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NFL preseason 2015: Texans beat 49ers with second half comeback

By Mike Dyce

Aug 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brian Hoyer (7) gestures against the San Francisco 49ers in a preseason NFL football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brian Hoyer (7) gestures against the San Francisco 49ers in a preseason NFL football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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10. 42. Final. 23. 10

The Houston Texans hosted the San Francisco 49ers in the their first game of the preseason at NRG Stadium. While there isn’t a lot to get too worked up about in a meaningless preseason game, it is the first football action we’ve seen in months. It also gives us a peek into what we can see this season, up-and-comers to watch for and more.

Despite the fact that it was a meaningless game, it was rather competitive. The Texans got on the board first with a huge 58-yard touchdown reception by Cecil Shorts III, who took a short pass an eluded defenders to get down field in a hurry. The Texans punched in the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.

The second quarter belonged to the 49ers who scored 10 unanswered points to take the lead heading into the half.

The second half was all Texans though. A touchdown pass from Tom Savage and a safety gave the Texans a 17-10 lead in the third quarter. The Texans added a pair fourth quarter field goals to extend the lead to 13 points.

3 Stars of the Game:

  1. Brian Hoyer, QB, Texans – Hoyer went just 2-of-4 when he was on the field, but he lead the Texans on a touchdown drive, finding Cecil Shorts III who took it to the house for a 58-yard touchdown.
  2. Ryan Mallett, QB, Texans – The Texans’ other quarterback option did well, showing how tough this decision will be for Bill O’Brien. Mallett went 10-of-11 for 90 yards, very efficient.
  3. Jarryd Hayne, RB, 49ers – Hayne is a rugby player trying to make it in the NFL, and he broke off a huge 53-yard run to make an early impression. Sure his other four carries combined for 10 yards, but Hayne was an impact on special teams and had a 33-yard punt. He could be one of the most entertaining players to follow during the preseason.

You could also make a case for other players, like Tom Savage, the Texans’ other quarterback. While not as efficient he led a touchdown drive as well, though there was a fumble scare. Texans running back Alfred Blue also had an outstanding game, rushing nine times for 59 yards.

The 49ers’ back up quarterback Blaine Gabbert also played well, completing 8 of 11 passes for 86 yards. 49ers line back Nick Moody had a big game as well, collecting nine tackles in total, four of which were solo tackles.

Injuries:

There were no significant injuries during the game. Mallett took a shot and looked to be limping but came back in and played so we’ll assume he is fine.

Odds:

The Texans came into the game favored by three points, a typical spread for the home team. They did more than enough to cover, winning by 13 points. The over-under for the game was 35.5 points, which they nearly met, but finished under.

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