49ers vs. Texans: Good, bad & ugly from preseason Week 3

Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images
Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images /
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HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 18: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers attempts to break a tackle attempt by Zach Cunningham #41 of the Houston Texans during a preseason game at NRG Stadium on August 18, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 18: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers attempts to break a tackle attempt by Zach Cunningham #41 of the Houston Texans during a preseason game at NRG Stadium on August 18, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

The San Francisco 49ers took on the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium for both teams’ second preseason bout of 2018, and Niner Noise looks at the good, bad and ugly from this contest.

Unlike their first preseason game of 2018, the San Francisco 49ers‘ first-team offense managed to find the end zone their first drive of the contest.

This time against the Houston Texans, although the Niners eventually fell 16-13 after Houston backup quarterback Joe Webb completed a game-winning 41-yard touchdown to wide receiver Vyncint Smith in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter.

Alas, preseason narratives. Webb versus third-string San Francisco QB Nick Mullens. Mullens looked good too, by the way.

Still, starters garner the majority of attention, and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo looked like his usual self, this time playing two drives instead of just one. He helped lead the Niners to an opening 10-play, 78-yard touchdown drive culminating in an end-zone score by wide receiver Trent Taylor from two yards out.

That gave San Francisco an early 7-0 lead, although the Niners defense quickly gave up a Texans touchdown to one of their former receivers, Bruce Ellington, who hauled in a one-yard pass from quarterback Deshaun Watson.

From there, both teams’ offenses looked relatively sloppy and unhinged for most of the contest. Penalties were an issue on both sides too, especially from San Francisco (more on that shortly).

Still, it was solid to see the Niners’ first-team offense get the ball rolling early, which is ultimately what matters when the regular season arrives.

Let’s start there in our weekly “good, bad and ugly” assessment.