The Houston Texans (4-11) head to the West Coast to take on the San Francisco 49ers (8-7) in Week 17 NFL action, and they enter Levi’s Stadium as almost two-touchdown underdogs. However, rookie quarterback Davis Mills brings his team west on the momentum of a 41-29 home win over the Los Angeles Chargers, a win cemented with a late pick-six. This makes two straight wins for the Texans, who have scored 71 total points in wins over Jacksonville and the Chargers. The 49ers had won two in a row and five of six before losing, 20-17, at Tennessee last Thursday. San Francisco still has an outside shot at a postseason slot, but they need this home win over a team that, while showing offensive improvement, still should be beatable.
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NFL Preview: Houston Texans at San Francisco 49ers (Sunday, January 2)
When: Sunday, January 2, 2022, 4:05 pm ET
Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
TV: CBS
Radio: KILT 610 AM Houston / KNBR 680 AM San Francisco
Live Stream: Hulu
NFL Lines: San Francisco -12.5 / O/U 44 // San Francisco -700 / Houston +475
Why should you bet on the Texans?
Wide receiver Chris Conley was one of the heroes in last week’s win over the Chargers, catching three balls for 60 yards. Mills found two other receivers for at least three catches for at least 55 yards apiece, showing an ability to spread the ball around. That offensive flair was a nice break for a Houston team that has been shut out twice this season and limited to single digits in four other games.
The defense still remains a work under construction. Against the Chargers, the Texans permitted 9.1 yards per pass, and for the season, the Texans have given up 395 yards per game, along with 26.7 points (29th overall). The Texans are coming in with momentum, although they have only covered seven times in their last 22 games on the road against a team with a winning home record, and they have only covered five times in their last 21 games coming after a game in which they covered. If you like Houston, you see them taking advantage of a team that could have their heads down after a tough road loss that made their postseason chances slimmer and could get out to a slow start, allowing the Texans to hang around and cover.
Why should you put your money on the 49ers?
Deebo Samuel is the team’s offensive leader, catching passes and also getting carries out of the backfield. He caught nine passes for 159 yards in the loss. However, he could not keep Jimmy Garoppolo from throwing a pair of backbreaking interceptions that helped the Tennessee Titans turn a 10-0 deficit into a 20-17 win. Garoppolo was playing through a thumb injury that turned out to be a Grade 3 UCL sprain on his throwing hand. He did not practice Thursday, making it likelier that Trey Lance would get the start on Sunday.
The 49ers’ defense continued to show some flaws last Thursday; on the season, they permit 338.3 yards and 22.3 points per game. They have the pass rush to get after Mills and force him into some poor decisions, and they need to open the game with that sort of energy to get things going the right way. The 49ers have played well in January, covering in their last five games in the first month of the calendar year, and they have also covered five times in their last seven contests.
Final Score and Betting Prediction
Houston’s struggles in run defense should expose them against Samuel and Lance, if he gets the start. The Texans also have several receivers on the shelf with injuries, which could make it harder for Mills to find open targets down the field. I see the 49ers using this game to work out some frustrations, with a final score of San Francisco 27, Houston 10.
Houston Texans at San Francisco 49ers: Bet the Game Today
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