49ers fail to overcome first half deficit

<p>HOUSTON — Michael Crabtree finally showed up. Vernon Davis took another huge leap forward. And Alex Smith looked better-than-remembered after a two-year absence.</p><p>The future of the 49ers’ passing game looks encouraging, as three recent first-round picks put together an impressive showing in the second half Sunday against the Houston Texans.</p><p>However, please excuse Mike Singletary if he was not in a celebratory mood following the 49ers’ 24-21 loss at Reliant Stadium.</p><p>Typically, the head coach is the first person to speak to the media. On Sunday, the 49ers’ players fulfilled their media obligations while Singletary gathered his composure for more than 30 minutes. He was the final person affiliated with the 49ers to answer questions before the team returned on its flight back to California.</p><p>“Obviously, it is very frustrating to come down here and get 21 points behind in the first half,” said Singletary, who returned to his hometown for the first time as an NFL head coach. “To find ourselves in a situation where we have to dig ourselves out of a hole in the second half on the road is unacceptable.”</p><p>So unacceptable, in fact, quarterback Shaun Hill lost his job.</p><p>Hill was benched at the start of the second half after the 49ers managed just 50 yards of total offense and trailed 21-0. Hill completed 6 of 11 passes for 45 yards — and was sacked twice for minus-13 yards — before Singletary made the call to the bullpen.</p><p>Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft, made his first appearance since the middle of the 2007 season and led a valiant second-half rally. Smith tossed three touchdown passes to tight end Davis, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2006 draft.</p><p>“I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t (nervous),” Smith said. “Absolutely. Especially, just because it had been a little while since I took some game snaps. It’s nice to kind of get sweating and not be thinking about it anymore.”</p><p>Smith completed 15 of 22 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns, which tied a career-high. His passer rating of 118.6 was the second-highest of his 33-game NFL career.</p><p>“I wasn’t surprised,” Davis said. “I knew what he was going to do.”</p><p>The only blemish on Smith’s ledger was a final-play interception that came on a fourth-and-10 with the 49ers looking to get into position for a game-tying field goal.</p><p>The 49ers (3-3) lost their second in a row. And for half the game, it looked a lot like the team’s 45-10 disaster two weeks ago — before the bye week — against the Atlanta Falcons.</p><p>Houston quarterback Matt Schaub threw for 166 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. The Texans quickly converted Arnaz Battle’s muffed punt at the 49ers’ 10-yard line into a second-quarter touchdown.</p><p>This time, Singletary decided to make a change.</p><p>“I just felt we need a spark, a change,” Singletary said. “I felt that Alex had that opportunity to come in and let’s see what he can do in an adverse situation.</p><p>“I thought he did pretty decent. I thought he moved the team pretty well. I thought he made the plays he needed to make, the plays he had the opportunity to make, he did. That was good to see.”</p><p>Hill, who won the starting job over Smith during a training camp competition, did not try to talk his way out of this benching. Hill convinced Singletary to change his mind last December against the St. Louis Rams when Singletary informed Hill he was being removed in favor of J.T. O’Sullivan. Hill remained in the game, and led the 49ers to the victory.</p><p>“He was pretty adamant about it,” Hill said. “When the offense isn’t going, you have to put it on the quarterback. He (Smith) gave us a spark. Obviously, I wasn’t giving that to us.”</p><p>Singletary declined to announce which quarterback will start next week against the Indianapolis Colts. But it appears offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye favors Smith to run his offense. After all, Raye prefers to augment his power-running game with passes down the field. Smith is considered better than Hill at throwing intermediate and deep passes.</p><p>If the 49ers show the ability to get the ball down the field, it could take some pressure off running back Frank Gore, who returned to action after missing the past two games with a bum ankle. Gore rushed for just 32 yards on 13 carries.</p><p>Both Hill and Smith had success getting the ball to the 49ers’ newest toy, Crabtree, the No. 10 overall pick.</p><p>Crabtree made his NFL debut on Sunday after ending a 71-day contract impasse on Oct. 7 when he signed a six-year contract. Crabtree made an immediate impact. He played 48 of the team’s 54 offensive snaps.</p><p>Davis led the 49ers with seven catches for 93 yards and three touchdowns. Crabtree added five catches for 56 yards. The 49ers converted on just four third downs throughout the game. Crabtree extended three drives with third-down receptions.</p><p>“I was kind of calm,” Crabtree said. “I kind of practiced on being calm and coming into the game knowing what I’m supposed to do and executing plays. I think I did a good job, and I think I have some more work to do.”</p><p>Crabtree was talking for himself, but he could have been speaking for the 49ers’ entire team.</p><p>For more on the 49ers, go to Instant 49ers at blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers. You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com.</p>