HOUSTON – Hey, at least tight ends George Kittle and Jake Tonges scored touchdowns on the NFL’s so-called National Tight Ends Day.
And at least Deommodore Lenoir’s interception snapped the 49ers’ 14-game, 469-pass drought without a pick.
But even those highlights came with complications, and, at the end, the 49ers didn’t have much else to celebrate in a 26-15 loss Sunday to the host Texans.
“They kicked our (butt) and we have to take it like men and come back pissed off and go to work and play better next week,” coach Kyle Shanahan said.
The 49ers (5-3) and their skeleton crew on defense now move on to their fourth road trip in a five-game span. Next Sunday, they’ll face a New York Giants team that is 2-6 and lost rookie running back Cam Skattebo to a lower-leg injury in their 38-20 loss at Philadelphia.
The 49ers’ defensive attrition proved glaring against the Texans (3-4) and third-year quarterback C.J. Stroud, who threw for 318 yards and two touchdowns even without his top wide receivers, Nico Collins and Christian Kirk.
C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans makes a pass in the first quarter of the game against the San Francisco 49ers at NRG Stadium on Oct. 26, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
The 49ers failed to sack Stroud and hit him just twice. That lack of pass-rush production came despite frequent blitzes to cover for a skeleton defense. Yes, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner are done for the season, the 49ers soldiered into this game without Bryce Huff and Yetur Gross-Matos, but then three more defensive starters left with injury: linebacker Dee Winters (knee), defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (ankle) and defensive end Sam Okuayinonu (ankle).
“There’s not much to sugarcoat. I was real disappointed how we looked all four quarters,” Shanahan added. “The first half was unacceptable and it didn’t get much better.”
Although the 49ers trailed just 16-7 at halftime, Houston dominated in terms of offensive plays (45-14), first downs (14-2) and net yards (299-65).
“That was a horrible first half, it was a really bad performance by our offense, and we completely left our young defense out to dry today,” Kittle said. “The whole day they played ‘bend don’t break.’ Our offense has to score points. Yes, we’re missing key guys but we have to score points. We didn’t help our defense out at all the entire day.”
Stroud barely got touched, even against an early barrage of blitzes. The Texans scored on six of their first seven possessions, with four short-range field goals and a 30-yard, third-down scoring strike. They didn’t punt until 4 1/2 minutes remained in the game.
“They held onto the ball as well as any team I’ve gone against,” Shanahan said. “When the defense is out there that long, we can’t go three-and-out and we had too many of those today.”
George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers scores a touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on Oct. 26, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
The 49ers failed to generate a first down on 6-of-9 possessions.
Sure, growing pains like Sunday’s were expected this season from the 49ers’ youth-laden defense. But now with so many marquee starters out, that could put more urgency to find help before the Nov. 4 trade deadline.
“Nothing changes,” Shanahan countered. “It has to do with what’s available out there. Does it help us this year, does it help us next year? Usually as things gets closer, you get an idea who’s real or not (as a trade-deadline option).”
The Texans’ lengthy scoring drives kept the ball away from the 49ers for over 40 minutes, leaving little time for the 49ers to rally behind quarterback Mac Jones, who made his fourth straight start and sixth this season in place of Brock Purdy.
Jones was 19-of-32 for 193 yards and tried to finish strong, but a potential touchdown heave toward Jauan Jennings instead got intercepted at the 1-yard line by Kamari Lassiter with 1 minute, 56 seconds remaining.
“It wasn’t our day today,” Jones said. “I’ve played them three times, and each time I’ve left the field, I’ve thought they were the best defense in the NFL.”
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs with the ball as Houston Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter (55) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Christian McCaffrey’s yards-from-scrimmage dominance this season hit a roadblock in Houston: eight carries for 25 yards and three catches for 43 yards. It was his first game without 100 scrimmage yards.
The 49ers had pulled within 23-15 just before the fourth quarter, compliments of Jones’ 2-yard touchdown missile to Tonges and 2-point conversion toss to Demarcus Robinson. Tonges’ catch, by the way, came on a Jones pass intended for Kittle.
Setting up those points was a 25-yard, third-and-17 catch at the 2-yard line by Jennings, who earlier dropped a 45-yard bomb at the 20-yard line.
Down 16-0, the 49ers came alive with last-minute theatrics before halftime, highlighted by Kittle’s 17-yard, third-down touchdown catch. Setting up that score was Brian Robinson’s 46-yard kick return – the 49ers’ longest this season – plus a 15-yard facemask penalty, followed by an 18-yard catch from Kendrick Bourne.
The half ended when Lenoir intercepted an overthrown pass near the 49ers’ sideline at their 44-yard line, and rather than step out of bounds, he ran out the final five seconds with a return to the Texans’ 33.
“I was trying to score. I should have slid,” Lenoir said. “I wasn’t aware how much time was left on the clock.”
It was a lesson about situational football that Shanahan promised to review next week. But it did snap the 49ers’ NFL-record streak of 14 consecutive games (469 passes) without an interception, and it was Lenoir’s first since last Oct. 27.
“It wasn’t good enough at all all three phases, and our special teams played best,” Shanahan said. “We struggled to tackle. We struggled to get a rush. We made too many mistakes in secondary and didn’t challenge them enough.”
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (2) reacts after an interception during the second quarter against the Houston Texans during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
Originally Published: October 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM PDT