The Houston Texans ran the most plays (16) and took the most time off the clock (9:39) on their opening drive against the San Francisco 49ers. Houston became the first team to score on its opening drive against the 49ers this season. After all of those plays, the Texans only managed a field goal to take an early 3-0 lead.
The game started similarly to last week, when the Atlanta Falcons had a 19-play drive. Unfortunately, the offense didn’t help them out after a short drive, which meant San Francisco’s
defense would take the field moments later.
The second Texans drive started with a 50-yard pass to Woody Marks after Tatum Bethune inexplicably went after the quarterback instead of staying with Marks. But a C.J. Stroud incompletion and a short pass on third down meant Houston would be forced to settle for yet another field goal. That made it 6-0.
The Niners’ offense did next to nothing on their second drive. After Christian McCaffrey picked up eight yards on the first down, the Niners threw the ball twice. On third down, a target to Demarcus Robinson was behind the line of scrimmage. So, another punt for the offense.
Upton Stout gave up a reception on 3rd & 4. Houston followed that up with a 44-yarder. To add insult to injury, Alfred Collins went down with an injury on the ensuing play. The Texans eventually scored, making it 13-0.
Unsurprisingly, based on how the game had gone, the 49ers went three-and-out on their third offensive possession of the game. The ten plays the 49ers had gone without a first down had been the longest the Niners had gone without a first down under Kyle Shanahan.
The defense had an opportunity to get off the field, but Stout’s defensive holding gave Houston a fresh set of downs. Collins returned, but Jordan Elliott went down. As did Upton Stout. Chase Lucas went in for Stout. Lucas gave up a first down reception on the second play he was in. The defense held Houston to yet another field goal, making it 16-0.
A long Brian Robinson field goal gave the Niners life before half. A Kendrick Bourne reception gave San Francisco its first first down of the game with 39 seconds remaining. On 3rd & 10 inside the red zone, George Kittle came through in double coverage to put the 49ers on the board. That made it 17-6, and the Niners would get the ball to begin the third quarter.
Deommodore Lenoir ended the half with an interception, giving the Niners some much-needed life and momentum heading into halftime.
A three-and-out to start the half was not what the doctor ordered. The good news was that the Texans would start their drive from their own six. The bad news was that it wouldn’t matter.
A three-and-out to start the half was not what the doctor ordered. The good news was that the Texans would start their drive from their own six. The bad news was that it wouldn’t matter. Houston converted three third downs on the drive, including a 3rd & 10. On the final third down, Ji’Ayir Brown was beaten for 30 yards to make it 23-7.
Elliott was ruled out, as was linebacker Dee Winters. Robert Saleh’s defense had zero pass rush, and C.J. Stroud reaped the rewards. On the 49ers’ next drive, Sam Okuayinonu was sidelined with an ankle injury. That meant Trevis Gipson would be on the field.
Kyle Shanahan and Mac Jones answered with a 12-play, 76-yard drive, taking seven minutes off the clock. Jauan Jennings made up for an earlier drop on the drive with a 25-yard reception that was a difficult grab. The ball was perfectly placed by Jones, who also converted the two-point conversion on a nifty route by Demarcus Robinson. That made it 23-15.
The Texans answered with another field goal to make it 26-15. It was the sixth-scoring drive Houston had of at least nine plays.
Jordan Watkins was targeted on 3rd & 11 for the first time in his career. The pass was a little high, but it was a ball that Watkins should’ve caught. His numbers may not suggest it, but Mac Jones had played a good game, despite what the scoreboard said, either.
The Texans punted for the first time in the game with just over four minutes to play. Skyy Moore didn’t catch the ball on the one-yard line. Houston had a fortunate bounce, and that’s where San Francisco’s drive began.
A 17-yarder to Kendrick Bourne got the Niners out of their own end zone. Christian McCaffrey’s 27-yard scamper flipped the field and put the offense in Houston’s territory. Jones’ first mistake would be the last opportunity the 49ers would have. A fade to Jennings was slightly underthrown and to the inside, and that interception would seal the deal.
