It won’t be a walk in the park, but 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan sees a viable pathway for quarterback Mac Jones and San Francisco to succeed against a potent Houston Texans defense.
In conversation with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco for the latest edition of “49ers Game Plan” ahead of the team’s Week 8 matchup with the Texans on Sunday afternoon at NRG Stadium, San Francisco’s play-caller detailed what his team is up against.
“They’re going to be tested because this is a very good defense,” Shanahan told Maiocco. “Everyone talks about them. Their numbers are that, and it’s what’s advertised. DeMeco [Ryans] has them playing at a very high level; very sound defense.
“Anytime that you go up against a defense who has extremely sound coverages, you want to know about their pass rush because with sound coverages, it’s tough to get big plays, but you can usually look people off and eventually get to a good hole. How does their pass rush allow you to do that, and they have the pass rush to go with it?”
After outdueling a top defense in the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7, Jones is scheduled to face one of the best overall defenses in the 2025 NFL season thus far.
Through six games, the Texans only have allowed 274.2 yards per game, placing them fourth best in the league. Additionally, Houston is among the top five teams in the league when it comes to passing defense, giving up only 179 yards per game.
Shanahan knows what’s in store for his signal-caller and offensive line.
“So, when you look at a quarterback in that situation, you have to make sure he’s able to get rid of the ball,” Shanahan explained. “You have to make sure he’s very conscious of his depth and stuff—not just backpedaling and things like that.
“You have to step in there because the edges are too short, which puts a lot of pressure on your guards, and you have to make sure you take what the defense gives you when you can get them to be a little aggressive. When we have a chance for a bigger play, that’s when we have to be aggressive also.”
Shanahan suspects Jones, who has been sacked a total of 12 times this season, will feel the pressure come Sunday.
“They are going to get after you at times,” Shanahan concluded. “That pocket is going to collapse at times. I would love for you to get rid of the ball and get an incomplete worse-case scenario. But you have to make sure if it does collapse that you protect that ball and don’t turn it over.”
But the plan is there for Jones and Co. to succeed yet again.
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