The San Francisco 49ers enter Sunday’s matchup against the Houston Texans with a 5-2 record, but Houston’s 2-4 start doesn’t tell the full story.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans has built a defense that remains one of the league’s most disciplined and effective units.
Ryans, a former 49ers linebacker coach and defensive coordinator, knows how to construct a scheme that challenges opposing offenses.
His current group has proven difficult to score against, particularly through the air.
Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. anchors that secondary and recently appeared on The Richard Sherman Podcast to discuss what makes Houston’s defense so formidable.
“The D-line, they know how to work with each other. They’re all working together, then it’s the same on the backend. When we all do that at the same time every play, at least we try to every play, it’s just a good result,” Stingley said.
Derek Stingley Jr. explains why the Texans have the BEST Defense in the NFL pic.twitter.com/78huwVhkgy
— Richard Sherman Podcast (@RShermanPodcast) October 24, 2025
The defensive line works in tandem while the secondary operates with the same cohesion, creating a unified effort on every snap.
Houston’s secondary presents the biggest challenge for San Francisco’s passing attack.
The Texans have allowed just four passing touchdowns this season, the fewest in the NFL.
Atlanta ranks second with seven, highlighting the gap between Houston and the rest of the league.
The unit has surrendered only 179 passing yards per game, ranking fifth in that category.
Stingley and safety Jalen Pitre have been instrumental in maintaining that level of coverage.
The pass rush doesn’t generate overwhelming pressure, ranking 23rd in pressure rate at 32 percent and 20th in sacks with 14.
Still, Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. provide enough threat to disrupt timing.
Houston forces quarterbacks to release the ball in just 2.62 seconds on average, the quickest mark in football.
That urgency could test San Francisco’s offensive line and decision-making throughout Sunday’s game.
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