NFL Week 8: San Francisco 49ers at Houston Texans

As we awake on Friday morning, the Houston Texans sit at the precipice of their 2025 season spiraling out of control. DeMeco Ryans and his staff are getting hit from every angle with questions about the team’s discipline level, ability to absorb coaching, and most importantly, ability to execute. 

Ryans himself has been putting the vast majority of the team’s downfall through the first six games at the feet of their players, citing multiple times the lack of proper execution, and on Monday, it seemed, a disregard for the game plan by certain members of the team. 

This team seems to lack confidence in the offense they are running, and if the face of the offense’s mood is that of the quarterback, then the unit is one eleven man mope, because C.J. Stroud looks like he’s in a hostage video at every press conference. 

So, with all of those rainbows and sunshine out of the way, here come the San Francisco 49ers, who have managed to go 5-2 on the season, mostly without their starting quarterback, and recently without their two best defensive players, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. The Texans are somehow 1.5 point favorites in this game. Let’s look at what to watch for: 

4. Christian McCaffrey

When he’s healthy, McCaffrey is one of the ultimate weapons in the National Football League. This season, he has nearly 1,000 total yards in seven games, with more than half of that actually coming through the air. He is eighth in receiving yards and third in catches. The pressure will be on the Texans’ linebackers (or perhaps Jalen Pitre) to not only stick to McCaffrey, but tackle him when they get the chance. The Texans’ tackling has been poor this season. Sunday would be a good day to fix it.

3. Return of Jon Weeks 

We interrupt actual game analysis to get sentimental for a moment, as Sunday will mark the return of long time Texans long snapper (15 seasons, to be exact) Jon Weeks, who left in free agency and signed with the Niners. I’m guessing Weeks’ leaving was more to do with the Texans choosing to move in a different direction (why, I have no idea), but whatever the case, Weeks should get some sort of tribute video before the game. He was outstanding at his job those 15 seasons, and was a pillar in the Houston community with his charitable works. Welcome home, Weeksy! 

2. Annihilate Mac Jones (or Brock Purdy or whoever)

Okay, back to the football. In the offseason, Purdy, the former 7th round pick in 2022, got his big contract, signing a deal for over $50 million per season for the next several years. Unfortunately, he’s been injured for most of 2025, but in steps former Rookie of the Year, Mac Jones. Jones hasn’t been spectacular, but he’s been winning games. The bottom line is that whoever starts under center for the Niners needs to get annihilated by the three headed tidal wave of Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter, and Denico Autry. Pressure the quarterback, get turnovers, and the Texans should be able to win at home. 

1. Where will the receptions come from 

That said, for an offense that was already struggling, the hill just went from “uphill” to “WAY uphill” with the injuries to Nico Collins (concussion) and Christian Kirk (hamstring). The Texans receiving corps on Sunday is likely to consistently of three youngsters from Iowa State (Jaylin Noel, Jayden Higgins, Xavier Hutchinson), the boyfriend of a TikTok influencer (Braxton Berrios), and the guy who killed Tank Dell (Jered Wayne). Take the OVER on Dalton Schultz receptions on Sunday. I’m not sure how the Texans get to 20 points, but I don’t think they’ll need to. 16 points will do, and I see the defense and special teams giving them a couple short fields. 

SPREAD:  Texans -1.5

PREDICTION: Texans 16, Niners 15

SEASON RECORD: 3-4 SU, 2-5 ATS 

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