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49ers vs. Texans: Previewing Preseason Week 2 for San Francisco

By Chris Wilson

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 10: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass in the second half defended by Angelo Blackson 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 in the second half defended by Angelo Blackson at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images /
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San Francisco 49ers Houston Texans Preseason Week 2 preview
Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images /

Preseason Week 2 by the numbers

In 2016, Houston won the AFC South and their first-round playoff game, before falling to the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round. The Brock Osweiler-led Texans compiled nine wins during the regular season thanks to a strong defense, which ranked first in the NFL with just 4,821 total yards allowed.

The 2016 Texans were strong against the run, but they especially excelled against the pass, allowing just 3,226 passing yards and 5.8 net yards per attempt. Per Football Outsiders’ DVOA, Houston’s defense ranked ninth overall, thanks to a top-5 ranking against the pass, while their offense was one of the worst in the NFL.

Particularly due to injuries to their top defenders, the Texans’ defense took a turn for the worse in 2017. Last season, Houston allowed more points than any team in the NFL, at over 27 points per game.

While the Texans’ run defense was respectable in 2017, their pass defense took a major step back, allowing 7.1 net yards per attempt, and 30 passing touchdowns — a 50 percent increase from the previous season. Football Outsiders ranked Houston’s defense in the bottom third of the league last year.

Although they struggled on defense, the Texans’ offense came to life in 2017, thanks to their rookie quarterback. Watson’s first start came in Week 2, a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, highlighted by a 49-yard touchdown run by Houston’s new QB:

With their rookie sensation under center, the Texans scored over 30 points in each of their next five games, before Watson was lost for the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL in practice. Houston’s offense regressed over the remainder of the season, scoring less than 17 points in all but one game — the team’s lone win after Watson’s injury.

Now that Watson and key members of the defense have recovered from injury, the Texans are aiming for 2017-level production from their Watson-led offense, and 2016-level production from their Watt-led defense. Las Vegas sportsbooks predict a rebound for Houston in 2018, with a projected win total of 8.5.