49ers vs. Texans: 5 key matchups to watch in Week 14
By Peter Panacy
With the San Francisco 49ers visiting the Houston Texans in Week 14, Niner Noise takes a look at five key matchups to keep an eye on during this contest at NRG Stadium.
A game between the 2-10 San Francisco 49ers and 4-8 Houston Texans might not raise the most eyebrows around the NFL, but there’s potentially a lot riding on this Week 14 matchup.
Especially from the Niners’ vantage point.
Fresh off a 15-14 win over the Chicago Bears, head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad has the chance to establish the team’s first winning streak of 2017. The Texans, who are banged up on both sides of the ball, present what might be the 49ers’ last chance to secure a win over their remaining four games.
Tank-hopeful fans can relax. San Francisco is still in excellent position to secure a top-three pick in the upcoming 2018 NFL Draft.
What’s more crucial, though, is the continued development and chemistry between newly minted starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and his crop of receiving targets.
This was on display last week, and the Niners are hoping Garoppolo can continue his upward trend on the road against another solid defense.
Needless to say, Garoppolo is among the key matchups to watch this season. Let’s break that, and the other four, in this slideshow here.