The San Francisco 49ers lost 26-15 in a maddening game against the Houston Texans. Turns out, not having Bryce Huff on a defense already running on fumes might make said defense worse.
But it wasn’t all terrible. The defense did secure one significant milestone, specifically a turnover. But not just any turnover, an interception. The first of 2025, and a pick that snaps an NFL record 14-game drought of games without an interception.
So THAT’s what an interception is like. It’s been so long that some fans may have forgotten.
And with that, Deommodore Lenoir is the hero snapping that streak. It took the 49ers until Week 8 to finally notch their first interception of the season. Between that and their celebration of National Tight End Day, you have all the necessary highlights of the Texans’ loss.
Of course, as great as that play was, it wouldn’t be complete without some ill-advised decision. In this case, Lenoir is looking to take it to the house rather than go down so the 49ers could try a field goal with Eddy Pineiro. In the scheme of things, three points weren’t going to matter. That said, 10 points to end the half could have helped with the mental and psychological aspects of the game, and giving up 10 points in that span would’ve been a terrible way for the Texans to go into halftime.
Again, at the end of the day, three points didn’t decide the game. This is not the equivalent of Dre Greenlaw not going down immediately in the NFC Divisional.
The 49ers defense has generated turnovers this year, but it’s all been fumbles. We’ve seen a couple of would-be picks that made Jaquiski Tartt green with envy, but nothing to solidify a change of possession. This includes a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence, who was on a streak of throwing interceptions, and snapped it by the 49ers, not securing one of their own.
Maybe now the defense can start a different streak. I know! How about we go back to the Jim Harbaugh days and make a streak of games without a rushing touchdown? Who knows.
But back to Lenoir’s decision to try to go to the other end of the field. Do you think he was right to go for it or should he have gone down for the field goal? Would a field goal really matter?
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