San Francisco 49ers: 3 Bold predictions vs. Texans in Week 14

The San Francisco 49ers will look to claim back-to-back wins when they face the Houston Texans. Here we make three bold predictions for the game.

The San Francisco 49ers can do something they have not done in over three years when they face the Texans in Houston on Sunday. It was November 23, 2014 when the 49ers last won back-to-back games, when a team then led by Jim Harbaugh beat the Washington Redskins for a third straight victory.

Back then the Niners were seen as playoff contenders and triumph in Houston, coming off the heels of success over the Chicago Bears in Jimmy Garoppolo’s first start last week, would lend credence to the argument that this time could soon return to postseason contention with him under center.

Here we make three bold predictions for this Week 14 clash.

3. Jimmy Garoppolo to pass for over 300 yards

This may not seem to be such a bold call given that Garoppolo was only seven yards shy of 300 in his debut. But the Texans’ pass defense has improved in recent weeks, giving up just 244 pass yards to the Arizona Cardinals, 155 to the Baltimore Ravens and 146 to the Tennessee Titans.

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However, the quarterbacks they faced in those games were Blaine Gabbert and Joe Flacco — both signal-callers Garoppolo’s play has indicated he is superior to — and Marcus Mariota, who is in the bottom half of the league in Football Outsiders‘ DVOA and DYAR (Defense-Adjusted Yards Above Replacement).

In their three games prior to this recent improvement, the Texans gave up an average of 354.6 passing yards. A repeat of his composed showing in Chicago may well see Garoppolo bring the Texans’ defense back down to earth.

2. DeForest Buckner to have multiple sacks

It has been a frustrating year for DeForest Buckner. For much of the season he has been fantastic, continually pressuring only to have quarterbacks slip from his grasp at the final moment. Disruption is production for interior defenders, but the numbers deserve to be better than the 1.5 sacks he has to his name.

The win over Chicago was probably Buckner’s worst showing of the season, as he struggled to make an impact, failing to register a stop according to Pro Football Focus. But the upside for Buckner is that he only played 26 of the defense’s 37 snaps. Garoppolo’s strong performance kept the defense off the field and Buckner should be fresher as a result in Houston.

His disappointing low sack total deserves to be corrected and Buckner, going up against a bad offensive line and mediocre quarterback, is in a good position to redress the balance.

1. DeAndre Hopkins to be held under 100 yards

Rookie corner Ahkello Witherspoon will have one of the biggest challenges of his young career as he goes up against one of the best receivers in the league in DeAndre Hopkins. Given how the 49ers’ defense has performed statistically in 2017, most will be expecting a big day for Hopkins.

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But Hopkins isn’t a receiver who is going to automatically generate huge amounts of separation, and much of his best work is done in tight areas. That may actually make him a good matchup for Witherspoon, who has a rare combination of foot speed and long arms that help him significantly at the catch point.

Witherspoon won’t generate the buzz of the likes of Marshon Lattimore and Tre’Davious White for some time, but he is the skill set to potentially keep Hopkins quiet.