SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Matt Schaub threw two interceptions to Tramaine Brock, including one returned for a touchdown for a fourth straight game, and the San Francisco 49ers led the Houston Texans 21-0 at halftime Sunday night.
Brock stepped in front of Andre Johnson to intercept Schaub’s first pass and ran 18 yards untouched into the end zone before most fans had even settled into their seats on a relatively warm and windless night at Candlestick Park. In the second quarter, Brock picked off a second pass in similar fashion that set up another 49ers touchdown.
Colin Kaepernick completed four of eight passes for 45 yards, and Frank Gore and Anthony Dixon each ran for short TDs that put Houston in a major hole.
The game started similar to how the Texans’ previous one ended.
Last week, Schaub threw an interception returned for a score that allowed Seattle to tie the game in the fourth quarter before Houston lost 23-20 in overtime. Fans in Houston have been calling for Schaub to be benched ever since, and some even burned his jersey and posted signs along city streets asking for backup T.J. Yates.
Schaub was 14 for 23 passing for 111 yards.
The Texans failed to capitalize even when Schaub looked sharp. He regrouped to complete five of six passes for 32 yards on Houston’s second drive that stalled deep in San Francisco territory after a pair of penalties on third down. Then, Randy Bullock hooked a 45-yard field goal wide left.
Kaepernick took over and led San Francisco on a 12-play, 65-yard drive that spanned nearly six minutes. He completed a 9-yard pass to Anquan Boldin on third-and-9 before Gore’s 1-yard TD run.
San Francisco left Schaub scrambling and stunned after forcing two more interceptions. Brock might’ve returned his second interception for a score had he not bobbled the ball in the air before getting tackled from behind by Johnson after 13 yards.
The 49ers wasted no time building an even bigger lead. Kaepernick scrambled 14 yards, Gore ran 18 yards on two carries and Dixon finished it off with 2-yard TD run put San Francisco up 21-0.
Both teams entered with a 2-2 record and were trying to overcome obstacles. The defending NFC champion 49ers, though, looked like the only ones ready to revive their season.
San Francisco was playing without several key defensive players for the second straight game. All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis sat out with a strained groin, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha was sidelined with a knee injury and linebacker Aldon Smith was undergoing treatment for substance abuse.
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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org
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