Predicting 49ers final 4 regular-season games, playoff results

Week 17: 49ers vs. Texans — Sunday, Jan. 2

An 8-7 certainly isn’t the end of the world, as San Francisco already has victories over other playoff-contending teams such as the Falcons, Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles, so the Wild Card is still very much in play.

Yes, losing on the road in prime time at Tennessee wasn’t the best of developments, but the 49ers can enjoy a last “get right” game against a lowly Houston Texans squad that’s been a pushover for almost everyone, sans its two wins on the year, so far this season.

The Texans have already been shut out twice in 2021 and own the league’s worst offense, both in terms of scoring and yardage gained. Even though Houston might be inclined to see what it has in rookie quarterback Davis Mills, the hard reality is there aren’t anywhere close enough offensive weapons to threaten a questionable Niners defense.

And with the Texans ranking in the bottom three of defensive points allowed, San Francisco should be able to impose its will on offense, too.

The only risk for the 49ers in this matchup is the always-present trap-game scenario, perhaps some additional X-factors like bad weather or injuries that have piled up in the two previous games leading up to it.

That said, no one would reasonably predict a Houston victory here, and the Niners easily improve to 9-7 with a one-sided win.