Texans Defeat 49ers 26-15 Highlighting San Francisco Defensive Struggles

The San Francisco 49ers suffered a surprising 26-15 loss to the Houston Texans, with their offense particularly struggling by failing to record a first down until late in the first half and scoring their fewest points of the season. The defense also faltered significantly, conceding 475 yards and allowing quarterback C.J. Stroud to complete nearly 77% of his throws, largely due to a lack of pass rush exacerbated by season-ending injuries to key players like Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. Specific players such as Renardo Green, Connor Colby, and Marques Sigle saw their stock fall after poor individual performances, while the absence of healthy defensive personnel deepened San Francisco's woes. Despite some bright spots, including touchdowns from tight ends George Kittle and Jake Tonges and an interception by Deommodore Lenoir, the team’s injury problems continued to mount, with multiple defensive starters sidelined during the game. The loss also had divisional implications, as the 49ers dropped to third place behind the Rams and Seahawks, who gained ground during San Francisco's bye week. Overall, the game highlighted the urgent need for improvement on both sides of the ball and raised concerns about the team's depth and resilience moving forward.