Game story
In Week 17 of the 2021 NFL season on 2022-01-02, the San Francisco 49ers took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 23–7 final that controlled the game from start to finish.
The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
D. Mills (Houston Texans) paced the passing game, with -9.58 total EPA, and +1.2% completion percentage over expected.
On the individual side, T. Lance (San Francisco 49ers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.78 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (+15.7% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Houston Texans changed the game: (14:23) (Shotgun) 10-D.Mills pass incomplete deep left to 13-B.Cooks [91-A.Armstead]. PENALTY on SF-26-J.Norman, Defensive Pass Interference, 33 yards, enforced at HOU 19 - No Play.
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | — | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Texans | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 3 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 T. Lance · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +9.78 total EPA · 27 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
- 2 B. Aiyuk · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +3.54 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
- 3 D. Samuel · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.88 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
- 4 R. Freeman · Houston Texans · Rushing · +1.48 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.25 EPA/play
- 5 E. Mitchell · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +1.39 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
- 6 J. Jennings · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +1.15 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
- 7 J. Hasty · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +1.11 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.11 EPA/play
- 8 P. Brown · Houston Texans · Receiving · +0.64 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.64 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
T. Lance — SF · Passing
T. Lance posted the highest total EPA (+9.78) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on San Francisco 49ers's efficiency. Across 27 counted snaps, they averaged +0.36 EPA per play.
The signature play (-4.50 EPA) came from Houston Texans: (8:21) (Shotgun) 10-D.Mills pass short middle intended for 18-C.Conley INTERCEPTED by 36-M.Harris at SF 40. 36-M.Harris to SF 42 for 2 yards (18-C.Conley; 9-B.Jordan).
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- Houston Texans — B. Cooks (D. Mills pass)
- San Francisco 49ers — E. Mitchell (T. Lance pass)
- San Francisco 49ers — D. Samuel (T. Lance pass)
Field goals
- San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould
- San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould
- San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould
How it unfolded, quarter by quarter
A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.
The second quarter: Houston Texans won the period 7–3. Houston Texans found the end zone from the SF 8 (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 10-D.Mills pass short middle to 13-B.Cooks for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q2 31:57) — 7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the HOU 19 (Q2 30:03) — (:03) 9-R.Gould 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky..
The third quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the HOU 8 (Q3 20:57) — (5:57) 5-T.Lance pass short right to 25-E.Mitchell for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught HOU 7. 7-YAC; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q3 20:53) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky..
The fourth quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 13–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the HOU 45 (Q4 10:06) — (10:06) 5-T.Lance pass deep left to 19-D.Samuel for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught HOU 12. 12-YAC; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q4 9:56) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the HOU 9 (Q4 3:23) — (3:23) 9-R.Gould 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the HOU 18 (Q4 1:16) — (1:16) 9-R.Gould 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky..
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.
- Houston Texans (Q4 14:23) — (14:23) (Shotgun) 10-D.Mills pass incomplete deep left to 13-B.Cooks [91-A.Armstead]. PENALTY on SF-26-J.Norman, Defensive Pass Interference, 33 yards, enforced at HOU 19 - No Play.
- San Francisco 49ers (Q3 28:34) — (13:34) (Shotgun) 5-T.Lance pass short middle to 11-B.Aiyuk to HOU 33 for 43 yards (23-E.Murray). Caught SF 35. 32-YAC
- San Francisco 49ers (Q3 23:14) — (8:14) (Shotgun) 5-T.Lance pass incomplete deep middle to 11-B.Aiyuk. PENALTY on HOU-39-T.Mitchell, Defensive Pass Interference, 37 yards, enforced at SF 42 - No Play.
- Houston Texans (Q4 12:50) — (12:50) (Shotgun) 10-D.Mills sacked at SF 27 for -9 yards (98-A.Key).
- Houston Texans (Q4 12:08) — (12:08) 7-K.Fairbairn 45 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- Houston Texans (Q3 23:21) — (8:21) (Shotgun) 10-D.Mills pass short middle intended for 18-C.Conley INTERCEPTED by 36-M.Harris at SF 40. 36-M.Harris to SF 42 for 2 yards (18-C.Conley; 9-B.Jordan).
- San Francisco 49ers (Q4 10:06) — (10:06) 5-T.Lance pass deep left to 19-D.Samuel for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught HOU 12. 12-YAC
- San Francisco 49ers (Q3 28:34) — (13:34) (Shotgun) 5-T.Lance pass short middle to 11-B.Aiyuk to HOU 33 for 43 yards (23-E.Murray). Caught SF 35. 32-YAC
- San Francisco 49ers (Q3 26:17) — (11:17) 5-T.Lance pass incomplete deep left to 11-B.Aiyuk (25-D.King).
Quarterback report card
D.Mills led all passers in efficiency for Houston Texans, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.
- D.Mills (Houston Texans) · 41 dropbacks · 51.2% completion · +1.2% CPOE · -0.23 EPA/play · -9.58 total EPA
- T.Lance (San Francisco 49ers) · 27 dropbacks · 59.3% completion · +8.5% CPOE · +0.36 EPA/play · +9.78 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | Houston Texans | San Francisco 49ers |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | -0.218 | +0.002 |
| Offensive success rate | 39.8% | 42.1% |
| Pass EPA/play | -0.234 | +0.362 |
| Rush EPA/play | -0.102 | -0.194 |
| Defensive EPA/play | -0.002 | +0.218 |
| Defensive success rate | 57.9% | 60.2% |
By the numbers
San Francisco 49ers held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.00 vs -0.22), even if the scoreboard told a different story.
- Houston Texans: 12 drives, -18.14 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
- San Francisco 49ers: 12 drives, +0.16 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
Key takeaways
What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.
- San Francisco 49ers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
- T. Lance (San Francisco 49ers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
- T. Lance (SF) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
Every scoring play
Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.
- Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 32:00 · SF 8 · Score 6-0
(2:00) (Shotgun) 10-D.Mills pass short middle to 13-B.Cooks for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 31:57 · SF 15 · Score 7-0
7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston. - San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 30:03 · HOU 19 · Score 7-3
(:03) 9-R.Gould 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky. - San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q3 20:57 · HOU 8 · Score 7-9
(5:57) 5-T.Lance pass short right to 25-E.Mitchell for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught HOU 7. 7-YAC - San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q3 20:53 · HOU 15 · Score 7-10
9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky. - San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 10:06 · HOU 45 · Score 7-16
(10:06) 5-T.Lance pass deep left to 19-D.Samuel for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught HOU 12. 12-YAC - San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q4 9:56 · HOU 15 · Score 7-17
9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky. - San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q4 3:23 · HOU 9 · Score 7-20
(3:23) 9-R.Gould 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky. - San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q4 1:16 · HOU 18 · Score 7-23
(1:16) 9-R.Gould 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Houston Texans vs San Francisco 49ers?
The San Francisco 49ers beat the Houston Texans 23-7 in Week 17, 2021 on 2022-01-02.
What was the final score of Houston Texans vs San Francisco 49ers?
The final score was Houston Texans 7, San Francisco 49ers 23 (HOU 7-23 SF) in Week 17, 2021 on 2022-01-02.
What was the score by quarter in Houston Texans vs San Francisco 49ers?
Q2: Houston Texans 7, San Francisco 49ers 3; Q3: Houston Texans 0, San Francisco 49ers 7; Q4: Houston Texans 0, San Francisco 49ers 13; Final: Houston Texans 7, San Francisco 49ers 23.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Houston Texans vs San Francisco 49ers?
Houston Texans touchdown — B. Cooks (D. Mills pass) (Q2 32:00) San Francisco 49ers touchdown — E. Mitchell (T. Lance pass) (Q3 20:57) San Francisco 49ers touchdown — D. Samuel (T. Lance pass) (Q4 10:06) San Francisco 49ers field goal — R. Gould (Q2 30:03, 3 pts) San Francisco 49ers field goal — R. Gould (Q4 3:23, 3 pts) San Francisco 49ers field goal — R. Gould (Q4 1:16, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in Houston Texans vs San Francisco 49ers?
D. Mills (Houston Texans), 51.2% completion, +1.2% CPOE, -0.23 EPA per dropback, -9.58 total passing EPA. T. Lance (San Francisco 49ers), 59.3% completion, +8.5% CPOE, +0.36 EPA per dropback, +9.78 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in Houston Texans vs San Francisco 49ers?
T. Lance (San Francisco 49ers) led the game in total EPA with +9.78 on passing plays. across 27 snaps. The top single-play swing was (-4.50 EPA): (8:21) (Shotgun) 10-D.Mills pass short middle intended for 18-C.Conley INTERCEPTED by 36-M.Harris at SF 40. 36-M.Harris to SF 42 for 2 yards (18-C.Conley; 9-B.Jordan).. The biggest win-probability swing was +15.7%.
Season records after this game
Houston Texans
Entered 4-11 Now 4-12 L
San Francisco 49ers
Entered 8-7 Now 9-7 W
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