HOUSTON _ It's wasn't like Jimmy Garoppolo simply had to cut-and-paste his successful starting debut. But he did win his encore Sunday with another second-half comeback, this time toppling the host Texans, 26-16.
Garoppolo passed for a career-high 334 yards, and his third-quarter touchdown pass to Garrett Celek gave the 49ers (3-10) a lead they would not relinquish.
Next Sunday marks his home debut as the 49ers starting quarterback, but he played coy about whether he's earned coach Kyle Shanahan's nod to try and go 3-0 when the Tennessee Titans visit Levi's Stadium.
"We'll see what happens this week. That's on Kyle," Garoppolo said. "I don't know. We'll find out (Monday) probably."
Wait, he's waiting for Shanahan's blessing?
"That's usually how it goes," Garoppolo responded with a sly smile.
Told by reporters he'll surely start, he replied: "I like the confidence."
Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, after a 106-yard outing, was stunned at the folly whether Garoppolo will stick as the starter. "What? I don't see why he wouldn't. He better be out there," Goodwin said.
After winning his starting debut last week with a fourth-quarter comeback at Chicago, Garoppolo started this game rocky, sailed a couple passes and had one intercepted. As he settled down to complete 20-of-33 passes, his supporting cast stepped up against the Texans (4-9).
Helping preserve that lead was Adrian Colbert's forced fumble against Texans star DeAndre Hopkins, with Aaron Lynch recovering at the Texans 32. That set up Robbie Gould's fourth field goal of the game.
It's the first time the 49ers have won back-to-back games in a season since November 2014. Doing so with consecutive road wins is quite a feat after starting 0-9 for the first time in franchise history.
"We haven't won a lot this year, but to win these last two _ and three out of the last four _ it's definitely exciting," Shanahan said. "You can feel it in our building. Guys are gaining that confidence."
As for back-to-back comebacks, Garropolo said: "It's not something we want to get into. We would love to be ahead. But it's finding a way to win. We have a young group of guys in there who are learning how to do that, and we're figuring out different ways.
"Last week was a field goal. This week, the defense stepped up huge at the end for us. It's just finding a way to win."
Hopkins, prior to his fumble, fueled the Texans offense. He produced 11 catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns while also getting cornerback Dontae Johnson benched in the process.
"We switched up some coverages, adjusted some personnel," Shanahan said. "They got that touchdown right away (after halftime), then they kept them out the rest of the game."
The Texans offense came alive after a quarterback change, and one that appeared to come a series too late: Tom Savage returned for a series after sustaining a concussion before T.J. Yates replaced him.
The 49ers will close their season against three playoff contenders: the Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars at home before a New Year's Eve visit to the Los Angeles Rams
