Despite a narrow win, 49ers defenders flashed brilliance and glaring weaknesses. Unpack the PFF grades revealing key struggles and standout performances.
The San Francisco 49ers escaped with a 42–38 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night, but the defensive performance was far more uneven than the final score might suggest. While the offense carried much of the load, Pro Football Focus grades revealed a defense that showed flashes but struggled with missed tackles, coverage lapses, and penalties. They were “bend don’t break” in the end though, especially late.
Top Performers
Defensive end Keion White was the highest-graded 49ers defender, earning an 82.4 overall grade across 28 snaps. White also posted the best pass-rush grade in the game (81.6), a season-high mark. He generated two pressures and two hurries on just 19 pass-rush snaps, consistently winning his matchups and providing much needed juice off the edge.
Linebacker Tatum Bethune followed with a 73.8 grade while playing a team-high 66 snaps. Bethune was the best run defender in the game, earning a career-high 79.5 run-defense grade and tying Dee Winters for a team high three stops. While Bethune did miss one tackle, his instincts and physicality were evident throughout the night.
Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (68.8) and C.J. West (62.8) provided solid interior play in limited roles, combining for three pressures and helping collapse the pocket at key moments. Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir rounded out the top five with a 64.5 grade despite some struggles against the run.
Pass Rush Overview
The 49ers’ defensive front generated steady pressure without consistently finishing plays. Yetur Gross-Matos led the team with three pressures, while Elliott, Clelin Ferrell, Sam Okuayinonu, and White each added two. Despite the volume, sacks were hard to come by, and Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams was often able to extend plays and throw insane deep balls.
On the other end of the spectrum, Bryce Huff endured a rough outing. He earned the lowest pass-rush grade of any player in the game (41.3), a career low, while recording just one pressure on 34 snaps.
Areas of Concern
Coverage and tackling were clear issues. Chase Lucas posted the lowest overall grade for the 49ers defense (36.8), along with the lowest tackling grade (29.9). Ji’Ayir Brown (37.5) also struggled, missing a tackle and allowing yardage on the back end.
Lenoir recorded the lowest run-defense grade in the game (28.5), while multiple defenders (Bethune, Brown, Kalia Davis, and Huff) were each charged with missed tackles.
One bright spot before injury was Upton Stout, who earned a strong 79.8 grade prior to exiting with a concussion.
Final Takeaway
The defensive grades paint a picture of a unit still searching for consistency. The pass rush showed promise but breakdowns in tackling and coverage nearly proved costly. The unnecessary defensive penalties almost proved costly as well. Against tougher postseason-caliber offenses, the margin for error will need to tighten quickly.