49ers – Texans Live Blog

This is the live blog post from the San Francisco 49ers (8-7) Week 17 Game with the Houston Texans (4-11) from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

San Francisco controls its own destiny and clinches a playoff spot today with New Orleans winning and losing to Carolina.

4:02 It’s the ball game. The 49ers win 23-7.

3:57 San Francisco takes control deep in Texas after holding Houston down, and Robbie Gould hits another field goal. 49ers 23 Texans 7

3:47 Trey Lance connects with George Kittle on a nice play for a win of 29. Lance put the money to Kittle in midfield and Kittle made a one-handed grab despite the interference.

Elijah Mitchell bursts into the Texans’ defense for a 37-yard gain on the next play.

A holding penalty on Brandon Aiyuk wipes out a touchdown from Lance, and the 49ers are content with a field goal from Robbie Gould.

49ers 20 Texans 7

3:36 Davis Mills just left Brevin Jordan wide open for a first down and missed him with an inaccurate pitch. The 49ers will take over in turn 20.

3:27 For the second time in the second half, Kyle Shanahan dials the offside corner post, after a long pass interference earlier, it is complete for Deebo Samuel for a 45-yard touchdown. A huge game for San Francisco.

49ers 17 Texans 7

3:21 Back-to-back pass interference penalties put Houston deep into the 49ers’ territory before Samson Ebukam and Arden Key teamed up to sack Davis Mills to force a 45-yard field goal attempt.

The field goal goes wide to the left and the 49ers escape. 49ers 10 Texans 7 with 12:04 left in the fourth quarter.

3:13 Nick Bosa had been non-existent for the 49ers until the last play of the third quarter. Davis Mills knocked out Brandin Cooks for a 50 win, but he was called up due to a hold on Bosa by Texans tight end Pharoah Brown.

3:09 The answer is no. Trey Lance with a nice center throw to Deebo Samuel at second base, but the wide receiver drops him. Lance finds no one open on the third try and is stopped within three feet of the third try.

Kyle Shanahan makes the right choice to repel the ball. Houston takes over on its own 10.

3:02 The 49ers defense makes a big save again. Jordan Willis came out on the left unblocked and sacked Davis Mills in 3rd and 2. San Francisco’s offense did more than enough in this game. Can the offense do its part now?

2:55 The 49ers have had receivers open deep on the road from the corner post all season and the quarterback hasn’t taken the hit. Throws the fact and Houston is called for a 43-yard pass interference penalty.

Facing the 3rd and 4th, Lance did a good job finding JaMycal Hasty on 7 yards on a checkdown. On the next play, Lance finds Elijah Mitchell in the right dish during a play action rollout and Mitchell gives the 49ers their first lead of the day. 49ers 10 Texans 7

2:51 Marcell Harris buoys the offense with an interception from Davis Mills on the 49ers 40-yard line.

2:45 Trey Lance with a nice shot to Brandon Aiyuk for 43 yards on the 49ers’ third play of the second half, but it’s all downhill from there.

Lance had Trent Sherfield wide open but couldn’t get the ball over the linebacker. A few runs from Lance then the 4th and 1, and instead of keeping it for the first down, Lance throws incomplete at Brandon Aiyuk.

San Francisco is now 1-7 in 4th overall in Lance’s two starts. Maybe they should stop going forward and take the points instead?

2:25 On his second chance in a two-minute drill, Lance is able to get the 49ers within shooting range and Robbie Gould puts the 49ers on the board when time expires.

The 49ers will also get the ball to open the second half. 49ers 3 Texans 7

2:19 Arik Armstead’s big bag leads to a three and one out. Lance will have one more chance this half.

2:14 Three and for the 49ers. Everything about Lance just seems slow. His passes all take too long to get out of his hand and he doesn’t do anything with his legs. This is pretty much the worst start you can have.

2:08 After Lance’s interception, Houston traveled 80 yards in 14 games and finished the drive with a touchdown from Davis Mills to Brandin Cooks at 8 yards. The Cooks beat Fred Warner for the score. Texans 7 49ers 0

1:52 On the first try, Kye Shanahan calls for a shot and Trey Lance completely misses it. He had Deebo Samuel 10 yards behind the defense and instead he throws at George Kittle and the ball is intercepted.

Awful.

1:48 Ambry Thomas almost got his first interception on the third down. Nico Collins ran a loop and Thomas was all over him, just couldn’t hold on to the ball.

The 49ers’ offense at 1:44 reached Houston territory before retreating to a loss from Deebo Samuel and a sack from Trey Lance. On the 3rd and 19th, Lance had Brandon Aiyuk wide open at sticks for a first down and Lance never saw him, controlling Jauan Jennings for a win of 8.

Houston ball by itself 12.

1:35 Trey Lance with some nice shots to Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Sherfied plus a 13-yard run from Deebo Samuel brings the 49ers to the 42-yard line as the first quarter ends.

1:30 am The San Francisco defense gives up a first try, but forces Houston to kick.

The 49ers’ offense is backed by its own three after this trade. Houston is slowly starting to win the battle for field position. Something that can help determine the outcome of this game.

1:23 After moving the ball close to midfield, the 49ers’ offense is halted. Lance threw behind Kyle Juszczyk on the first down leading to a win of just three. Then, two runs from Trey Lance bring 4th and 1. Kyle Shanahan decides to go and Elijah Mitchell is abandoned for a loss of 3.

This attack appears to be handcuffed by the quarterback so far, and the 4th save gives Houston a good position on the field.

1:15 Three straight runs for the Texans and the 49ers defense holds. Houston doesn’t seem to want to ask too much of Davis Mills.

If the 49ers’ offense can kick in, this game could end early.

1:11 Not much for the 49ers’ offense on their first possession. A few points lead to the 3rd and 10th and Trey Lance flies out of the pocket and is stopped after a gain of six yards. It looked like he had Brandon Aiyuk opening in the middle when he took off.

1:08 The 49ers defense forces a quick three and one out. A formidable cover on the 3rd and 8th forces Davis Mills to control Rex Burkhead who was stopped five meters away. Trey Lance time of 22.

1:06 And that? The 49ers kickoff team stopped a comeback before the 25th.

1:03 The 49ers win the toss and get over it in the second half. Houston will get the ball to start the game.

12:55 – Just a little pressure on Trey Lance today. The pre-game crowd at Levi’s Stadium is the most electric of the season.

11:45 am – Something to watch out for today, Houston’s pass defense has allowed for the 8th lowest passer rating this season and is tied for the 6th most NFL interceptions. The Texans are particularly good at covering the midfield, with eight of their 16 interceptions coming on throws in this area.

Trey Lance has shown a tendency to sail high, when that happens on the middle passes bad things happen.

The weak point in Houston’s pass defense? Throws on the right side. They gave up the seventh-worst passer score on the shots in that direction and have just three interceptions on that end of the field.

11:39 – Inactive 49ers: Jimmy Garoppolo, Talanoa Hufanga, Azeez Al-Shaair, Dre Greenlaw, Colton McKivitz, Tanner Hudson, Maurice Hurst

11:38 – It’s finally official, Trey Lance will start today.