Lenoir led the charge as the 49ers defense forced turnovers and shut down Arizona's record-setting offense, dominating PFF grades.
The 49ers’ defense set the tone in Week 11, forcing three turnovers, delivering two red-zone takeaways, and holding the Cardinals to 22 points despite Arizona running an NFL-record 47 completions. PFF’s defensive grades highlight the players who drove San Francisco’s success.
Top Performers
1. Luke Gifford — OLB
PFF Grade: 89.9 | 2 snaps
It was a tiny sample size, but Gifford made every one of his two snaps count, earning the highest grade on the defense. His impact came primarily on special teams and situational work, where he showed burst and discipline worthy of the near-90 grade.
2. Deommodore Lenoir — CB
PFF Grade: 86.7 | 66 snaps
Lenoir was the standout of the day and arguably the most important defensive player on the field. His third-quarter interception swung the game’s momentum, setting up a short-field touchdown for the offense. Locked in both outside and in coverage assignments, Lenoir showed one of his most complete performances of the season.
3. Curtis Robinson — LB
PFF Grade: 75.4 | 54 snaps
Robinson stepped up in a major way, providing steady tackling and clean reads in the middle of the field. Against an Arizona offense throwing nonstop underneath, Robinson thrived in zone responsibility and helped hold the Cardinals’ short passing game in check.
4. Upton Stout — CB
PFF Grade: 72.1 | 41 snaps
Stout delivered the defensive play of the game: ripping the ball out at the goal line to prevent a Cardinals touchdown to start the fourth quarter. Beyond that, he played physical, sticky coverage and showed tremendous instincts for a young defender.
5. Ji’Ayir Brown — FS
PFF Grade: 70.7 | 70 snaps
Brown played the most defensive snaps of anyone on the roster and provided reliable help over the top. Arizona’s high-volume passing approach tested the safety group repeatedly, and Brown held firm, limiting explosives and communicating well with the corners.
Lowest Graded Performers
1. Jason Pinnock — SS
PFF Grade: 38.3 | 39 snaps
Pinnock had a tough afternoon in coverage. With the Cardinals throwing almost every down, Pinnock was frequently targeted and struggled with positioning, leading to a PFF-low 38.3 grade.
2. Chase Lucas — CB
PFF Grade: 42.9 | 11 snaps
In limited action, Lucas gave up a handful of quick completions and appeared a step behind Arizona’s tempo. His difficulties in man coverage contributed to the low grade, and his small snap count didn’t give him much opportunity to bounce back.
3. Dee Winters — LB
PFF Grade: 43.4 | 62 snaps
Winters played a heavy workload and has huge shoes to fill. While he brought good energy, the consistency wasn’t there.
4. Kalia Davis — DT
PFF Grade: 49.7 | 42 snaps
Davis struggled to generate interior pressure and at times was washed out against the run. With Arizona’s quick release passing attack game plan, Davis couldn’t make his presence felt the way San Francisco needed inside.
5. Nick Martin — LB
PFF Grade: 49.9 | 14 snaps
Martin’s limited snaps weren’t his sharpest. He allowed several chunk gains over the middle and was late to trigger on a few short passes that kept Arizona’s drives alive. His grade reflects those miscues, even in a small sample.
Final Takeaway
San Francisco’s defense once again proved to be a playmaking unit built for big moments. Lenoir, Stout, and Brown headlined a secondary that produced turnovers when it mattered most, while Robinson continued to emerge as a reliable defender. The Niners’ new defensive stars made the difference in Week 11.