The Houston Texans delivered what head coach DeMeco Ryans called "a truly complete game" Sunday afternoon, defeating the San Francisco 49ers 23-17 at NRG Stadium to improve to 3-4 on the season.
In a performance that contrasted sharply with recent struggles, the Texans controlled possession for 41 minutes, converted 9-of-16 third downs, and got a poised performance from quarterback C.J. Stroud, who completed 30-of-39 passes for 318 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
"It's hard to win in the league, man. I'll take it," Stroud said when asked about the victory. "I thought I played solid. Thought I distributed the ball well, in pressure situations, getting it out my hand. I don't think we had any sacks today."
Offensive Line Sets the Tone
The foundation for Houston's success came from an offensive line that kept Stroud upright all afternoon and helped the Texans rush for 157 net yards.
"Our O-line did an outstanding job, again, for us to stay upright the entire game," Ryans said. "When it wasn't there, C.J made great decisions of stepping up in the pocket, taking what was given, taking what was there for him."
The ground game featured contributions from Woody Marks (62 yards) and Nick Chubb (56 yards), while Stroud added 30 yards on seven carries in critical moments.
"It really starts off right with the O-line," Stroud said.
Radio analyst Andre Ware noted the significance of the protection: "That was the best I've seen it in a long, long time. Not just this year, but some of last year as well."
Spreading the Wealth
Playing without top receiver Nico Collins, the Texans got production from throughout the receiving corps. Xavier Hutchinson caught five passes for 69 yards and a touchdown, while fellow Iowa State products Jaylen Noel and Jayden Higgins were also active all game.
"You can't replace Nico Collins. He's a top five guy in his league," Stroud said. "But I thought everybody really stepped up really big, I thought especially in the run game."
The quarterback had special praise for Jared Wayne, who recorded his first two receptions of the season.
"He's somebody I came in with that worked very hard to get where he's at. And I'm just so proud of him, man, his faith in the Lord and just his continued faith in himself," C.J. Stroud said. "The opportunity that he got, man, he took full advantage."
Ryans emphasized the team's next-man-up mentality regarding Collins' absence.
"I never ask anyone to go and be Nico Collins, go and be someone you're not," Ryans said. "Everybody just play to the best of your ability, and we'll be just fine. And that's what the guys did today."
Defensive Discipline
Houston's defense produced four three-and-outs while limiting San Francisco to 15 points. The unit recorded two sacks and an interception while tackling well against a 49ers offense that still managed some explosive plays.
"Our guys were resilient. They continued to bounce back," Ryans said. "They didn't let one big play affect them. They were still able to come out and continue to press forward, play together, and finish the game."
The defense's ability to limit Christian McCaffrey proved crucial in the game plan.
"Christian's a great player, phenomenal player," Ryans said. "It was a collective effort from everyone, starting with the defensive line, really disrupting the run game up front. And then I think we tackle really well."
A Question of Finishing
Perhaps most encouraging for Houston was the ability to close out a game after taking the lead, something that has eluded them in previous weeks.
"For me, what I'm most proud of is how we finished the game," Ryans said. "We've had some good starts, but we haven't finished well in games, and that's been the key for us. It's the second half and how we finish in the second half."
Stroud echoed the importance of the four-quarter effort.
"I would say we had a complete four quarters, and I think that was the goal, is to control the line of scrimmage, run the ball, then use play-action pass and other things to kind of balance it off," he said.
Building Momentum
The victory over San Francisco—a team that entered 5-2—provides a foundation as Houston begins a crucial three-game homestand.
"I think our destiny is in front of us," Stroud said. "Whatever we do, week in and week out is going to be what we control. That's preparation, practice, hard work, dedication, relentless effort, swarming."
Looking ahead to Denver's visit next week, Stroud acknowledged the challenge while maintaining confidence in the team's preparation.
"I just got to keep it going," he said.
The Texans will look to build on Sunday's performance when they host the Broncos next Sunday at NRG Stadium.
