Houston Texans vs. Arizona Cardinals Preview: Can Texans Avoid Trap Game in Week 11?

The Houston Texans are enjoying a wild ride of a two-game win streak, but the Arizona Cardinals present a similar challenge that the Carolina Panthers did just three weeks ago.

It feels like the Houston Texans have been here before, doesn’t it? The vibes were great in Houston entering the Week 7 bye week. The Texans were 3-3, coming off of a win and gushing about their rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Yet, with an extra week to prepare, Houston fell flat in its next game against a then-winless Carolina Panthers squad. Since then, Stroud and the Texans have rebounded in a big way, once again winning over the hearts of the football world.

After two chaotic wins against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals, Houston enters Week 11 with the ability to maintain decent playoff standing with a win. A loss, however, would usher the Texans back into the mediocrity that is much of the AFC.

Ryans looks on during a big play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Like the Panthers three weeks ago, Week 11’s opponent isn’t going very far this season. The Arizona Cardinals are 2-8, lacking both high-end talent and depth. It’s on head coach DeMeco Ryans to help his team learn from the midseason gaffe and win the games they are supposed to.

The Cardinals won’t make it easy on them. Star quarterback Kyler Murray returned from an ACL tear in Week 10, showcasing the same athletic ability that made him the No. 1 overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. Even if Stroud is playing lights out, Murray’s talent—and unique ability to turn broken plays into big gains—could turn this one upside down.

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Expect Stroud to continue playing well, especially if the run game returns with anywhere close to the 188 yards of production it had in Week 10. However, if Ryans’ defense can’t finish on its pass-rushing wins or stay disciplined when Murray works out of structure, Sunday could be another trap game for a Houston team that isn’t used to winning.

WHAT: Houston Texans (5-4) vs. Arizona Cardinals (2-8)

WHERE: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX (72,220)

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, 12 p.m. (CDT)

TELEVISION: CBS

RADIO: SportRadio 610 AM, 100.3 FM The Bull

ODDS: Texans -4.5 (-118), Moneyline -250, Total: 48.5 (o -118/u -110)