C.J. Stroud threw for season-high 318 yards and two touchdowns as the host Houston Texans never trailed and turned in their best offensive showing of the season in a 26-15 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday afternoon.
Stroud completed 30 of 39 passes to nine different players for his ninth career 300-yard showing as the Texans were without Nico Collins (concussion) and Christian Kirk (hamstring). It was Stroud’s first 300-yard game since Week 5 of last season against the Buffalo Bills.
Stroud’s efficiency helped the Texans (3-4) score the first 16 points and hold a 23-7 lead before holding off a late comeback try. He threw a 12-yard TD to Jayden Higgins midway through the second and a 30-yard strike to Xavier Hutchinson midway through the third as the Texans totaled 475 yards, were 9-for-16 on third down and held the ball for 41:22.
Stroud also helped the Texans get in position for four field goals by Ka’imi Fairbairn, who hit from 33 yards out in the first quarter, made a 34-yarder and a 37-yarder in the second before connecting from 30 yards with 9:41 left in the fourth.
San Francisco (5-3) never consistently moved the ball and lost for the third time in five games.
Filling in for Brock Purdy (toe) again, Mac Jones completed 19 of 32 passes for 193 yards and a pair of TDs to George Kittle and Jake Tonges. Christian McCaffrey was held to 25 yards on eight carries to go along with three receptions for 43 yards.
After Kittle’s 17-yard grab with 25 seconds left cut Houston’s lead to 16-7 by halftime, the Texans opened a 23-7 lead with 7:29 left in the third on Hutchinson’s grab. San Francisco reached the red zone again as Tonges’ diving grab and subsequent two-point conversion cut the deficit to 23-15 with 28 seconds left in the third.
The 49ers had two chances in the final two-plus minutes, but Kamari Lassiter intercepted Jones with 2:01 left on a pass for Jauan Jennings in the end zone and defensive back Jalen Pitre stopped Kendrick Bourne on 4th and 13 in the final seconds.
