Pinero to improbably pull the Niners inside a landing going into halftime, with the ball returning to San Francisco to begin the second half.
As a substitute, he determined to chop in, the place he was tackled because the clock expired for the half.
It’s performs like this that loom giant in a contest like this. San Francisco didn’t should be shut on this sport, however what does equity should do with successful within the NFL?
However as an alternative of placing stress on Houston, Lenoir went for improbably particular person glory, and the Niners have been by no means capable of absolutely seize the momentum they discovered within the second he caught the ball.
Colton McKivitz • RT
» The Niners’ proper sort out has been wonderful this season, however he stood no probability in opposition to what is likely to be the perfect pass-rusher within the NFL, Will Anderson. He was cooked repeatedly. It occurs to the perfect of them. Sunday, it occurred to McKivitz.
Malik Mustapha • S
» Whiffs all around the discipline and questionable protection, this isn’t the Mustapha that we noticed final season. Not fairly certain what this security pairing is for the Niners — after weeks of rotating, that is what they’ve settled upon?
Ji’Ayir Brown and Mustapha can’t come off the sector now?
Is mindless to me.
Upton Stout • NB
» The Niners are in a troublesome spot, as Stout is being destroyed in protection and within the run sport, sabotaging the Niners’ protection (amongst so many different issues). On the identical time, he’s a rookie who wants reps to get higher. It appears as if the Niners selected the latter possibility.
Your entire 49ers’ line of defense
» Not solely was the go rush putrid, however in addition they did not shut down Houston’s run sport.
The Niners have been credited with two quarterback hits Sunday. That’s yet another than I seen. I did, nonetheless, see CJ Stroud doing a little yoga on the sideline within the second half. It was altogether a pleasing day for the Texans’ quarterback.
Initially Revealed: October 26, 2025 at 1:12 PM PDT
