SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Suited to the Cover 2 schemes of Texans defensive coordinator Lovie Smith, veteran cornerback Desmond King has instinctively adapted.
King intercepted his third pass of the season, tying cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr. for the most on the team, Sunday during a 23-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
King picked off 49ers rookie quarterback Trey Lance, and his interception by disrupting an intended throw to star tight end George Kittle, led to the Texans' only score on a Davis Mills touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
“I am just playing my zone," King said after the game at Levi's Stadium. "I saw Kittle coming from the front side and it was a drawn-up play. It was definitely a play that they definitely drew up and wanted to get the ball in Kittle’s hands. I know he is an impact guy for their offense, so I saw him coming back from the other side and something just told me to look back once I ran with him and the ball was coming and I made the play. I told myself all week that I was going to sit in those seats if I had the opportunity. I definitely had the opportunity to do that and it felt really good.”
“It is just simple. This defense is like a machine. Everybody has a job, everybody has what they need to do and as long as they do that and take care of it, this defense can be unstoppable. We have seen it a couple games before just shutting people out and getting turnovers and that is simply because guys are doing their jobs and being in the right place."
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The Texans squandered a 7-3 lead, though, dropping to a 4-12 season record as they were outscored 20-0 in the second half. Their two-game winning streak was snapped heading into the regular-season finale Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
“We will just keep fighting," King said. "We have one game left, divisional opponent and it is going to be at home. So just to end the season off right at home going into next year with that is motivation.”
In the second half, the 49ers made several big plays. That included a 45-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Deebo Samuel and the 49ers finishing with 175 rushing yards for the game behind rookie running back Elijah Mitchell getting outside the tackle box.
"We knew when Deebo was in the backfield, it was drawn up to get him the ball in space and get him on the perimeter," King said. "I figured throughout the game that they would attack our perimeter edges with the run and they have different type of people that can handle the ball. 22 [49ers running back Jeff Wilson Jr], 25 [Mitchell], those guys can get downhill and run between the tackles as well. Just trying to stop the run each and every down against those guys and try to keep them from attacking the perimeter."