Get ready for a heavyweight showdown as the San Francisco 49ers (5-2) take on the Houston Texans (2-4) in a game that’s about much more than the record.🔥 Storylines to watch:
- First-ever head-coach duel between Kyle Shanahan vs. DeMeco Ryans — master vs. former apprentice, game on.
- The 49ers face former linebacker Azeez Al‑Shaair for the first time since his departure.
- Texans’ offense in turmoil: 23rd in yards, 29th in scoring, 31st on third-down conversions. Rookie QB C.J. Stroud under pressure, limited WRs (sans Nico Collins & Christian Kirk) and a shaky offensive line.
- Texans’ defense? Elite. Top 5 in NFL: fewest points allowed (~14/game), 4th fewest yards allowed. They’ll bring the intensity.
- On the flip side, 49ers rely on Christian McCaffrey (coming off his best rushing performance), star TE George Kittle, and QB Mac Jones (missing Purdy, Pearsall & Brendel) in what could be a methodical short-pass attack trying to exploit mismatches in Houston’s LB corps.
- Pass rush boom: Texans present big bodies in edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. & Danielle Hunter (60+ pressures combined) — 49ers OL and Mac will have their work cut out.
- Expect a physical, high-energy game. Texans are fighting for their playoff lives in front of their home crowd. 49ers are aiming to stay dominant after last week’s big win on Sunday Night Football.
📌 What to look for:
- Will Houston’s offense find any rhythm vs. SF’s blitz-heavy defense?
- Can the 49ers sustain their ground game vs. Houston’s stout run defense — or will they pivot to the short pass game and YAC with McCaffrey/Kittle?
- How the coaching chess match plays out with Shanahan/Saleh vs. Ryans in a duel of schemes and adjustments.
- Key injury/sub-package updates (WR availability for Texans, 49ers missing OL and linebackers).
- Turnover margin and third-down battle — the story of this game.
👉 Don’t miss: breakdowns, match-up stats, keys to victory for both teams, and our prediction for how this game swings.
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