Lance throws 2 TD passes to lead 49ers past Texans 23-7

Updated Jan. 2, 2022 7:09 p.m. ET

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Rookie Trey Lance threw

Lance got the nod for the 49ers (9-7) for the first time since Week 5 with Jimmy Garoppolo sidelined by a thumb injury and overcame an interception in the first half to lead San Francisco to the win.

The Niners can clinch their second playoff berth in five seasons under coach Kyle Shanahan with one loss by New Orleans or a win next week against the Rams.

The Texans (4-12) struggled to get much of anything going offensively and failed in their attempt at their first three-game winning streak since 2018.

Davis Mills went 21 for 32 for 163 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and Houston was held to 222 yards on offense.

Lance fared much better against lesser competition in his second start than he did in a 17-10 loss to Arizona in October.

He went 16 for 23 for 249 yards with his biggest play coming in the fourth quarter when he rolled right and then threw deep over the middle to Deebo Samuel, who caught it

MOMENTUM SHIFT

The game shifted in the third quarter with a couple of big plays — and calls — for the 49ers.

It started when

On the next play, Terrance Mitchell was called for a 37-yard pass-interference penalty against Brandon Aiyuk to set up the Niners in the red zone. Lance finished the drive with an 8-yard TD pass to Elijah Mitchell to give San Francisco a 10-7 lead.

The Texans had two pass-interference calls go their way early in the fourth quarter to get into the red zone, but a sack on third down by Samson Ebukam and then a missed 45-yard field goal by Ka'imi Fairbairn kept San Francisco ahead 10-7.

TURNAROUND

The Texans were stagnant for most of the first half before

Lance threw to George Kittle in coverage instead of an open Samuel for his second interception of the season.

The Texans, who had only one first down on their first four drives, moved the ball 80 yards by converting four third downs, taking a 7-0 lead on Mills'

Mills was 3 for 3 for 47 yards and the TD on third down on that drive.

LATE SCORE

Shanahan got aggressive at the end of the first half and the move paid off. San Francisco took over at its 25 with 38 seconds left and no timeouts.

But Lance completed three passes for 56 yards to set up Robbie Gould's 37-yard field goal on the final play of the half.

KEY INJURIES

Houston S Jonathan Owens (wrist), DL Jonathan Greenard (shoulder) and DB Grayland Arnold (ankle) were hurt.

UP NEXT

Texans: Host Tennessee on Sunday.

49ers: Visit the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

___

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://apnews.com/hub/pro-32 and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Trey Lance

National Football League

San Francisco 49ers

Ka'imi Fairbairn

Samson Ebukam

George Kittle

Elijah Mitchell

Robbie Gould

Jonathan Owens

Trey Lance

Desmond King

Jimmy Garoppolo

Brandin Cooks

Deebo Samuel Sr.

Davis Mills

Marcell Harris

Brandon Aiyuk

Los Angeles Rams

Houston Texans

San Francisco 49ers