Skip to playerSkip to main content
Linsay Strlilling
  • 2 weeks ago
Transcript
00:00They bring pressure Stroud with time but it's deflected at the line and the pass is incomplete.
00:14Now a flag is thrown but that pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage.
00:20Like Alfred Collins who's back out there got a hand on that to bat it away.
00:24Now is it a hold?
00:36And that hold moves the chains for the Texans.
00:42You just had an opportunity to get off the field and you have struggled mightily all day to get off the field.
00:49And you have the penalty right here you can see Upton Stout well beyond the five yards.
00:55Easy call for the officials and that was before the pass.
00:59Kevin talked about that being tipped, being deflected.
01:01You know any pass interference comes off that but because that holding happened before it gets called by the officials.
01:08And on first down off play action.
01:10Backside pressure Stroud steps away.
01:13Tall throw and going up to get it is Xavier Hutchinson.
01:17What a grab in traffic at midfield to get 18.
01:23Yeah and now you've got some confidence in these guys right now.
01:27That is starting to build because this is going to be a really nice catch because you have the defender.
01:32Upton Stout is coming back to make a play on that football.
01:35D'Amico Ryan's nodding his head.
01:42He sees some Cyclones making some plays for his beleaguered and beat up wide receiver core.
01:49And believe it or not we have an injury to the defensive line of the San Francisco 49ers as Jordan Elliott is now down.
01:56I don't.
01:57Alfred Collins, Jordan Elliott.
02:00Already without Bosa, Gross Matos and Huff today.
02:03Elliott, the latest 49er to be looked at by the hardest working athletic training staff in football, the San Francisco 49ers staff.
02:16Get that double team and you can kind of see kind of a little bit of a collapse there right as they made contact.
02:23That's a lot of mass right there for Jordan Elliott to take on in that double team.
02:28Hopefully he's okay.
02:29Upton Stout was a little ginger coming off the field as well.
02:33And now Chase Lucas into the secondary for Stout for the moment.
02:41Berrios in motion on first down and ten.
02:43Hand off.
02:44Chubb sifting through or rather Mark sifting through that traffic and down to the 45, a pickup of five.
02:51This Texans offense talked about it with Nick Caley and you asked him, all right, what is this offense?
03:03Is it Patriots?
03:04Is it Rams?
03:05And he said, look, we started this thing from the studs.
03:08I know what people think.
03:09He said, but we tore this down to the studs and built our own offense with our own language.
03:14Exactly.
03:14Exactly.
03:14A little bit of West Coast pass, which you're going to get from the Rams.
03:17A lot of Patriot protection in the pass game and then their own verbiage.
03:22Second down and five.
03:23And the quick slant is caught for the first down to the 37-yard line.
03:28And he said when he went out to Los Angeles, he said that really opened him up to a new style and a new routine than what he had been exposed to.
03:35And he wanted to make sure he incorporated some of that into this offense.
03:38Yeah.
03:39Communication.
03:39You know, positive communication.
03:41You know, that is one of the biggest things when you get around that group is how they build up people mentally.
03:49Here's Marks on the edge, breaking the tackle and gets an extra yard.
03:53Chase Lucas hanging on for dear life.
03:55And it won't be much of a game, but it will be a gain of one.
03:59I think we've had the opportunity to be around a number of those people off the Sean McVay tree and really the Kyle Shanahan tree, too.
04:05And it's just different because Kyle and Sean were together, you know, back when they were first starting out.
04:11And there's just this open line of communication.
04:13They have, you know, staff, players, support staff.
04:16It's really intriguing.
04:17And that was one of the things that Coach Cayley wanted to make sure was a part of this offense.
04:21Now, this is, we're seven weeks in, right?
04:24So I think that, you know, it's a little bit early for everybody to get upset.
04:27And I think that that's where actually Will Anderson was great for C.J. Stroud this year.
04:30Pressure up the middle and Stroud able to get away.
04:33Now he'll go down the sideline.
04:34And Stroud runs for the first down.
04:40Jair Brown, Alfred Collins, Michael Williams, they were all in the area and he outran them.
04:51C.J. Stroud.
04:53Nice bounce back game for the young quarterback, both through the air and on the ground.
05:00Guys, in halftime coming up with Kurt, Terry, Howie, Michael, and Charles.
05:03It was a run game battle in Philadelphia.
05:05The Bills stuttering a little bit in Carolina.
05:07Gabriel feeding Fannin coming up on the Verizon halftime.
05:14First down and ten.
05:16Stroud on the roll.
05:17Chased by Okawonu.
05:18And he's able to get outside the pocket and throw that ball away.
05:21This was the first time, according to Robert Sala, that we were really going to get the chance to see Sam Okawonu go out and rush the quarterback on a regular basis.
05:30Yeah, and he does a really nice job because this is going to be a boot coming back out.
05:34But he does his job.
05:35He's able to actually get inside the block of Dalton Schultz and be able to retrace and chase C.J. Stroud down and impact that throw.
05:44Ends a streak of 11 straight completions for C.J. Stroud, who's at 79%.
05:50Look at that disparity today.
05:52Hard to believe.
05:53San Francisco's had ten plays and zero first downs.
05:58On second down, nothing doing.
06:00There's Givens to fill that hole and a flag down as well on the play.
06:04It will be a hold against the Texans.
06:19And that will back him up.
06:20Loading number 70 offense.
06:22Ten-yard penalty.
06:23Replay, second down.
06:24That's that left guard spot that we talked about earlier.
06:26This is the Juice Scruggs drive after they've rotated per possession back and forth here today.
06:32Yeah, and again, that comes down to fundamentals.
06:34Keep your eye on your potential blocker because that is Tatum Bethune who sees the run play and is just going to shoot that gap.
06:43And Juice Scruggs has got to be able to come off.
06:46You've got to have your eyes on that second level so you can come off that double team.
06:50And when you don't do that, you use poor technique and you get a penalty call.
06:54And now second and 20 and you're back out on the edge of field goal range.
06:58Here's Stroud on the slant and he finds Berrios.
07:03Braxton Berrios having himself a half.
07:05He had one catch for negative one yards on the year.
07:09He has five catches in the first half alone here today.
07:13I think that that's the most impressive thing by this Houston offense here in the first half.
07:18You think back on it, there's a couple of big plays.
07:20There's the Jalen Knoll sale route across the top for a big gain.
07:24And just a little check down to Woody Marks gets him another really big gain.
07:28But other than that, it has been methodical and just stacking good play after good play down the field.
07:36Third and 14 and the 10th play of this drive.
07:41Stroud with protection.
07:42He'll check it short.
07:43It's Ogunbowale out of the backfield.
07:45And Ogunbowale down at the 19 and you heard Kyle Shanahan running up behind the play saying timeout, timeout, timeout.
07:52They stop it with 1-0-2 to play in the second quarter.
07:57So the first timeout used by the 49ers and now this from Progressive.
08:01Okay, so hold up.
08:02So a timeout used by Kyle Shanahan looking for an opportunity to try and put points on the board late in the half.
08:09And, of course, they won the toss and elected to defer.
08:12So they'll get the football to start the second half as Kayemi Fairbairn lines up for a field goal try.
08:1933 and 34 today.
08:21This is 37 for Fairbairn.
08:23And the kick by Fairbairn is good.
08:36He's 3 for 3.
08:37And the Texans with 58 seconds to play in the first half with a 16-0 lead over San Francisco.
08:46So D'Amico Ryan's feeling very good.
08:48Time for us to check in and find out what's coming up in the half with Kurt Menefee in Los Angeles.
08:53Coming up on the Verizon Halftime, we will have all the highlights including Heisman winners Caleb Williams and Derek Henry clashing in Baltimore.
09:01Plus our own Heisman winner Charles Woodson joins Terry, Howie, and Michael at the desk to break it all down.
09:07We'll see you then.
09:09All right, we're 58 seconds away from the Verizon Halftime Show
09:13and a dominant first-half performance by the Houston Texans
09:17who have been able to amass almost 300 yards of offense in the first half.
09:22They've already outpaced their entire game Monday night in Seattle
09:25and they've put 16 on the board while allowing San Francisco to snap the ball 10 times on offense.
09:31Yeah, but let's go back to those first three games for the Houston Texans this year.
09:34One of the big things at that point was finishing
09:36and your key guys making the big plays in those crucial moments.
09:41You know, you can't go to sleep on this team.
09:43We've talked about the injuries, but we've also talked about the way they performed.
09:47You have dominated this half, but it's 16-0.
09:50If you allow San Francisco right here at the end of the half to get a touchdown
09:54and get it to 16-7, I mean, that is such a heartbreak going into halftime
10:00after you've played such a good first half.
10:03They've got to finish this half.
10:05Robinson veering to the middle.
10:07Brian Robinson, Jr.
10:09What a return at a perfect time for the San Francisco 49ers
10:14and a flag comes soaring in at the end of the return to midfield.
10:19Dylan Horton with the tackle and we'll wait and see about these flags
10:23as it stands San Francisco on the cusp at the very least of field goal range,
10:29but we'll see if this backs them up.
10:32Could be a face mask on Houston.
10:33During their turn, personal foul, face mask, number 92 of the kicking team.
10:3715 yards coming at the end of the return.
10:40First down.
10:40Well, that will frustrate D'Amico Ryans.
10:43Yeah, we talked about it, right?
10:45Kickoff return.
10:46San Francisco special teams have been very, very spotty so far this year.
10:51In a critical moment, they make a huge play.
10:54A great run by Brian Robinson, Jr.
10:57And then there's the face mask right there for 15 more yards.
11:00We talked about how heartbreaking it would be,
11:03how, you know, just a letdown to allow San Francisco to score a touchdown
11:07in this situation, here they are, first and 10 at the 35.
11:11Two timeouts of the first play in Texans territory,
11:14and Mack Jones to the sideline and open is Kendrick Bourne,
11:18and out of bounds at the Houston 18, their first first down of the game.
11:23And the clock stopping with 39 seconds to go with a timeout used by the 49ers.
11:29They have one left.
11:31The resiliency.
11:33You look at a team that has the injuries that we've talked about with San Francisco.
11:37The one thing that they have then is resiliency.
11:39So it's never an opportunity to relax, to exhale against this team.
11:46And it's unbelievable.
11:48You can kind of see that whole thing coming right here
11:50where you've played just an outstanding first half.
11:54And to give the Niners an opportunity right here for points will be huge,
11:59huge for them going in.
12:00We talk about how deflating it would be for the Texans.
12:02Boy, what a lift it would be for the Niners.
12:04They get the football to start the second half.
12:06They were 39 seconds away from the first time since at least 2000,
12:10having a first half with no first downs.
12:13They get the first down, and now they're in the red zone
12:16on just their second snap in Texans territory today.
12:25Mack Jones looking over the middle for McCaffrey, and it's batted away.
12:30Excellent coverage by Henry Tooto.
12:36That's really impressive because that is a really tough spot to be
12:39because what you do is you design plays to get Christian McCaffrey
12:43one-on-one with a linebacker.
12:45And there it is right there.
12:46That's excellent by Henry Tooto.
12:51Not only to get that on a running back for a linebacker,
12:55but on Christian McCaffrey.
12:57That'll be one of the hardest to defend in this league.
12:59Second down and ten.
13:00Jennings in motion.
13:04Mack Jones over the middle.
13:08Incomplete.
13:08He wanted Jennings.
13:10That ball jarred out.
13:12You had Derek Stingley out there in coverage, and it's third and ten.
13:19I tell you, Mack Jones has got a lot of confidence,
13:21but this is a great play by Derek Stingley.
13:23Watch him at the end.
13:24You're going to fit this into this super tight window,
13:26and it's a tremendous throw by Mack Jones,
13:30and it's a great play by Derek Stingley on the ball.
13:34So now third down and ten.
13:3749ers are 0 for 3 on third down this afternoon.
13:47Four-man pressure.
13:48Jones for Kittle in the end zone,
13:50and it is caught!
13:51George Kittle, surrounded by Texans,
13:56snares the touchdown,
13:58and the 49ers are on the board late first half.
14:06National tight end day.
14:08Why not go to the founder, George Kittle?
14:12Oh, it's one of the things that I wrote down
14:14after we talked to Mack Jones.
14:16You know, one of the things that I've learned
14:17through the course of my career
14:18is don't play conservative.
14:21You know, don't play not to lose.
14:23Just turn it loose and trust your guys.
14:26That's a ton of confidence in George Kittle right there
14:29because there are a trio of Texan defenders around him.
14:33What an unbelievable play.
14:35It is impossible to overstate
14:48what that touchdown meant
14:50to the San Francisco 49ers in this football game.
14:53An offense that had done nothing.
14:56And a tip of the cap to Brian Robinson
14:57for the outstanding kick return.
14:59You have the penalty tacked on
15:01for the face mask.
15:03But Robinson set him up on the doorstep
15:05and then an offense that hadn't been able
15:07to do anything today
15:08marches down and puts seven on the board
15:11and the entire tenor of this game
15:13going into the locker room changes for both teams.
15:15And it was a third and ten.
15:16Right.
15:16I mean, you come out and you let a big pass
15:18go to the left outside
15:19and you're like, oh boy, here we go.
15:20And then your defense stands up.
15:22It makes two really nice plays
15:24on the football.
15:25You tried McCaffrey.
15:27It didn't work.
15:27You tried Juwan Jennings.
15:29It didn't work.
15:30So, all right, George, get ready.
15:32We're coming your way.
15:33Regardless of how many people are around you,
15:35I'm going to thread this thing.
15:37First three drives, 10 plays, 30 yards.
15:40Last drive, four plays, 35 yards, and a touchdown.
15:44Football is crazy.
15:49San Francisco scoffs at adversity.
15:53It would appear, as they've done all year,
15:55Damian Pierce weaving towards the middle of the field.
15:59Pierce looking for a good return,
16:01and it's shut down quickly
16:02as we check in downstairs
16:05with more on George Kittle with Allison Williams.
16:08Yeah, and Kevin, you know that's a big reception
16:09for him to get that touchdown
16:10after he was held without a catch
16:12for the first time last week.
16:14I asked him about it.
16:14He was like, that's okay.
16:15I had a fantastic time out there.
16:17He's like, yeah, they took me out of the passing game,
16:19but what I love about playing tight end
16:20is you can affect the game in so many aspects,
16:22so I tried to leave my prince on the run game,
16:25which he certainly did,
16:26and you see that enthusiasm,
16:27that joy he has for the game.
16:29He says that's one of the most important attributes
16:31for a good tight end.
16:32He said you have to have a joy
16:33and a love for the game.
16:36And here go the Texans to work
16:38the check down to the sideline,
16:39and Woody Marks out of bounds.
16:4211 seconds remaining in this first half.
16:45Texans do have two timeouts to play with
16:47as they toy with the idea
16:49of trying to get into Fairbair and field goal range.
16:51Yeah, again, right there,
16:53that's another example of C.J. Stroud
16:55playing at a really high level here in the first half.
16:57Now, whatever happens on the remainder of this drive,
17:00he's got to go in
17:01and he's got to stay in that same frame of mind
17:03that he took the field with to start this game
17:04because he's played outstanding here in the first half.
17:09Here's Stroud.
17:10Steps up, and he's looking deep.
17:12He's got Knoll, and it's intercepted!
17:14Picked off by Diamador Lenore!
17:17Lenore on the run!
17:18There is no time left on the clock,
17:22and Lenore is down,
17:24and the half comes to a close.
17:29They didn't know what to do with the football, Kevin.
17:31They intercepted it for the first time in 15 games.
17:35I mean, that is an opportunity for points.
17:36You're going to get a chance to walk out.
17:38Eddie Pinero, and how far was he pregame?
17:40He was 61 with room to spare.
17:42They just forfeited three points right there.
17:45Got to watch that clock.
17:46Got to know the clock before the snap of that ball.
17:51So, C.J. Stroud a little frustrated,
17:53but our didn't settle top performer is brought to you by State Farm,
17:56and it is C.J. Stroud and the touchdown pass
17:59that he had earlier in this game,
18:01able to find Jaden Higgins for six,
18:05and pacing Houston to the 16-7 lead
18:08at halftime here in Houston.
18:11Off we go to Los Angeles at the Verizon Halftime Show.
18:23Stroud looking for six.
18:25Open touchdown.
18:27Jaden Higgins, his second of the year.
18:31Jones for Kittle in the end zone,
18:33and it is caught.
18:35George Kittle surrounded by Texans.
18:39Snares the touchdown,
18:41and the 49ers are on the board.
18:44That was today's game flow presented by Progressive,
18:47a 16-7 lead for Houston at the break.
18:50C.J. Stroud's been phenomenal.
18:5122 of 28, 235 yards.
18:54Christian McCaffrey still trying to get it going,
18:56and a career low eight yards in the first half for McCaffrey.
19:00We welcome you back to the booth here in Houston
19:02alongside Daryl Johnston.
19:04I'm Kevin Kugler.
19:05Good to have you with us in this one.
19:07A weird first half.
19:09We saw a dominant performance by the Houston Texans offense.
19:12They held the ball for most of the first half,
19:14but Moose, here are the Niners right on the board
19:16with the ball coming out of this second half locker room.
19:18Yeah, one of the biggest things we've heard from teams
19:20during the course of the season so far
19:22is the ability to finish.
19:23The teams that are still trying to find their way through
19:25this early part of the NFL season is finishing games,
19:27and sometimes that's finishing halves,
19:29and gosh, just a monumental mistake by the Houston Texans defense.
19:34They allow the big kickoff here with Brian Robertson
19:37coming all the way out.
19:38There's a face mask at the end of this,
19:39so it's first and ten at the 35-yard line,
19:43and a couple of plays later, I mean,
19:45just a great job by Mack Jones threading that in to George Kittle,
19:49and now you get the ball coming out to start the second half,
19:53and let's not forget there was an interception at the end of the half,
19:57and D'Amador Lenore was running around if he's, you know,
20:01understands the clock, understand what's going to happen,
20:03and you've got to think about that pre-snap.
20:05It's hard when you get an interception.
20:06You do want to run, and you want to have that big return,
20:08but in your head pre-snap, hey, if I get this,
20:11let me get to a certain point, get down,
20:12see if we can let Eddie Pinheiro come out and kick a field goal.
20:16Can you imagine if it was 16-10 to start this half
20:19after they scored 10 points in about 35 seconds?
20:24Well, Allison Williams doesn't have to imagine that,
20:26but she can tell us what both coaches had to say.
20:28Allison?
20:29Yeah, and for San Francisco and Kyle Shanahan,
20:31obviously huge to get some points there at the end of half,
20:34and just get something positive going on offense.
20:37He said we couldn't stop the bleeding offensively in that first half.
20:40It was penalties early, and then everything just kind of snowballed,
20:43and we couldn't find our rhythm.
20:46Defensively, obviously, guys, they've got to find a way to get off the field.
20:48He said, you know, we're good, like getting them into the second and long,
20:50but then they are able to get into third and manageable
20:53and keep the drive going, so they have to be better there.
20:56And for D'Amico Ryans and the Texans,
20:58obviously it was a frustrating end to the half,
21:00and he said we cannot allow that kickoff there.
21:02We have to get on blocks and tackle, but really happy offensively.
21:06The job they've done running the ball, he said,
21:07that has to continue in the second half where his message is finish.
21:11We've been in this spot before as a team.
21:13We didn't finish the half.
21:14We need to finish the game.
21:15And it's not a gaudy rushing number, 64 yards rushing in the first half,
21:20nearly four yards per carry, but the way C.J. Stroud is played,
21:24it appears to have been enough for Houston in that first half.
21:27Well, just the ability for it to be complimentary, you know,
21:29and it's something that the Niners have to figure out a way to defend it.
21:34And if C.J. Stroud continues to play the way he played at quarterback in the first half,
21:39you know, that number should stay true because you have to worry about that passing game.
21:43He's been incredibly efficient.
21:45I mean, after, I mean, being less than 50% completion percentage against Seattle,
21:50he's 78.6 this afternoon.
21:53He was up over 80% the majority of the first half.
21:56Fairbairn will kick it off.
21:58Remember the last time this happened, Brian Robinson with a long kickoff,
22:01and now this one will not hit the landing zone.
22:05Another special team snafu short of the landing zone,
22:10and the 49ers will have it at the 40-yard line.
22:12And, yeah, this is not even close.
22:15This is like me on the tee, you know, playing golf, and it's just hit fat.
22:19I mean, that one is not really close.
22:22And we see this a lot now.
22:24This is the dirty kick, right?
22:26You're trying to squib it down there.
22:27I mean, I don't know if that ever got above the head of the guys in the setup zone.
22:31And D'Amico Ryans, who you know just addressed that after the kickoff return
22:37close to the end of the first half, frustrated as the 49ers start at the 40-yard line.
22:43And Jones to the air to Jennings at the 45 and down at the 46-yard line.
22:55It's been a hard go for Mac Jones against a really good Texans defense.
22:58It really has.
22:59And you've just got really good edge rushers that start the whole thing,
23:03but then you've got a lot of really talented guys at the second level.
23:06Talking to Mac Jones, going back to his notes in Jacksonville last year,
23:11he said there's six or seven guys that you got circled.
23:13One of those guys, Jalen Petrie.
23:15I mean, he's outstanding.
23:17And just the linebacker level, the safety level, outstanding.
23:21And as we talk about that defense, Christian McCaffrey is swarmed,
23:24somehow gets a yard to the 47-yard line.
23:27But Will Anderson there, EJ Speed there, everybody there.
23:30Yeah, just watch.
23:31And this is something that's going to be typical of a Robert Sala defense,
23:35of a D'Amico Ryan's defense, you know, that pursuit to the ball.
23:39You hear everybody say all 11 to the football.
23:41That's pretty close right there on that last snap.
23:44So here we go to start the first half,
23:46an opportunity for this Houston defense to reset the tempo of the game
23:50and get the Niners off the field.
23:52Houston's been really good holding opponents to 42% conversion rate on third and short.
23:59Pressure comes.
24:00Jones hit as he throws.
24:01The ball bouncing, and it's incomplete.
24:04It's an incomplete pass.
24:05C.J. Speed picked it up.
24:07But Will Anderson again with the heat on Mack Jones.
24:11He had no time to even look down the field.
24:14And Daniil Hunter limping off to the sideline for the Texans a little bit.
24:18And the hard part, Christian McCaffrey is set to the left side,
24:21so there's no way for him to get around and be a chip guy on the edge.
24:26And was that hand moving forward with the control of the ball?
24:31Yes, it was.
24:32But again, Will Anderson, as he did right out of the gates on the first possession
24:39for the Texans defense in the first half, creating problems for Mack Jones.
24:45More stead to punt.
24:49Jalen Knoll going to let this one go.
24:52It'll bounce at the three-yard line, take a nice hop, and Saran Neal is there for the San Francisco 49ers.
25:00He's one of the best young pass rushers in the game.
25:03You can see why.
25:05Will Anderson, speed to the quarterback, forcing the punt.
25:10And the Texans with a 16-7 lead.
25:13Back to work on offense next.
25:17Top of this broadcast, Moose, was last week a one-off.
25:21So far for C.J. Stroud, last week was a one-off, at least based on recent experience.
25:26Look at those numbers right there when you talk about completion percentage.
25:30Now he starts deep in his own end.
25:31Worst starting field position of the day for the Texans at the six-yard line.
25:35And they'll go back to the ground to start things off.
25:37And Nick Chubb just getting a little space out to the 10-yard line where Alfred Collins back out there makes the stop.
25:44But just like you said, Kevin, are they going to win the game running the football into the San Francisco defense?
25:49No.
25:50But the fact that it's an efficient run, this is all about staying on schedule.
25:54And they've done a really, really nice job staying on schedule through the first half.
25:58We've got an injured Texan after that play.
26:02And I believe it's Braxton Berrios who's down on one knee.
26:06And remember, this wide receiver core is thin today.
26:09No Christian Kirk, no Nico Collins.
26:12You were down to five with the elevation of Jared Wayne.
26:17And Braxton Berrios still being tended to as we step aside from Houston.
26:22Braxton Berrios a moment ago heading for the blue tent on the Texans' sideline.
26:30Houston down to four active wide receivers now.
26:33Three of the four are Iowa State Cyclones.
26:39Second down and six for Houston from their own 10-yard line.
26:44Stroud on the quick slant.
26:45It's Higgins, and it's a first down.
26:47Jaden Higgins out near the 20-yard line where Diamandour-Lenor makes the stop.
26:53And again, just a nice throw and catch.
26:56You know, on time, in rhythm.
26:57You can see the poise right there.
26:59You know, shotgun snap, turn, pivot.
27:01Let it go.
27:04And the timing has just been really different today for C.J. Stroud.
27:09Yeah, he is seeing it really, really well.
27:12It's Seattle.
27:12You could tell the way he was holding it and pumping it.
27:15You know, he just, he wasn't seeing it.
27:16Seattle really got into his head.
27:18From the 20-yard line, this run bottled up.
27:21But look at Nick Chubb.
27:22And that's been the difference in this game today for Houston.
27:25Plays that went nowhere on Monday in Seattle are finding little openings here today.
27:31Yeah, you think he's going to be tackled around the 19-yard line.
27:34And that, you know, that's not going to be great on second down.
27:38And all of a sudden, he bounces off back inside and keeps his feet moving.
27:42I mean, just such a completely different look from this offense than a week ago.
27:51On second and five of the 25.
27:54To the ground again.
27:56And this time, nowhere to go for Chubb.
27:58Down at the line of scrimmage were Lenore and Luke Gifford,
28:01who battled the hamstring injury for most of the week out there to make the stop.
28:05And Lenore a little slow to get up.
28:13So now third down and five for Houston at the 25.
28:20Up to the stout back in there as the 49ers go with their nickel.
28:24Noel the motion man, stout following him, third down.
28:36Stroud looking, finds Jalen Noel.
28:39That's a first down to the 33-yard line.
28:42Dee Winters on the tackle and the fourth catch of the afternoon for Jalen Noel.
28:47Nice job here finding this for the first down,
28:53but an opportunity for a really big play.
28:55You can see right there, Xavier Hutchinson out in front of that one.
28:58There was nobody there.
28:59If C.J. Stroud sees that instead of taking the first down,
29:02gets a little bit aggressive.
29:03Well, I think Xavier Hutchinson is going to have a big gain on that one.
29:07And staying down on one knee after the play is Dee Winters for San Francisco.
29:13The exasperated look on the face of the head coach says it all.
29:21Kyle Shanahan's squad over the last two years has dealt with more injuries
29:27than anybody in the league.
29:29And Dee Winters now being tended to by the athletic training staff on the field.
29:362,036 games missed due to injury in the Shanahan era.
29:43So Dee Winters the latest to go to the oft-used blue medical tent
29:48on the San Francisco sideline.
29:50Curtis Robinson, who's only tackles this year,
29:53a bit of a special teams variety in now at linebacker.
29:58First and ten at the 33.
30:00Here's Woody Marks.
30:07Breaks initial contact in the backfield.
30:10And Allison Williams, nothing new.
30:12Next man up is the philosophy.
30:14It really has been for the Niners.
30:16I was talking to Diamador Lenore about how all these young guys have stepped up,
30:20and he said that's a testament to the vets,
30:22establishing the blueprint and the standard for what it takes to be a Niner.
30:25Salah pointed out, you know, the coordinators may have changed,
30:28but this defensive system has been here since 2017.
30:31So the coaches and the players can coach it.
30:34He said when you have a system that's been in place so long,
30:36young guys accelerate in their development faster
30:39because everyone is teaching them.
30:41And he said it really helps them have success both mentally,
30:43with regard to the playbook,
30:44and emotionally with regard to the standard needed.
30:47No question as C.J. Stroud on the roll,
30:51trying to fit it in to a well-covered Dalton Schultz.
30:56And it'll bring up third down as we get a game break with Carissa Thompson.
30:59Thank you so much, Kevin.
30:59So the Bills dropped the last two.
31:01Josh Allen never lost three games in a row.
31:03Dumps this one off to Khalil Shakir,
31:05who shakes off a tackler, makes a great move, and he is gone.
31:0854-yard score.
31:09Bills in control.
31:1026-3 over the Panthers.
31:12Kevin?
31:14All right, Carissa.
31:14Thanks so much to Allison's point,
31:17talking about that next man up philosophy with the Niners.
31:20They're running out of men to bring back up at this point.
31:22They are.
31:23They are.
31:23And when does that standard become hard to duplicate
31:26because it just numbers and you're so far down that depth chart.
31:29But having a guy on the field to be able to help you out is priceless.
31:33Stroud having to check it down.
31:34Dalton Schultz able to get free.
31:36Nice move by the tight end and a first down.
31:39He had Malik Mustafa waiting there and just a little in move.
31:44And he's able to move the chains.
31:51Dalton Schultz just coming off that hinge.
31:52And again, just a little chip right there and dropping down.
31:54This is the second time we've seen C.J. Stroud do a really nice job
31:58looking downfield and then check it down.
32:00But Malik Mustafa, you've just got to come to balance.
32:03You've got him lined up.
32:04You've got a great angle that you're coming in on the approach.
32:06But you've just got to come to balance to make that tackle.
32:08D. Winters back on the field now for San Francisco.
32:16Dalton Schultz limped to the sideline.
32:19But it's being looked at briefly over there.
32:22And now we've got a timeout called by Houston.
32:25Nine minutes remaining in the third.
32:29And Dalton Schultz on the sideline after that first down.
32:32We'll take a quick breather.
32:33And now this from a diamond is forever.
32:36From the very beginning, you knew she was unlike anyone else.
32:43And she always would be.
32:45Desert diamonds celebrate all the shades that make her, her.
32:49And hues is ever-changing as the desert itself.
32:53Sunlit whites, radiant champagnes, smoky whiskeys.
32:57Natural colors truly unlike anything else.
33:00Just like her.
33:03So they're working with Dalton Schultz after that first down grab.
33:13Texans with nine minutes to play in the third.
33:15Remember, this drive began at their six-yard line.
33:19Ninth play of this drive out to midfield.
33:24We're good, we're good.
33:26Alert, alert, alert, alert, alert, alert, alert.
33:28On first down, play action.
33:35Stroud, an opening, and a first down again.
33:38Finds Xavier Hutchinson, who moves it down to the 33.
33:43A pickup on the play of 17.
33:45Yeah, and here's what that run game does, right?
33:47It forces people in here.
33:49And what does that do?
33:50It opens up everything behind it.
33:51So, are you going to win the game running the football for the Houston Texans?
33:55No, but that complementary component has been so helpful to this offense.
34:01Jared Wayne with that catch, his second of the afternoon.
34:04Braxton Berrios still questionable to return with a chest injury.
34:10So, first down and 10.
34:11And the handoff to Chubb.
34:16Nick Chubb down to the 30-yard line.
34:19A pickup of three.
34:22Right, it's just methodical, these long drives.
34:26I mean, it's, I mean, this defense is going to wear down, too.
34:30That's the hard part.
34:31We've talked about the drop in, you know, the player because you've just got so many injuries.
34:35But, you know, we're 55 plays now by this Houston Texans offense.
34:39And these guys on the San Francisco defense, they're going to get worn down.
34:43You can rotate through your defensive line,
34:45but we've seen some of those get nicked during the course of the game.
34:48I mean, it's been at all three levels.
34:49These guys are going to be exhausted.
34:51Second down and seven.
34:53Play fake Stroud with protection.
34:55Down the sideline.
34:57Off the fingertip of Harrison Bryant.
35:00Luke Gifford, the linebacker, running in coverage.
35:03And it's third and seven.
35:05A little wheel route to go to the flat and then turn it up
35:10and just a little bit beyond the outstretched arms of Harrison Bryant.
35:19So Houston seven for 11 on third down today.
35:23Their average distance is just over six yards to go.
35:26That's awesome.
35:27That is being on schedule.
35:28That's one of the big things that they wanted to accomplish today.
35:31Great job.
35:32Dalton Schultz and Braxton Berrios back out there for Houston.
35:37Third down and seven.
35:38Pressure coming.
35:39Stroud stands in.
35:40Finds the open man down the sideline into the end zone.
35:44Xavier Hutchinson with the touchdown.
35:55A march from the six ends in six for Houston.
36:00Yeah, kind of the one we saw earlier today with that little route
36:03when he checked it down for the first down.
36:05But a little bit of outside leverage.
36:07And what a throw by C.J. Stroud.
36:09A little bit of pressure.
36:10Finally, a little bit of pressure from that 49er front.
36:14And he just steps up and throws a dart.
36:18Hutchinson's third touchdown catch this season.
36:22And with the Fairbairn extra point, Houston with a 23-7 lead.
36:32C.J. Stroud, over 300 yards for the ninth time in his career.
36:37And Robert Sala can't believe it.
36:40This Texans offense looking crisp at home.
36:43The Texans on Monday night would have expected today would be the day
36:49they would have four scoring drives of double-digit plays.
36:54They've run 57 plays, have almost 400 yards,
37:00and lead 23-7 over San Francisco.
37:02A good San Francisco team.
37:04Yes.
37:05And we've talked about the injuries and just the job that this team has done.
37:08But they've done it against good competition.
37:11So let's not say for Houston, well, San Francisco's really banged up.
37:16You know, they're not as good.
37:17This is a team that knocked off the Atlanta Falcons 20-10
37:21who had just rolled over the Buffalo Bills.
37:24Here's Sky Moore.
37:25Oh, my, upended.
37:27And it's everywhere, right?
37:28It is contagious right now.
37:30And the one matchup that we thought was going to be the tipping point of this game
37:33was going to be the Houston offense versus the San Francisco defense.
37:37They have dominated that.
37:38Houston's offense has dominated that, and now it's spreading.
37:41Now there's an emotion that's flowing through this entire team in all three phases.
37:46A confidence coming from the performance by the offense
37:50that's trickling through all areas of this team.
37:53Now can San Francisco's offense get it going?
37:55Christian McCaffrey certainly capable of doing that.
37:58And McCaffrey into the arms of Jalen Petrie.
38:00And he fights forward close to a San Francisco first down.
38:08They've just got to find something that they can hang their hat on a little bit right here.
38:12And this is one of the guys you want to go to.
38:15Christian McCaffrey coming off of a 201-yard from scrimmage performance last game
38:20against Atlanta.
38:21They just have not been able to get anything going
38:24to really kind of create some momentum as an offense.
38:28Second and one.
38:34Here's McCaffrey again with Juszczyk out front.
38:37That'll be a first down for San Francisco.
38:42For San Francisco, Christian McCaffrey's having an amazing season.
38:46Leading the NFL entering today in both touches and yards from scrimmage.
38:49Six times in seven games, he's had both 50 rushing and 50 receiving yards.
38:54First player in NFL history to accomplish that feat.
38:56So how good a job is Houston doing on this very talented potential MVP of the league?
39:0217 yards rushing and four yards receiving.
39:04And that's unbelievable.
39:05And you know it.
39:06You know that you have to slow him down.
39:08But to go out and actually do it is a completely different thing.
39:11Robinson in for McCaffrey.
39:13Jones wants to go deep.
39:14Floating it out for Jawan.
39:16Jennings!
39:16And Jennings had it hit his hands.
39:19And he couldn't pull it in.
39:20Jennings had a step.
39:26Jones floated it out there and he just couldn't snare it.
39:30How many times do we see teams that are struggling and it's their playmakers to just make plays.
39:34A little bit of an adjustment there as it sails to the outside.
39:37But that's a ball that Jawan Jennings is going to catch nine times out of ten.
39:42And at this moment you really needed it.
39:44You had to make that catch.
39:46When Mack Jones knew it.
39:47What a big play that would have been.
39:50Second down and ten.
39:53Fake the swing.
39:54Go to Kittle on the inside.
39:55Tight end slant.
39:57And he's down to the 41-yard line.
39:59But without a lot of wide receiver weapons you've got to take advantage of the one you get.
40:04And Jawan Jennings just missed this one.
40:06And what did Kyle Shanahan tell us?
40:07You know I don't know if this is going to be a 9-6 game.
40:10Do we want to play it that way?
40:11Or do we do like Seattle did?
40:12We dial up a couple of shots down the field and see if we can hit them.
40:16Well there's one of them right there.
40:17That was a huge opportunity.
40:19And it's probably one of five or six that you're going to have scripted during the course of the game.
40:24And to miss that one has got to be devastating for Kyle Shanahan.
40:27I said we've got to pick and choose when we do.
40:29A drop back and when we're more aggressive.
40:31And before this really important third and six.
40:35Late in the third.
40:36A San Francisco timeout.
Be the first to comment
Add your comment