Before the 49ers applied the franchise tag to kicker Robbie Gould Ka’imi Fairbairn Jersey , the working title of this item was “One week later, no tags applied.” Since then, the title changed — and the point did as well.I was going to write that the two-week window for applying the franchise tag is a waste of time, and that there should be one and only one specific day on which tags can be applied. But then the 49ers applied their tag a full week before the day that I was going to suggest be the one day for doing so, and I realized the value of it.With a true sense of uncertainty as to whether the 49ers would tag a kicker (Ross Tucker once invited a social-media body slam from Pat McAfee by suggesting that no punter deserves the implication that goes along with the label “franchise tag”), with Gould openly discussing whether he’d be interested in returning to Chicago, and with the NFL’s annual tampering convention starting tomorrow in Indianapolis (more on that subject later), it was smart for the 49ers to hang a giant “off limits” placard on Gould, making it clear that teams are wasting their time in discussing general or specific interest in signing the kicker while meeting with agents over the next week.For most of the other potential franchise tag recipients (primarily Kendall Lamm Jersey , Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark, Chiefs linebacker Dee Ford, and Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney), a similar move isn’t needed because it’s widely expected. Still, if the tag is coming anyway — and since the deadline for doing a long-term deal doesn’t arrive until July 15 — there’s no harm in making it completely clear that any team is wasting its time by talking to the agent for a free agent who won’t be free to leave.That still doesn’t mean two weeks are needed. There should still be only one day, and the one day (as the 49ers have shown) should be the day before the Combine begins. LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Justin Reid intercepted the ball in the end zone and saw nothing but green grass in front of him.“I saw the daylight and I have to hit it,” Reid said. “I wasn’t going to let anyone stop me.”No one’s stopping the Houston Texans right now.Article continues below ...Reid’s 101-yard interception return touchdown was the big play Houston needed to overcome a mistake-prone Deshaun Watson and beat the Washington Redskins 23-21 on Sunday Joel Heath Jersey , tying the franchise record with their seventh consecutive victory.From a gruesome , season-ending injury to Redskins quarterback Alex Smith to three turnovers, it wasn’t pretty, but the Texans (7-3) became the first team since the 1925 New York Giants to win seven in a row after starting 0-3.“With this team, you never know where the play’s going to come from,” defensive end J.J. Watt said. “You never know who’s going to make it — offense, defense, special teams — but you’ve got to find a way. For the seventh time, we found a way.”While Watson was 16 of 24 for 208 yards D.J. Reader Jersey , a touchdown and two interceptions, Smith broke his right tibia and fibula on a sack by Kareem Jackson midway through the third quarter and will require surgery. Smith’s right leg turned the wrong way in eerily similar fashion to Joe Theismann’s broken leg on a Lawrence Taylor sack exactly 33 years ago to the day.“I know it was very painful for him and heartbreaking for a lot of people,” Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. “He’s a great guy and hard worker and one of the key leaders on this football team. These things happen in pro football, unfortunately. Just hate to see them happen with a guy like Alex.”Colt McCoy replaced Smith and threw for a touchdown pass and led a long scoring drive for Washington (6-4), which likely will have to rely on the journeyman quarterback the rest of the way. When a McCoy-led drive finished with an Adrian Peterson touchdown to put the Redskins up 21-20 early in the fourth quarter, it was the first lead change in a game involving the Redskins all season.“You pray for opportunities to get to play,” said McCoy, who was 6 of 12 for 54 yards. “You don’t like to see it how it happened today.”Houston went ahead for good on a 54-yard field goal by Ka’imi Fairbairn, who missed a 44-yarder earlier. The winning streak stayed alive when Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins missed a 63-yard field-goal attempt with 3 seconds left.“We just have belief Christian Covington Jersey ,” Watson said. “Everyone keeps fighting. No one is doubting each other. Regardless, we try to play complementary football, but when the offense needs the defense to help us out, they do that and vice-versa.”EMPTY SEATSEven though there were plenty of empty seats and a total attendance of 61,593 that was far below a sellout, Redskins cornerback Josh Norman called the crowd “electrifying.” Norman last week criticized fans for not having players’ backs at home and said the team plays better on the road.“What an atmosphere, right?” Norman said. “You guys came out and you showed up in a big way. We can’t be more proud and excited to be among you guys. … I applaud you all, for sure.”PETERSON’S UP AND DOWN DAYPeterson ran for two touchdowns to continue climbing the NFL rushing chart, but was bottled up on a lot of his other carries. Peterson’s 3- and 7-yard TD runs gave him 105 in his career and moved him past former Redskins star John Riggins into sole possession of sixth all time Andre Hal Jersey , one behind Jim Brown for fifth.Peterson finished with 51 yards on 16 carries.QUIET THOMASIn his second game with the Texans, Demaryius Thomas was a non-factor. Watson only threw his way twice — once on a play wiped out by a penalty — and the former Broncos receiver did not have a catch.Thomas stayed in Houston during the bye week in Houston to study the playbook and watch film after making a handful of newcomer mistakes in his debut. Thomas had three catches for 61 yards in that game, but disappeared from the offense Sunday.MR. RELEVANTWashington receiver Trey Quinn made a major impact in his return after missing more than two months with a high-ankle sprain. Quinn, who was “Mr. Irrelevant” caught four passes for 49 yards starting in place of injured wideout Jamison Crowder and would have been the emergency QB had McCoy gone down.INJURIESTexans: RG Zach Fulton left with a shoulder injury on the first drive, and LG Senio Kelemete left with an ankle injury in the second quarter. … CB Aaron Colvin missed his seventh game in a row with an ankle injury.Redskins: DL Jonathan Allen was evaluated for a concussion but returned. … Crowder missed his sixth consecutive game with an ankle injury, RB Chris Thompson his third consecutive game with injured ribs and LT Trent Williams his third consecutive game after surgery for a dislocated right thumb.UP NEXTTexans: Host the division rival Tennessee Titans on Monday, Nov. 26.Redskins: Visit the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day.