<
        >

          Deommodore Lenoir's interception leads to 49ers' first score

          • Nick Wagoner, ESPN Staff WriterJan 23, 2023, 12:19 AM
            Close
              Nick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL at ESPN since 2016, having previously covered the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, including three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In his 10 years with the company, Nick has led ESPN's coverage of the Niners' 2019 Super Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick's protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, Sam's subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the team's relocation and stadium saga. You can follow Nick via Twitter @nwagoner
            Follow on X

          SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- For the second week in a row, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir came up with the game's first interception, and it got the Niners on the board first in Sunday's NFC divisional playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys.

          With 5:55 left in the first quarter, the Cowboys faced a third-and-9 at their 21-yard line. Quarterback Dak Prescott dropped back and fired down the left sideline for wide receiver Michael Gallup. But Lenoir jumped in front of the pass, intercepted it at Dallas' 27 and returned it to the 21.

          Lenoir became the first Niners player with interceptions in consecutive postseason games since Richard Sherman in the 2020 divisional round and the NFC Championship Game.

          San Francisco was unable to capitalize with a touchdown, however, settling for a 26-yard field goal from Robbie Gould to take a 3-0 lead with 2:12 left in the opening quarter.