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49ers vs. Texans: The good, bad and ugly from San Francisco in Week 14

By Peter Panacy

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 10: T.J. Yates #2 of the Houston Texans looks for a receiver as DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers closes in at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 10: T.J. Yates #2 of the Houston Texans looks for a receiver as DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers closes in at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 10: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass pressured by Jadeveon Clowney #90 of the Houston Texans in the first quarter at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 10: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass pressured by Jadeveon Clowney #90 of the Houston Texans in the first quarter at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

The Bad

It’s always nice to do these review pieces after a win, as there is generally less bad than good. Yet that doesn’t mean San Francisco’s efforts were perfect. Far from it, in fact.

Slow Starts

The 49ers didn’t exactly come flying out of the gate in Week 14, and there were more than a handful of issues on offense preventing the team from finding any sort of rhythm.

San Francisco’s opening four possessions with like this:

  • Punt
  • Interception
  • Punt
  • Punt

The lackluster streak ended in the second quarter with a Robbie Gould field goal to get the Niners on the board. And fortunately, the offense picked things up as the game wore on.

Still, it would have been nice to see some early sustained drives.

SANTA CLARA, CA – AUGUST 14: Guard Zane Beadles #68 of the San Francisco 49ers runs through drills during pregame warm ups prior to playing the Houston Texans in a preseason game at Levi’s Stadium on August 14, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – AUGUST 14: Guard Zane Beadles #68 of the San Francisco 49ers runs through drills during pregame warm ups prior to playing the Houston Texans in a preseason game at Levi’s Stadium on August 14, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Right Tackle Zane Beadles

With starting right tackle Trent Brown (shoulder) inactive for the contest, the 49ers were forced to start veteran offensive lineman Zane Beadles in this spot.

And it wasn’t pretty.

The Texans quickly figured out lining the ever-potent pass-rusher, Jadeveon Clowney, opposite Beadles was a good idea. Clowney overworked Beadles regularly, eventually finishing with two tackles for a loss and four quarterback hits.

Overall, Beadles finished with one sack allowed and six total hurries, per Pro Football Focus (h/t Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area).

Needless to say, San Francisco will be happy to get Brown back to his starting duties soon.

Third-Down Efficiency

This wasn’t a problem in Week 13 during the Niners’ win over the Chicago Bears, but third-down woes resurfaced in Houston.

The 49ers finished just 2-of-11 on third downs compared to a 10-of-18 mark the week before.

Part of the issue can be forgiven, especially when looking at Garrett Celek’s 61-yard reception which, conveniently, came on third down and led to a third-quarter touchdown.

But an 18.2-percent conversion rate on third downs rarely suggests a successful offensive day. Fortunately, it was enough here.