The San Francisco 49ers hit the road this weekend to face the Houston Texans in a matchup between two teams moving in opposite directions. The 49ers, fresh off a 20–10 win over Atlanta, are sitting atop the NFC West at 5–2 and looking to keep momentum rolling despite a growing list of injuries. The Texans, meanwhile, are trying to find their footing after a tough Monday night loss to the Seattle Seahawks that exposed lingering issues on offense.

For San Francisco, this game will be another test of depth and adaptability. With multiple starters still sidelined, including linebacker Fred Warner and center Jake Brendel, the 49ers have been leaning on reserves who continue to rise to the occasion. Quarterback Mac Jones has quietly been the story of the season. His poise under pressure and efficiency have been major factors in the team’s success.

All eyes will once again be on Christian McCaffrey, who came into last week with more touches than any player in the NFL and added nearly 200 scrimmage yards against Atlanta. McCaffrey will face a Houston defense that has been stout against the run but vulnerable to running backs in the passing game. Expect Kyle Shanahan to find creative ways to get CMC involved early, especially with the Texans’ linebackers struggling in coverage.

Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne remains the Niners’ biggest downfield threat with all the injuries, while tight end Luke Farrell could see an expanded role with San Francisco continuing to mix in heavier personnel packages after Brendel’s injury. The offensive line, anchored by Colton McKivitz on the right side and Trent Williams on the left side, will have to contend with a Texans front led by Will Anderson Jr., who has been disruptive despite Houston’s recent struggles.

Defensively, San Francisco’s identity remains intact despite losing Warner and Nick Bosa for the season. Even with linebacker Tatum Bethune leaving last week’s game and third-stringer Curtis Robinson stepping in to call signals, the 49ers defense forced a critical turnover before halftime and held firm late. Safety Malik Mustapha is expected to be eased back in off injured reserve, while the secondary continues to rotate Ji’Ayir Brown and Jason Pinnock alongside him.

For Houston, quarterback C.J. Stroud will look to rebound from a rough outing against Seattle, where he was pressured on more than 30% of his dropbacks. He’ll face another elite pass rush this week, the 49ers rank near the top of the league in pressure rate and have held opponents under 20 points in three of their last four games.

If the 49ers can control the tempo they’ll be in a strong position to extend their winning streak. Expect McCaffrey to lead the way, the defense to generate turnovers, and San Francisco to grind out another physical win on the road.

Prediction: 49ers 24, Texans 17