Week 17 Game Recap: Houston Texans 17, San Francisco 49ers 20

What you need to know

Houston Texans

The Texans’ season came to an end that was quite familiar for the team in 2005. A Kris Brown missed field goal in the fourth quarter sent the team to an overtime loss and the right to the first pick of the 2006 draft. David Carr injured his elbow in the second quarter and finished the afternoon four of 11 for 23 yards. Tony Banks took the team the rest of the way and completed 14 of 25 for 173 yards a touchdown and two costly interceptions. Banks first interception was returned 40 yards for a touchdown and his second, Banks second of the afternoon, set up the game winning field goal.

Vernand Morency filled in for the injured running backs Domanick Davis and Jonathon Wells. He carried the ball 21 times for 83 yards and a touchdown while adding four catches for another 46 yards of offense.

Andre Johnson suffered a sprained ankle early and the contest and Corey Bradford led the team with 56 receiving yards on two catches including a 25 yard touchdown.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers rallied to take the game away from the Texans as Mike Adams turned his two interceptions into 49ers points. Adams took his first interception to the end zone for a 40 yard touchdown. On his second pick of the afternoon he lateraled the ball to Ben Emanuel who returned it 35 yards to set up Joe Nedney for the game winning field goal.

Alex Smith completed 16 of 29 pass attempts for 159 yards with his first career touchdown and an interception. Frank Gore had his first 100 yard rushing game of his career, finishing with 108 yards on 25 attempts.

What you ought to know

QB Tony Banks, Pass: 14 - 25 - 173 - 1 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 2 - -2 - 0

Banks stepped in for the injured Carr and looked effective early as he moved the team down the field for a touchdown. He finished 14 of 25 for 173 yards and a touchdown but his two interceptions cost the Texans this game and preserved them the first pick in the 2006 draft.

QB David Carr, Pass: 4 - 11 - 23 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 9 - 0

Carr injured his elbow midway through the second quarter and finished four of 11 for 23 yards.

RB Vernand Morency, Rush: 21 - 83 - 1, Rec: 4 - 46 - 0 (5 targets)

Morency filled in admirably for the injured Domanick Davis and Jonathon Wells as he rushed for 83 yards on 21 attempts including a three yard touchdown run. Morency caught four of the five balls thrown his way for 46 yards.

WR Donovan Morgan, Rec: 3 - 33 - 0 (6 targets)

Morgan caught three balls for 33 yards filling in for the injured Andre Johnson.

WR Corey Bradford, Rush: 1 - -2 - 0, Rec: 2 - 56 - 1 (6 targets)

Bradford finished with 56 yards on his two receptions including a 25 yard touchdown grab from Banks.

WR Jerome Mathis, Rec: 2 - 16 - 0 (4 targets)

Mathis caught two passes for 16 yards.

WR Andre Johnson, Rec: 1 - 3 - 0 (3 targets)

Johnson caught one pass for three yards and injured his ankle on the play. The report on the ankle was a sprain and he did not return.

TE Marcellus Rivers, Rec: 5 - 34 - 0 (7 targets)

Rivers caught five of the seven balls thrown his way for 34 yards. He was Banks’ favorite target on the afternoon as the quarterback was unable to move the ball downfield consistently.

PK Kris Brown 1 - 2 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 5 points

Brown once again cost the Texans a victory when his 31 yard attempt with 6:07 left in regulation was sliced to the right. Brown was successful earlier from 21 yards out. He did convert his two extra point attempts.

HOU Rush Defense

The Texans rush defense allowed rookie Frank Gore his first 100 yard rushing day of his career and allowed the 49ers to rush for 182 yards on 47 attempts. Jason Babin led the Texans with eight tackles including two sacks.

HOU Pass Defense

The Texans held the 49ers to 159 yards through the air and one touchdown. Glenn Earl had the team’s only interception.

QB Alex Smith, Pass: 16 - 29 - 159 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 4 - 10 - 0

Smith completed 16 of 29 passes for 159 yards and his first career touchdown. Wind was a factor on this afternoon at Monster Park and most of Smith’s passes were of the short variety. He seldom had time in the pocket to set his feet and throw the ball down field. He was intercepted once.

RB Frank Gore, Rush: 25 - 108 - 0, Rec: 2 - 13 - 0 (2 targets)

Gore had his first 100 yard rushing game of his career with 108 yards on 25 carries. Gore often broke first contact and looks like he may be the team’s future workhorse. He also caught both passes thrown his way for 13 yards.

RB Maurice Hicks, Rush: 18 - 64 - 0, Rec: 3 - 17 - 0 (4 targets)

Hicks alternated with Gore on the afternoon and actually started the game in the 49er backfield. He had 64 yards on 18 carries and three catches for 17 yards.

RB Terry Jackson, Rec: 2 - 8 - 0 (4 targets)

Jackson is the 49ers’ third down specialist and caught two passes for eight yards.

WR Brandon Lloyd, Rec: 4 - 48 - 1 (10 targets)

Lloyd was Smith’s favorite target on the afternoon but only managed to catch four of the ten balls thrown his way for 48 yards. Lloyd did have the team’s only offensive touchdown of the day a 25 yard catch from Alex Smith.

WR Arnaz Battle, Rec: 3 - 52 - 0 (6 targets)

Battle led the 49ers in receiving yardage with 52 yards on three catches, 39 of those yards came on a great adjustment to a ball affected by the wind.

TE Terry Jones, Rec: 1 - 10 - 0 (2 targets)

Jones caught one of the two balls thrown his way for ten yards.

PK Joe Nedney 2 - 2 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 8 points

Nedney’s 33 yard field goal with 3:52 left in the overtime gave the 49ers their fourth win of the season. Nedney also connected from 42 yards out and was perfect on both his extra point attempts.

SF Rush Defense

The 49ers held the Texans to 88 yards on the ground on 25 attempts. Ben Emanuel led the team with six tackles.

SF Pass Defense

The 49ers’ pass defense gave the team its fourth victory of the season as Mike Adams turned both of his interceptions into points. Adams took his first pick of the afternoon 40 yards to the end zone in the third quarter. His second interception came in overtime and he alertly lateraled the ball to Ben Emanuel who proceeded to return it 35 yards setting up Nedney’s game winning field goal.