Battle Red Blog
The Texans, hot off an extremely disappointing loss to the Seattle Seahawks, come back to Houston to host the San Francisco 49ers in another tilt against a difficult NFC West opponent that could decide the Texans season. This is the first home game for the Texans since their victory over the Titans, and they’re desperate to get another win just like that to stay alive in a crowded AFC. The 49ers, despite relying on backup quarterback Mac Jones for most of the season, is 5-2 and in the thick of a busy NFC West race for the division crown. Both the 49ers and Texans come into this game with top ranked defenses, but Houston’s offense has been the big bugaboo in all of their losses while the 49ers just keep winning, mostly thanks to McCaffrey. For both teams, a win here is critical, so let’s recap:
Scoring this Quarter: Texans: 3; 49ers: 0
You may have thought the Houston Texans were dead fish in the water…showing so little life on offense against the Seahawks that a +3 turnover differential still wasn’t enough to win. But, from the grave they have returned! At a crucial moment of the season, the Texans came out in the opening drive this game and had maybe their most impressive, most time consuming…field goal drive of the season. Even though it was just three points, that opening drive ate up nearly ten minutes off the clock. Nick Chubb and Braxton Berrios suddenly became big parts of the offense on this drive, ultimately resulting in a 33-yard field goal.
After that long drive, the 49ers only had a chance for a single drive the first quarter: a 4-play, 3-yard drive highlighted San Fran penalties on the first three plays of the game. A few incompletions later, and they were punting back to the Houston offense, who was just getting started.
Scoring this Quarter: Texans: 13; 49ers: 7
In Houston’s second offensive drive, rookie running back Woody Marks made another highlight-reel play. On second & 5, immediately after getting a 5-yard rush, Stroud flicked the ball to an open Marks and he went rolling for a 50-yard gain!
After that, Nick Chubb and Stroud himself were able to combine on two rushes to get another first down, but the offense stalled in the red-zone as Stroud airmailed a pass over Jayden Higgins and Hutchinson couldn’t get a conversion on a third-down slant route. Out comes Ka’imi Fairbairn again, and it’s 6-0 Houston. Glory to the all field goal offense!
Another 49ers punt later thanks to a big tackle on third-and-short by Jalen Pitre, and the Texans offense was humming yet again: 10 plays, 82 yards, and a touchdown to rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins! Despite a holding penalty by Jake Andrew early in the drive, the offense was undaunted and excelled at keeping Stroud clean, giving him chances to target Xavier Hutchinson, the aforementioned Higgins, and...
