49ers at Houston Texans

Vernon Davis caught three touchdown passes from Alex Smith and the 49ers fell to the Houston Texans 24-21 at Reliant Stadium. Smith came in for an ineffective Shaun Hill in the second quarter and finished 15-of-22 for 206 with a 118.6 rating. Davis caught seven for 93. Matt Schaub threw for 264 and two touchdowns. Steve Slaton ran for 67 and a touchdown. The 49ers' rally fell short. The 49ers fell to 3-3.[1][2][3]

Alex Smith came in for Shaun Hill in the second quarter Sunday morning at Reliant Stadium. The 49ers' former first-overall pick, having waited five seasons for his return to the starting lineup, threw three touchdown passes to Vernon Davis in less than two-and-a-half quarters of work.

The 49ers lost 24-21 to the Houston Texans. Davis caught seven for 93. Smith finished 15-of-22 for 206 and a 118.6 rating. Frank Gore returned from his ankle injury and ran for 32 yards. Michael Crabtree made his NFL debut.

3-3. The kind of road loss where the in-game quarterback change produced the kind of throwing identity the offense had not flashed under Hill. Singletary postgame named Alex Smith the starter for the Indianapolis Colts at home next Sunday. The Crabtree debut, the Vernon Davis breakout, the Alex Smith return: the kind of road game that, on the scoreboard, was a loss but on the depth chart was a reset.

Texans 24, 49ers 21. Margin: -3. Six-game record: 3-3, +11 differential.

* Alex Smith (relief, 2H): 15-of-22 for 206, 3 TDs (Davis x3), 1 INT, 118.6 rating.
* Vernon Davis: 7 catches for 93, 3 TDs (career-high TD game).
* Shaun Hill: pulled in 2Q.
* Frank Gore: 13 carries for 32 (return from ankle).
* Michael Crabtree: NFL debut.
* Matt Schaub: 20-of-30 for 264, 2 TDs.
* Steve Slaton: 18 carries for 67, 1 TD.
* Andre Johnson: 7 catches for 105.
* 49ers 3-3; Texans 3-3.

A 24-21 road loss at Houston. Alex Smith replaces Shaun Hill in the second quarter. The 49ers fall to 3-3.

How it unfolded

Houston scored on its opening drive with a Schaub touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. The Texans added a touchdown drive in the second quarter to make it 14-0. Singletary pulled Shaun Hill mid-second-quarter and brought in Alex Smith. Smith hit Vernon Davis on his first touchdown drive to make it 14-7. Houston added a third-quarter field goal to make it 17-7. Smith hit Davis on a second touchdown to make it 17-14 in the third quarter. The Texans answered with a Schaub touchdown drive to push the lead to 24-14. Smith hit Davis on his third touchdown in the fourth quarter to make it 24-21. The 49ers' final possession ended on a Smith interception with the team driving for the tying field goal.

The turning point

Alex Smith's first touchdown to Vernon Davis in the second quarter. With Hill pulled and the 49ers down 14-0, Smith's first throw of the year as the starter went for a touchdown that changed the second-half tempo and produced the kind of game the offense had not produced all year.

By the numbers

Smith 206 passing on 22 attempts with three TDs and an INT and the 118.6 rating. Davis 93 receiving on 7 catches with three TDs (his career best receiving TD game). Frank Gore 32 rushing on 13 carries. Crabtree caught two passes for 18 in his NFL debut. Schaub 264 on 30 attempts with two TDs. Steve Slaton 67 rushing with a TD. Andre Johnson 105 receiving.

Personnel watch

Alex Smith's return to the starting lineup, the kind of in-game change that produced his first touchdown passes since the 2007 season. Vernon Davis's three-touchdown game, the kind of TE production the position had not seen for the 49ers in years. Michael Crabtree's NFL debut, two catches for 18 yards. Frank Gore back from injury.

What it means

3-3 with the Colts at home next Sunday. The kind of road loss where the quarterback change reframes the offense's identity. The Vernon Davis touchdown run starts the season's TD-record chase. Singletary names Smith the permanent starter for next week.