Official Texans vs. Cardinals Game Thread, 11/19/2017
 

The 3-6 Houston Texans will be hosting the 4-5 Arizona Cardinals this Sunday in an early game on FOX. The Texans are coming off a 33-7 road loss to the LA Rams, the Cardinals are coming off a 22-16 home loss to the Seattle Seahawks on TNF, giving them a few extra days to prepare. Arizona QB Drew Stanton may not play (knee injury) which means Blaine Gabbert is the probable starter. Statistically, the Cardinals passing game is #4 in yardage but they have trouble getting into the end zone (#27 with 17.2 ppg). The Cardinal rushing game is #31 averaging 71.7 ypg. Defensively, the Cardinals are 23rd against the pass and 8th vs. the rush. The Cardinal defense allows 24.8 ppg (24th).

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TV = FOX (channel 26 local), noon CST, Sunday, November 19, 2017

Announcers = Kenny Albert, Ronde Barber

The line = Pickem to Arizona by 1

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

CBS (late) = New England vs Oakland (in Mexico City), Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

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Prime time:

TNF = Tennessee @ Pittsburgh (NBC/NFLN)

SNF = Philadelphia @ Dallas (NBC)

MNF = Atlanta @ Seattle (ESPN)

You heard it here first, I'm guaranteeing a Texans victory this weekend.

Gabbert has been terrible in past games against the Texans but that was mostly J.J. Watt highlight reel stuff. Without Watt in his face, he might be decent. I expect Adrian Peterson to have a big day amongst his home crowd.

FWIW Connor Barwin had his biggest NFL Sunday with the Texans when he sacked Gabbert 4 times in a single game. Yea Gabbert can be had.

So it's a Fox game Sunday since the Cards (NFC) are the visiting team and in the Houston area there's not a competing game from CBS.
OK so last week we played locally on CBS since we were visiting the west coast, but the Late Fox game involving Dallas was telecast in Houston. Why no blackout, puzzled ?

It's a bit convoluted but I think this is the gist of it:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nation..._on_television

I think what they're saying is if it's a home game, they want to encourage viewers to go to the game rather than be tempted to stay home and watch another competing game.....

Thanks Arky, that's better than anything I can come up with.

Davenport, Fuller, Mancz among the inactives...

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It's 27º in Green Bay.....61º in Houston.....

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Texans win the toss and decide to kickoff. Kickoff is a touchback. Cards ball at their 25.

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Peterson goes left side for 6.

Pass to Brown complete but flag on the play....PI on JJo, ball placed at the Cardinal 40, 1st down.

WR screen to Fitz goes for 13.

Gabbert's pass over the middle to Fitz gets 7.

Peterson rumbles for 6 or 7 and the 1st down.

Pass too high for Seal-Jones, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Gabbert sacked but a flag is down.....illegal formation offense, -5 yards. Brings up 3rd and 18.

Pass to Fitz just gets a couple. Cardinals will have to punt.

Punt is fielded by Ellington who nearly gets caught for a Safety. Ball is ruled Texan's ball at the 1 yard line.

11:37 left in the 1st qtr.

O'brien challenging the previous play that the Cardinal that first touched the ball was in the end zone.

Play stands. Texan's ball at their 1.

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Flags presnap. False start Clark. ½ the distance.

Pass to Hop goes to the 12 yard line, 1st down.

L Miller for 3.

L Miller loses 2. Brings up 3rd and 10.

Pass to B Miller just gets 3. Texans to punt.

Punt is fair caught by the Cardinals at their 42. Cardinal's ball.

8:14 left in the 1st qtr.

Pass to Brown gets about 4.

Peterson for no gain. Flag down.....crack back block on the Cards, -15. Makes it 2nd and 21 coming up.

Williams carries for 9. 3rd and 12 coming up.

Pass to Nelson goes inc., nearly INT'ed by JJo. Cardinals have to punt.

Ellington fair catches the punt at the Texan 11. Texan's ball.

6:10 left in the 1st qtr.

Pass to Fido gets 10.

Wooo, Foreman fumbles going right side and the ball pops right to Ellington, gain of 8.

Deep pass to Ellington goes inc but a flag on the play. Holding on Cards, 5 yards and an auto 1st down. Ball a the Texan 34.

L Miller caught for a loss of 3.

Sideline screen to L Miller gets 8. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Pass to B Miller over the middle gets the first down at the Texan 47.

L Miller gets 7.

L Miller for 2.

On 3rd and 1, L Miller gets 3 and the 1st down.

Pass to Hop over the middle is broken up, inc but flag on the Cards for blow to the helmet. Places the ball at the Cardinal 23, auto 1st down.

Handoff to Ellington gets about 5.

L Miller gets loose for 13 yards. Ball at the 5 yard line, 1st and goal.

End of the 1st qtr.

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L Miller loses 2.

Pass to L Miller in the end zone complete for the TD!

Play under review.......play stands!

Flag on the extra point. Illegal formation on the Cards will be assessed on the kickoff.

Texans 7, Cardinals 0

14:12 left in the half.

The ensuing kickoff is brought back to the Cardinal 16. Cardinal's ball.

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Pass to Gresham gets 10.

Peterson gets 1.

Pass to Seals-Jones gets a 1st down at the Cardinal 42.

Clowney catches Peterson for a loss of 4.

Pass to Fitz goes to the Texan 40, 1st down.

Peterson for 1.

Snap is bobbled, Gabbert falls on it for no gain. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Pass to Brown is dropped. Cardinals have to punt.

Punt is downed at the Texan 9. Flag is down.....holding on the Cardinals...10 yards added on for the Texans. Places the ball at the Texan 19. Texan's ball.

8:52 left in the half.

L Miller for 5.

And Savage gets stripped. Cardinals recover. Cardinal's ball at the Texan 17.

8:07 left in the half.

McKinney gets the TFL on Peterson. Loss of 3.

Pass to Fitz goes for the TD.

Texans 7, Cardinals 7

7:20 left in the half.

The ensuing kickoff is brought back to the Texan 20. Texan's ball.

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Foreman caught for a loss of 1.

Pass too tall for B Miller, inc. 3rd and 11 coming up.

Flag to Hop is short (tipped) but a flag is down..... PI on Hop is declined. Texans to punt.

Punt is fair caught at the Cardinal 40. Cardinal's ball.

6:15 left in the half.

McKinney catches AP for a loss of 1.

Short pass to Fitz gets 6. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Gabbert pressured, scrambles towards the sidelines short of the 1st down. Cardinals will have to punt.

Ellington brings the punt back to the Texan 16. Texan's ball.

4:40 left in the half.

L Miller for 9.

L Miller gets 1 and the 1st down.

Flat pass to Ellington gets 2.

Faster, Savage. Pass is tipped and picked by the Cardinals. Ball at the Texan 15, Cardinal's ball.

2:22 left in the half.

Peterson for 4. 2nd and 6 coming up at the Texan 11.

2 minute warning.

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Pass to Seals-Jones goes for the TD.

Cardinals 14, Texans 7

1:53 left in the half.

The ensuing kickoff is a touchback. Texan's ball at their 25.

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L Miller for 11.

L Miller for 1.

Pass to Hop is caught out of bounds, flag is down.... illegal contact on the Cards places the ball at the Texan 42.

Previous play is under booth review.... did Hop catch it in bounds?

Play stands.. ball on the Texan 42, 55 seconds left.

Pass to Fido goes to midfield. Texans use their 2nd timeout with 49 seconds left in the half.

On 2nd and 2, pass to Ellington goes to the Cardinal 25.

Oy, pass to Hop in the end zone is caught but ruled out of bounds, inc.

On 2nd and 10, pass to Ellington gets about 9.

On 3rd and 1, pass too tall for Hop in the end zone, inc. 5 seconds left. Texans going for the FG.

Fairbairn's 34-yarder is good.

Cardinals 14, Texans 10

Still 5 seconds left in the half.

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Texans kick off, Cardinals bring it back for short gain as time runs out.

Halftime.

Cardinals 14, Texans 10

Savage has looked better, but, the two redzone turnovers totally wipeout any good and give lead to Arizona. Wondering if will see a QB change?