The Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals were supposed to be also-rans at this point in the season, yet the Texans have found a way to expeditiously close the rebuild. Maybe the trade with Arizona on draft day worked out after all.
The Texans would like to ride their two-game win streak into a third victory. Th last time Houston won three games in a row was 2018 amid a nine-game losing streak that resurrected an 0-3 start into a respectable 9-3 mark by the streak’s end. It would give them credibility as a division threat in their rematch with the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 12.
If you can’t catch the game any other conventional way, follow along here.
How to watch
Arizona Cardinals at Houston Texans — Sunday, Nov. 19, 12:00 p.m. CT
TV channel: KHOU-TV
Live stream: FuboTV
Radio: Sports Radio 610 (KILT-AM), Mega 101 (KLOL-FM) (Marc Vandermeer & Andre Ware)
Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
Forecast: Mostly cloudy, 72 degrees, 7 mph wind (indoors)
Follow the @TheTexansWire and the crew (@therealmarklane, @BigSargeSportz, @chrisnallsnfl @JohnHCrumpler)
Texans offensive player spotlight
One player who has found a way to get reps with the attrition hitting the receiving corps is John Metchie. The former 2022 second-round pick has nine catches for 111 yards through eight games. Metchie had his best game of the season last week with two catches for 25 yards in the 30-27 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Consistency will help unlock Metchie’s potential.
Texans defensive player spotlight
The fourth-year defensive end is taking advantage of having a dynamic edge rusher in Will Anderson and also culminating his experience in the NFL to produce what could be a career year. Greenard leads the Texans with 7.0 sacks and also has the most quarterback hits with 14. As long as Greenard continues to produce while resources are committed elsewhere, the Texans’ pass rush will keep challenging.
Inactives
The one significant inactive for Houston is receiver Noah Brown, who will be missing the game due to a knee injury. Brown was listed as questionable on the Friday injury report.
First quarter — AZ 10, HXT 7
15:00 — The Texans won the coin toss and elected to defer.
13:36 — QB Kyler Murray throws a 48-yard touchdown pass to WR Rondale Moore. CB Derek Stingley was in coverage. K Matt Prater hits the extra point. 7-0, Cardinals
9:32 — Houston faced a fourth-and-2 from the Arizona 15-yard line. Instead of going for a field goal, the Texans go for it with RB Mike Boone, who gets stuffed at the line of scrimmage.
8:04 — The Texans turn the Cardinals three-and-out as Murray can’t connect with TE Trey McBride on a third-and-4 from the Cardinals’ 21-yard line.
2:11 — On a third-and-11 from the Houston 34, DE Will Anderson sacks Murray for a 5-yard loss.
1:26 — Prater hits a 57-yard field goal. 10-7, Cardinals
Second quarter — AZ 10, HXT 21
11:27 — RB Devin Singletary rushes for an 11-yard score. Extra point is good. 14-10, Texans
11:20 — Stingley intercepts Murray at the Houston 25-yard line. The intended pass was for WR Hollywood Brown.
6:15 — Stroud throws an interception looking for WR Nico Collins. S Jalen Thompson picked off Stroud, who has thrown just his third this season.
3:01 — The Texans sack Murray to compel the Cardinals to punt after a third-and-10 from the Arizona 31.
0:34 — Stroud throws a 40-yard touchdown pass to WR Tank Dell. Extra point is good. 21-10, Texans
HALFTIME
Stats
TEXANS
Stroud: 18/24, 259 yards, 2 TDs, INT
Singletary: 16 carries, 84 yards, TD
Dell: 6 catches, 120 yards, TD
CARDINALS
Murray: 8/12, 99 yards, TD, INT; 1 carry, 22 yards
James Conner: 6 carries, 43 yards
Moore: 1 catch, 48 yards, TD
McBride: 4 catches, 32 yards
Third quarter — AZ 16, HTX 21
13:04 — Stroud took a big shot on a sack from the Cardinals’ 45-yard line and has to leave the game.
12:36 — QB Davis Mills enters the game and throws a 2-yard pass to Singletary.
11:55 — Stroud returns to the game and completes an 18-yard pass to Dell on third-and-17 from the Houston 48.
9:19 — Houston settles for Ammendola trying a 48-yard field goal, which is wide left.
2:57 — Murray scores a 1-yard touchdown run. Two-point attempt is no good. 21-16, Texans
Fourth quarter — AZ 16, HTX 21
12:54 — Instead of kicking a field goal, the Cardinals go for it on fourth-and-3 from the Houston 23. Murray throws incomplete for WR Greg Dortch.
10:48 — The Texans go three-and-out following FB Andrew Beck failing to gain a yard on third-and-1 from the Houston 31.
10:37 — The Cardinals muffed the punt and CB Ka’dar Hollman recovers at the Arizona 25.
9:42 — Stroud hits WR Robert Woods right in the hands, but he can’t collect. LB Krys Barnes picks off Stroud at the Cardinals’ 3-yard line and rumbles to their 49-yard line before OT George Fant makes the tackle.
7:22 — Murray can’t find McBride on fourth-and-4 from the Houston 45. Turnover on downs.
5:03 — Stroud throws his third interception of the game looking for Dell. The Cardinals get it back at their own 19-yard line with two timeouts.
0:40 — Facing a fourth-and-8 from the Texans’ 27, Murray throws a deep ball for Brown that falls incomplete. Anderson was applying pressure as CB Steven Nelson provided coverage.
0:00 — Houston gets to 6-4 and has a big divisional matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars next week. Coverage all night at Texans Wire.
