49ers Bulletin: No show in Houston stark reminder of 2025 ceiling

The 49ers had plenty of momentum heading into Houston after an impressive home win over the Falcons in week seven. They were lauded, especially on defense, for successfuly masking the massive losses of Nick Bosa and Fred Warner and holding the Falcons to just 10 points. That performance makes it very hard to explain what happened to San Francisco on Sunday in Houston. The Texans beat the Niners soundly, winning 26-15 in a game that probably wasn’t as close as the final score indicated. Pump the brakes, Niners fans. Sunday’s loss was a harsh reminder of the relatively low ceiling hanging over the 2025 49ers. 

CJ Stroud, much maligned for regression over the last year and change, looked more like his sensational rookie self against the Niners than he has since the end of that campaign. You’d look great in the pocket too if the defensive line was that inept in the pass rush. The Niners hardly breathed on Stroud on Sunday. He sat in a pristine pocket, dealing intermediate passes down the field and hitting receivers in stride. He torched the Niners for 318 yards and two touchdowns. 

The Niners’ offense didn’t serve as much of an upgrade. An anemic first half was window dressed by a touchdown mini drive with less than two minutes remaining. Prior to that long kick return-aided touchdown march, the Niners had exactly zero first downs. Mac Jones found George Kittle in the end zone to breathe some life into a previously dead Niners sideline before the break.

Kittle wasn’t the only Niners tight end to get in on the festivities of the position’s national holiday. Mac Jones found Jake Tonges for a one yard score late in the third quarter. It looked as if the throw may have been intended for Kittle running along the back of the end zone, but Tonges snagged it and eliminated any question. Kittle was surely happy to share the love. 

The defense objectively played poorly, but Kittle was quick to point out that their shortcomings were also a product of bad complimentary football. The young and inexperienced group on defense didn’t receive much of a lift from a dormant offense. When Houston put together prolonged first half drives that put the defense on its heels, a quick three and out from the red and gold offense didn’t give them much of a chance to catch their breath. 

Kyle Shanahan assessed Mac Jones’ performance as he typically does with his starting quarterback. It was an up and down game for the embattled Jones. He made a handful of truly impressive throws, but was also off here and there when the Niners needed him to be on the money. “I don’t think anyone on offense played that good.”

It was Cal football’s Justin Allegri’s turn to fill in for the legendary Greg Papa in the 49ers radio booth on Sunday. Even in a losing effort, Allegri knocked the Niners’ two touchdowns out of the park. 

The 49ers can get to 6-3 with a win over the reeling Giants on Sunday in New York. But even then, the bone structure of this team is prohibitive of the goals that this team sets for itself year in and year out.