49ers vs. Texans Week 17 Live Blog
SANTA CLARA -- This is the live blog for the 49ers' Week 17 game against the Houston Texans. I will update this frequently with information and analysis from the press box.
11:38 Here are the 49ers' inactives:
Jimmy Garoppolo
Talanoa Hufanga
Azeez Al-Shaair
Dre Greenlaw
Colton McKivitz
Tanner Hudson
Maurice Hurst
11:40 The 49ers will win this game if they don't turn the ball over, just like every other week. The Texans are terrible, but they'll win if the 49ers beat themselves. That means Trey Lance's No. 1 job is the same as Jimmy Garoppolo's when Garoppolo is healthy: protect the football.
The Texans defense surely will stack the box and make Lance prove he can throw an accurate pass. But if he hits one big play early, the Texans will back off and the 49ers will run them into the ground. The 49ers should be able to run the ball two dozen different ways and completely overwhelm a terrible Houston run defnse.
As long as Lance hits a couple long throws, picks up a few first downs with legs and doesn't throw an interception, the 49ers will win a grim, ugly, low-scoring game. But a win is a win, especially when the backup quarterback who hasn't played in 11 weeks is starting.
The Texans will try to control the time of possession with their run game, which will force Lance to throw. So the 49ers need to shut down the Texans run game to win.
Final score prediction: 49ers 20, Texans 16.
1:02 The 49ers win the toss and choose to defer. The Texans will receive the opening kickoff.
FIRST QUARTER
1:08 First play from scirmmage, D.J. Jones bursts into the backfield and tackles Rex Burkhead for a 4-yard loss. The Texans punt three plays later. The 49ers take over at their 22 after a fair catch by Brandon Aiyuk.
1:10 On 3rd and 10 from the 49ers 22, Lance scrambles for six yards, and then the 49ers punt. The 49ers ran twice for no yards the first two plays. The Texans take over at their 35 after the punt. Shanahan needs to get the 49ers offense into 3rd and medium so Lance's scrambles can pick up first downs.
1:15 On 3rd and 1 from the Houston 44, the Texans run the option, Samson Ebukam tackles Rex Burkhead for the 1-yard loss and Houston goes three and out. The 49ers take over at their 22 after an 11-yard return by Aiyuk.
1:23 On 4th and 1 from the Houston 45, the 49ers run the option and Mitchell loses three yards. These teams have been identically bad so far.
1:29 On 3rd and 12 from the 49ers 43, Josh Norman breaks up a pass over the middle intended for Brandin Cooks, and the Texans punt the ball down to the 49ers 4-yard line.
SECOND QUARTER
1:43 On 2nd and 11 from the Texans 44, Lance gets sacked for a loss of 8. Next play, he completes a pass over the middle to Jauan Jennings for 12 yards, and then the 49ers punt. The Texans take over at their 13.
1:48 On 3rd and 2 from the Texans 20, Ambry Thomas nearly intercepts a dangerous pass intended for Nico Collins. The 49ers take over at their 45 after a 18-yard punt return by Aiyuk.
1:52 First play, Lance underthrows a play-action pass intended for George Kittle and gets intercepted. The Texans take over at their 20.
2:08 On 3rd and goal from the 8, Fred Warner gives up a touchdown catch to Brandin Cooks. The 49ers will get the ball back with 1:57 left.
49ers 0, Texans 7.
2:13 On 3rd and 8, Lance completes a 5-yard pass to Kyle Juszczyk, and the 49ers go three and out. The Texans get the ball at their 39 with 1:18 left after the punt.
2:18 On 2nd and 8 from the Texans 41, Arik Armstead sacks Davis Mills for a loss of 10. The Texans punt two plays later. The 49ers get the ball at their 25 with 38 seconds left after the punt.
2:24 On 2nd and 15 from the Texans 31, Lance completes a 12-yard pass to Brandon Aiyuk. Next play, Robbie Gould makes a 37-yard field goal as the first half ends. The 49ers will get the ball to start the second half.
49ers 3, Texans 7.
THIRD QUARTER
2:43 On 4th and 1 from the Texans 24, the 49ers go for it and Lance throws an incomplete pass intended for Aiyuk, who wasn't open. It looked like Lance could have ran for the first down.
2:51 On 3rd and 3 from the 49ers 45, Marcell Harris intercepts Mills. The 49ers take over at their 42.
2:55 On 1st and goal from the 8, Lance play fakes, rolls right and dumps the ball off to Elijah Mitchell for an easy touchdown. Excellent drive. Brandon Aiyuk drew a 37-yard pass interference on a deep throw down the middle.
49ers 10, Texans 7.
3:01 On 3rd and 2 from the Texans 26, Jordan Willis sacks Mills for a loss of 8, and Houston goes 3 and out. The 49ers get take over at their 28 after the punt.
3:07 On 3rd and 7 from the 49ers 41, Lance scrambles for six yards, then Mitch Wishnowsky punts the ball down to the Texans 10.
FOURTH QUARTER
3:21 On 3rd and 3 from the 49ers 18, Samson Ebukam sacks Mills for a loss of 9. Next play, the Texans miss a 45-yard field goal. That sack made that field goal attempt much more difficult. The 49ers committed 56 yards worth of pass interference penalties during that drive.
3:27 On 3rd and 3 from the 49ers 42, Lance throws a 13-yard completion to Jauan Jennings. Next play, Lance throws a 45-yard touchdown pass to Deebo Samuel. So pretty.
49ers 17, Texans 7.
3:36 On 3rd and 8 from the 49ers 41, Mills throws an incomplete pass, and then the Texans punt the ball into the end zone.
3:47 On 2nd and goal from the 3, Trey Lance runs into the end zone for a touchdown, but a hold by Aiyuk negates the score. So a few plays later, Robbie Gould makes a 27-yard field goal.
49ers 20, Texans 7.
3:50 On 4th and 2 from the Houston 27, Dontae Johnson breaks up a pass and the Texans turn the ball over on downs.
3:57 Robbie Gould makes a 36-yard field goal with 1:12 left. The 49ers will win this game. Stay tuned for their grades.
49ers 23, Texans 7.
