A three-team tussle atop the NFC West figures to naturally play itself out by season’s end.
While the San Francisco 49ers have gained an early edge with victories against fellow 5-2 rivals Los Angeles and Seattle, right tackle Colton McKivitz knows a Week 8 visit to Houston offers a unique challenge.
With injuries mounting, especially to the San Francisco defense, a banged-up attack needs to build consistency.
“We’re going to have to step up,” McKivitz said. “On offense, is there a little more urgency to score? Yeah. Is there a little more urgency to run the ball better? Yeah. I mean, same thing in the pass game. It is just time for us to start hitting on all cylinders.”
Houston knows the feeling. After throttling Tennessee and Baltimore following a season-opening, three-game losing streak, the Texans (2-4) sputtered in Seattle on Monday.
The only offensive touchdown for Houston in a 27-19 loss came when C.J. Stroud connected with Woody Marks on a 4-yard scoring pass with 2:04 to play.
Receivers Nico Collins (concussion) and Christian Kirk (hamstring) missed practice Wednesday, but Stroud emphasized that neither he nor the Texans have cause to panic.
“My confidence is as high as ever,” Stroud said. “I have the utmost confidence not only in my team but in myself, and I’ve just got to continue to show up every game.
“I think as time goes on, you start clicking more and more and more, you know. … The focus for me is to stay confident in my process and my preparation and myself. So, I’m going to continue to do that and I’m going to continue to get better in areas I need to get better in.”
Stroud won’t have to worry about escaping from 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (torn right ACL) and linebacker Fred Warner (fractured right ankle), who both are out with season-ending injuries.
Hamstring injuries also have sidelined defensive end Bryce Huff and center Jake Brendel for the coming weeks.
The 49ers welcomed the return of George Kittle to the lineup during Sunday’s 20-10 home victory against Atlanta, which was keyed by NFC Offensive Player of the Week Christian McCaffrey’s 201 scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Mac Jones again started at quarterback in place of Brock Purdy (toe). Purdy was limited in practice Wednesday and the team will continue to chart his progress.
“It’s different dealing with a toe but I’d say it’s steadily getting better each week,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said.
The 49ers haven’t had wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) in the lineup since Week 4, and he sat out practice Wednesday along with cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (quad) and defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (knee/hamstring).
Houston’s losses have come by 21 combined points. The Texans trail AFC South-leading Indianapolis by three in the loss column but hope to find their stride ahead of their first encounter with the Colts in Week 13.
“We’re close a lot in games,” Houston coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Games are close; that’s why the NFL is a fun league. … You’ve just got to execute one play. It gets boring when you hear ‘execute,’ and I get it. Everybody (doesn’t) want to hear it. But that’s what the game comes down to.
“It’s taking advantage of guys who don’t execute. When you take advantage of when guys are in a bad spot, that’s when you make a play.”