Quick whistle helps 49ers beat Texans, close in on playoffs

Updated Jan. 2, 2022 9:32 p.m. ET

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — A quick whistle saved San Francisco linebacker Marcell Harris from a colossal mistake and helped deliver the 49ers a key win in their playoff hunt.

Harris appeared to

The Niners (9-7) then responded with a touchdown drive to take the lead for good and move them a step closer to a playoff berth with the

“I thought I was down," Harris said. "I kind of heard a whistle as I was being held up. But a guy was behind me but we got that ball back and gave the offense a chance to score. So I can’t ask for any more.”

The play in question came on Houston's first drive of the third quarter when Davis Mills' pass over the middle to Chris Conley was intercepted by Harris.

As Harris tried to make a play on the return, he got stood up and Conley knocked the ball out. Teammate Rex Burkhead recovered and it looked like the Texans had a first down in San Francisco territory.

Then the officials gathered and made their ruling.

“We ruled that forward progress was stopped,” referee Carl Cheffers told a pool reporter. “He was being driven back. So by rule, the play is dead at that point and any subsequent loss of possession is irrelevant.”

It turned into a bad break for the Texans (4-12), who have had plenty of them this season.

“I mean, to be very honest with you, I thought Con-man within the time of the play was able to get the ball back out,” receiver Brandin Cooks said. “But I’m not the ref. That’s Con, giving that effort. It’s unfortunate. You just would have hoped the call was in our favor. But it wasn’t.”

The Niners then took a deep shot on the next play and got help from the officials again when Terrance Mitchell was called for a 37-yard pass-interference penalty against Brandon Aiyuk.

That set up the Niners in the red zone and Trey Lance finished the drive with an

“Those are two of the best calls I’ve seen this year,” coach Kyle Shanahan said with a smile. “I felt Marcell made a hell of a play, and then I did feel we were very fortunate.”

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National Football League

San Francisco 49ers

Elijah Mitchell

Marcell Harris

Davis Mills

Trey Lance

Brandon Aiyuk

Brandin Cooks

Chris Conley

San Francisco 49ers

Houston Texans