SANTA CLARA — The 49ers found some of their soul in their punch-in-the-mouth win over Atlanta last weekend.
Now comes the hard part with the Texans up next Sunday at NRG Stadium in Houston: Doing it again.
“I think when it comes to establishing your identity, you have to do that every week,” running back Christian McCaffrey said Wednesday. “It’s not something where you just have it and you’re good to go the rest of the year. It’s a mindset that has to happen all the time.”
Coach Kyle Shanahan set 40 rushing plays as the goal against the Falcons, which was ambitious considering the 49ers (5-2) had been struggling to run consistently. They ran it 39 times for 174 yards and won 20-10.
The prime beneficiary was McCaffrey, who carried 24 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns and had seven receptions for 72 yards in being named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
Brian Robinson Jr., the 49ers’ No. 2 back, got a season-high nine carries and gained 36 yards.
It was a welcome respite from relying so heavily on the passing game and the right arm of Mac Jones, which is fine as long as the 49ers are winning but comes without the balance Shanahan prefers. It’s the way the 49ers have done it since he arrived and it’s something the fan base has gotten used to, as has Shanahan.
“That’s always the best way to do it for me is running it down someone’s throat and controlling it on the other side,” Shanahan said. “To win consistently, you have to be able to beat people that way. That was the first time we did it this year and it was a good feeling because if you can’t win that way, it’s just a matter of time before it catches up with you.”
Since Shanahan became head coach in 2017, the 49ers are 26-2 in the regular season and postseason when running the ball 35 or more times. They’ve had 40 or more rushing attempts 10 times and won them all.
If only it were as uncomplicated as calling 40 straight running plays and putting it in the win column. Running the ball that many times requires lots of third-down conversions and defensive stops to create more rushing attempts.
Houston (2-4) is giving up a league-low 14.7 points per game and 95.2 yards on the ground. No one has a run of more than 21 yards against the Texans and they’re giving up 3.8 yards per carry.
“I don’t know if we regained our personality,” right tackle Colton McKivitz said. “It’s what this offense is about, running the ball. But during the course of an NFL season, in our first four wins, we had to be able to throw the ball efficiently. Then you get a week like Atlanta, we needed (39) runs to win the game and I thought we stepped up to the challenge.”
McCaffrey said he’s been as frustrated as the fan base and media at the 49ers’ running game even if he doesn’t always show it. And he stresses that gashing Atlanta doesn’t have a carry-over effect to Houston.
“Every week, you’ve got to earn it, you’ve got to show up ready to go,” McCaffrey said. “When things aren’t going well, I don’t know if I panic as much as sometimes the (critics’) talk does, but I definitely understand it and I feel the same way. I want things to work well every week.”
There is little doubt the 49ers, who balanced their run game with more gap scheme style runs as opposed to their heavy reliance on outside zone, got in their best groove of the season.
“There’s definitely a rhythm to it, that’s really fun to be part of,” center Matt Hennessey said. “It was cool to establish that as the game went on. But every game is different as to how it will get done, whether it’s run or pass. You hope it carries over to the next week, but each game is really its own thing.”
It helped the 49ers that George Kittle, one of their top blockers, was back on the field for the first time since Week 1. He made his presence felt even without catching a pass for the first time in his career.
No hard feelings, though. Kittle enjoys pancaking defenders as much as he does catching passes.
“That’s good football for us,” Kittle said. “It gives you that mindset that we’re going to hit people in the face as hard as we possibly can and give. Christian McCaffrey and (Brian) Robinson as many carries as we can give them and just run through a person’s face, is the polite way I’d say that. It’s a good mindset to go into an NFL game.”
49ers triage
Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir was the new casualty on the injury report as he missed practice with a quadriceps injury sustained against Atlanta. Shanahan hopes he’ll practice Thursday.
Quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) was limited in practice while Mac Jones practiced fully, an indication that Jones will be the likely starter against the Texans.
“It’s different with a toe but it’s getting better each week,” Shanahan said.
Center Jake Brendel and edge rusher Bryce Huff both missed practice with hamstring strains and Shanahan said Monday he expects both to miss at least two weeks. Also not practicing were defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring) and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall Jr. (knee).
Pearsall hasn’t played since Sept. 28 against Jacksonville.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a setback but it isn’t going as fast as we wanted,” Shanahan said.
Cornerback Upton Stout (ankle) was limited, while McCaffrey and left tackle Trent Williams had their usual Wednesday off.
Life without Huff
Huff’s absence is problematic in that Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud has been susceptible to a pass rush, having been sacked 52 times last season and 15 so far this season — a pace that would have him on his back 42 1/2 times in 2025.
The 49ers have only nine sacks and Huff is the leader with four since Nick Bosa went out in Week 3.
That means defensive coordinator Robert Saleh may have to take more chances than usual in terms of blitzing.
“You’ve got to get creative at times and you need other guys to step up,” Shanahan said. “We’ve had that every week at a number of positions.”
Notable
— The 49ers re-signed tight end Brayden Willis to the practice squad and released Messiah Swinson. Linebacker Stone Blanton has been added to the practice squad. Edge rusher Trevis Gipson was signed to the practice squad after clearing waivers. The practice window has been open for guard/tackle Spencer Burford (knee), who has been on injured reserve. The 49ers have three weeks to activate him or leave him on I.R.