NFL: Houston 24, San Francisco 21

HOUSTON, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Two touchdown passes from Matt Schaub helped give Houston a 21-point halftime lead Sunday and the Texans held on to down San Francisco 24-21.

Houston won its second straight and advanced to 4-3 in a bid to produce the first winning season in franchise history. The 49ers dropped to 3-3 with their second straight loss.

Steve Slaton gave Houston the lead with 1-yard run late in the first period, then caught a 9-yard throw from Schaub in the second quarter after San Francisco had fumbled away a punt at its own 10-yard line.

A 42-yard touchdown pass from Schaub to Owen Daniels gave the Texans a 21-0 cushion at halftime.

San Francisco rallied in the second half on three touchdown passes by Alex Smith, who replaced Shaun Hill after the starter had completed just 6-of-11 passes for 45 yards. Smith, the No. 1 draft pick in 2005, was 15-of-22 for 206 yards.

Smith hit Vernon Davis with a 23-yard scoring throw with 3:43 to play, bringing the 49ers within three points.

Houston had to punt the ball back to the 49ers with 1:38 remaining, but San Francisco's hopes for a comeback died when Smith was intercepted on fourth down from his own 38.

Schaub was 20-of-30 for 264 yards.