The San Francisco 49ers enter Sunday’s matchup towards the Houston Texans with a 5-2 document, however Houston’s 2-4 begin doesn’t inform the complete story.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans has constructed a protection that continues to be one of many league’s most disciplined and efficient models.
Ryans, a former 49ers linebacker coach and defensive coordinator, is aware of the best way to assemble a scheme that challenges opposing offenses.
His present group has confirmed troublesome to attain towards, significantly by way of the air.
Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. anchors that secondary and just lately appeared on The Richard Sherman Podcast to debate what makes Houston’s protection so formidable.
“The D-line, they know the best way to work with one another. They’re all working collectively, then it’s the identical on the backend. Once we all try this on the identical time each play, not less than we attempt to each play, it’s only a good outcome,” Stingley mentioned.
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 defensive position 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 recreation, rating fifth in that class.
Stingley and security Jalen Pitre have been instrumental in sustaining that degree of protection.
The cross rush doesn’t generate overwhelming strain, rating twenty third in strain price at 32 % and twentieth in sacks with 14.
Nonetheless, Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. present sufficient risk to disrupt timing.
Houston forces quarterbacks to launch the ball in simply 2.62 seconds on common, the quickest mark in soccer.
That urgency might check San Francisco’s offensive line and decision-making all through Sunday’s recreation.
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