ClutchPoints
The San Francisco 49ers have been tested often in recent weeks. This Week 8 clash against the Houston Texans may be their toughest mental test yet. San Francisco sits at 5-2. They are coming off a gritty 20-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football. Despite the win, the 49ers remain far from full strength, particularly at quarterback. Brock Purdy (toe) remains sidelined. This leaves Mac Jones under center once more. After throwing three interceptions and no touchdowns over his last two games, Jones will be under pressure to protect the football and manage the game efficiently.
The 49ers will continue to ride Christian McCaffrey, of course. He has been sensational even amidst offensive instability. McCaffrey racked up 201 total yards and two touchdowns last week. He once again proved his value as both a runner and receiver. He’ll need to deliver again against a Texans defense ranked third in the NFL in schedule-adjusted efficiency. That’s a unit led by dynamic edge rushers Will Anderson Jr and Danielle Hunter. This game pits Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans against his former team. It will be a classic chess match between one of the league’s most innovative defensive minds and his former mentor, Kyle Shanahan.
The Texans (2-5) do not have the record of a contender. However, they’ve been a thorn in the side of every opponent. Their defense plays fast and disciplined, though their offense remains inconsistent under CJ Stroud. He has struggled in recent weeks after a hot start. With Nico Collins questionable due to a concussion, the Texans will likely rely on tight end Dalton Schultz and a steady dose of short passes to move the chains. This matchup has all the makings of a low-scoring slugfest between two physical, defensive-minded teams.
*Watch NFL games LIVE with fuboTV (click for a free trial)*
Here we will look at and discuss some bold predictions for the game between the 49ers and the Texans in Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season.
The Texans’ offense lives and dies by Stroud. This week, though, he faces one of the worst possible matchups. The 49ers’ defense, despite battling injuries of its own, remains elite against the pass. They rank top-five in sacks and interceptions. Stroud threw for 229 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a loss to Seattle last week. He will find little comfort against the Niners’ ferocious front seven, even without Nick Bosa.
With Collins potentially sidelined, Stroud’s downfield options are limited. Houston may need to lean heavily on quick screens and checkdowns to keep him upright. That approach will limit his yardage ceiling, even if it reduces turnovers. As such, Stroud finishes with under 210 passing yards. He will complete less than 60 percent of his throws as San Francisco’s pass rush and disguised coverages force a conservative offensive plan.
When the passing game...
