The redemption arc of quarterback Mac Jones was fun while it lasted, but the San Francisco 49ers need starting QB Brock Purdy to return as soon as possible.

The San Francisco 49ers fell short in their Week 8 contest with a 26-15 loss against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.

Playing without Nico Collins and Christian Kirk it was easy to wonder what receiver could make plays for C.J. Stroud. It turns out, literally all of them could against the 49ers.

In a 3-hour game, the San Francisco 49ers played about 10 minutes of good football as the Houston Texans dominated in every aspect of a 26-15 game that was nowhere near that close.

C.J. Stroud threw for a season-high 318 yards with two touchdowns and the Houston Texans got off to a quick start and held on for a 26-15 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

For a few, fleeting moments, the Niners’ H-Town showdown with the Texans was a contest. For the rest of the game, it was a lopsided beatdown reminiscent of an early-season college football game between a blue-blood program and a directional school that was bused in for a blowout game and a nice check.

Without even setting foot on the field in Week 8, the Seattle Seahawks have moved into first place in the NFC West. As the end of October quickly approached, a three-team logjam formed atop the NFC West.

Purdy was on the 49ers’ sideline in a road game for the first time since re-aggravating his toe injury against the Jaguars. He did not travel to Los Angeles on Oct. 2, and didn't travel to Tampa on Oct. 11. While he was on the sideline for last week’s game against Atlanta, that was a home game.