In a frigid, defense-heavy showdown in Cleveland, the San Francisco 49ers’ defense delivered one of its most disciplined performances of the season. San Francisco’s young defensive core stepped up, with linebackers and edge rushers driving a 26–8 victory. The latest PFF grades show a unit defined by standout linebacker play, high-impact pass rush moments, and some struggles from the interior defensive line.

Top Defensive Performers

Dee Winters LB — 79.6 (63 snaps)

Winters turned in his most complete performance, earning the highest defensive grade on the team. He led San Francisco in run-defense grade (71.8), coverage grade (76.2), and stops (2). Winters allowed just three receptions for eight yards and was the glue in the middle of the field. With Fred Warner out, Winters once again proved he can command the second level.

Malik Mustapha S — 78.5 (63 snaps)

Mustapha’s range and physicality were pivotal in the cold-weather matchup. He finished with a strong coverage presence and two missed tackles, but had several key downhill plays. His performance solidified the safety tandem despite Ji’Ayir Brown posting a quieter game this week.

Deommodore Lenoir CB — 71.0 (63 snaps)

Lenoir was one of the most reliable defenders on the field. He earned a 76.0 coverage grade, allowing just one catch for seven yards. Even with one missed tackle, he controlled his side of the field and helped limit Cleveland’s perimeter passing.

Clelin Ferrell DE — 70.8 (39 snaps)

Ferrell didn’t just grade well, he produced. He tied for the team lead in pressures (4) and posted two sacks, flashing veteran power and discipline. He also registered three run stops, tied for the most on the team.

Lowest-Graded Defensive Performers

Luke Gifford LB — 33.8 (9 snaps)

Gifford struggled across the board. He finished with the lowest defensive grade on the team (33.8) and the lowest coverage grade (38.7). His limited snaps still exposed weaknesses Cleveland exploited over the middle.

CJ West DT — 35.3 (27 snaps)

West had a difficult outing both in run defense and pass rush. He lacked push up front and had trouble anchoring against Cleveland’s interior run game.

Kalia Davis DL — 35.9 (33 snaps)

Davis earned the lowest run-defense grade on the team (37.7) as he struggled to control gaps. His inconsistent leverage contributed to several early down gains for Cleveland.

Alfred Collins DL — 38.5 (38 snaps)

Collins posted the lowest pass-rush grade of his career (50.0) and finished with one missed tackle. His development continues, but this was a setback in a feature role.

Robert Beal Jr. DE — 50.3 (16 snaps)

Beal had a mixed performance while he did have the highest pass-rush grade on the team (69.6) he only produced one pressure. His overall defensive grade dropped due to inconsistency outside rushing situations.

Pass-Rushing Breakdown

The 49ers generated steady pressure:

Pressures by defender:

• Clelin Ferrell — 4
• Keion White — 4
• Jordan Elliott — 1
• Bryce Huff — 1
• Robert Beal Jr. — 1

Ferrell dominated with two sacks, while White added one of his own. The interior, however, struggled to collapse the pocket consistently.

Final Takeaway

A combination of disciplined linebackers and high-impact edge pressure carried the 49ers defense. Winters and Mustapha validated their emerging roles, Lenoir continued his steady lockdown play, and Ferrell delivered his best performance of the season. Some concerns linger on the interior defensive line, but as a whole, this was a defensive win in every sense.