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?

The 2nd half kickoff is brought back by Foreman to the Texan 26. Texan's ball.

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L Miller for 2.

Short pass to Ellington gets 5. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Pass to Hop gets 4 and the 1st down.

Pass to L Miller gets 5.

L Miller caught in the backfield for loss of 3. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Pass to Hop goes for 34, good YAC.

Pass to Hop in the end zone is good for the TD! 28 yards.

Texans 17, Cardinals 14

11:02 left in the 3rd qtr.

The ensuing kickoff is brought back to the 27 yard line. Cardinal's ball.

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Pass too tall for Fitz, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Peterson for 1. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Pass to Foster comes up short of the 1st down. Cardinals will punt.

Ellington brings the punt back to about the 21 yard line but a flag is down.....Eheh, Eddie Unpleasant with the weekly holding call. Places the ball at the Texan 3. Texan's ball.

9:18 left in the 3rd qtr.

Pass to Ellington over the middle, off the mark, inc.

Foreman for about 3 but flag is down.....illegal block in the back on Ellington is declined. Brings up 3rd and 7.

Pass to L Miller off the mark, inc. Texans will have to punt.

Punt is brought back to the Cardinal 44 but a flag is down.... illegal shift on Texans adds 5 yards to the return. Ball at the Cardinal 49. Cardinal's ball.

Peterson for about 3.

Peterson for about 5. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Gabbert uses a timeout.

Pass to Fitz gets 3 and the 1st down.

Pass to Nicklaus gets big gain but a flag is down.....chop block on the Cards, -15 yards.

On 1st and 25, Gabbert scrambles for 11.

On 2nd and 13, pass to Seals-Jones is broken up, inc. 3rd and 13 coming up.

Pass to Nelson gets the 1st down but a flag is down.... PI on JJo is declined. Ball at the Texan 28.

Pass to Seals-Jones goes for the TD.

Cardinals 21, Texans 17

4:41 left in the 3rd qtr.

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

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Foreman for almost 7.

Foreman for no gain. Brings up 3rd and 3.

Whoa, Ellington makes the catch, fumbles trying to get an extra yard but falls on it, 1st down.

Pass to Foreman goes for 5. Ball at the Texan 48.

Foreman for 4. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Foreman gets 8 and the 1st down.

Foreman for 3. 2nd and 7 coming up at the Cardinal 35.

Checkdown to Foreman goes for the 1st down at the Cardinal 27.

End of the 3rd qtr.

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Pass to Hop in the end zone to Hop goes inc.

Short pass to Foreman gets 2. 3rd and 8 coming up.

What a catch! Nice snare by Anderson at the Cardinal 3! 1st and goal.

Savage uses a timeout as the play clock was about to expire....

Foreman punches it in for the TD!

Texans 24, Cardinals 21

13:13 left in the game.

Kinda fun game. Hope we hold the lead now.

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

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C'mon, defense.

Flags presnap. False start offense, -5. 1st and 15 coming up.

Gabbert's pass goes to no one but a flag is down.....facemask on JJo, 15 yards and a 1st down.

Peterson goes left for 3. KJo injured on the play....

Short pass to Brown goes inc. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Pass to Brown is broken up, inc. Cardinals to punt.

Punt is returned to the 10 yard line by Ellington. Flag down...holding on the Texans (Heeney) backs it up. Texan's ball at their own 3 yard line.

12:03 left in the game.

Starting field position has been terrible today....

L Miller for 1.

Savage pressured, scrambles for 3. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Nice catch by Ellington. Hangs on for the 1st down at the Texan 19.

L Miller carries for 4.

Pass to L Miller gets 2. 3rd and 4 coming up.

Pass to Anderson broken up, inc. Texans have to punt.

Punt is brought back to the Cardinal 23 but flags are down....illegal block in the back on the Cards, -10. Places the ball at the Cardinal 11.

8:37 left in the game.

Ball at the Cardinal 13.

Pass to AP goes for 13.

Peterson for 4.

Pass to Nelson along the sideline is dropped, inc. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Pass to Brown gets 5......4th and 1 coming up. Cardinals going for it.

Peterson stopped short! Loss of 1! Texans takeover on downs!

6:26 left in the game.

Foreman goes around the right side for the TD! 34 yards! Oh, shoot.... Foreman landed badly in the end zone and is injured....

Texans 31, Cardinals 21

6:19 left in the game.

Possible achilles with Foreman?......

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Need a turnover, defense.....

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

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Clowney with the sack! Flag down....holding on the Cards is declined. Brings up 2nd and 15.

Pass to Fitz gets 13. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Pass to Williams gets the 1st down at the Cardinal 42.

Pass is broken up, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Flags presnap.... false start Cardinals, -5. 2nd and 15 coming up. 4:50 left in the game.

Gabbert's pass is INT'ed by the very pleasant Eddie Pleasant! Texan's ball at their 40.

4:43 left in the game.

L Miller for 6.

L Miller for 1. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Deep pass to Hop is inc. Texans to punt.

Punt is a touchback. Cardinal's ball at their 20.

2:57 left in the game.

Pass to Brown goes for 22.

Pass to Fitz gets 4.

Pass is deflected, inc. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Pass to Nelson gets 14 and the 1st down at the Texan 40.

Gabbert's pass is INT'ed by Hal! Texans takeover at their 40.

2:06 left in the game.

Nice interception by Pleasant and now by Hal with less than two minutes and 10 point lead. Can we get a win?

L Miller for 4.

Cardinals use their final timeout.

On 2nd and 6, L Miller for 1.

L Miller fumbles but falls on it. Loss on the play. Texans will punt with 20 seconds left.

Punt is downed at the Cardinal 22. 9 seconds left in the game.

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Pass to Foster gets some positive yards but time runs out.

Final score:

Texans 31, Cardinals 21

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31 points with Savage at QB. Who'd a thunk it?

In Bills vs. Chargers, Bills QB Nathan Peterman has thrown 5 INT's in the first half ..... Chargers lead 37-7 with a half to go....

Bengals vs. Broncos, Brock Osweiler is 6/15, 72 yards, 1 INT, passer rating = 27.6 with 2 minutes left in the 1st half. Bengals lead 13-7.

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Texans showed good resilience coming back from deficits today....

Another strong performance by Clowney, establishing himself as one of the top D players in league.
Happy for Savage, finally a pretty solid game to put on his resume and help him go out there in the offseason, in FA and strike a deal with another team to put away some serious coins for himself & family.

Early line has the Ravens as a 7 to 8 pt. favorite over the Texans on MNF.....

And Donte Foreman with achilles injury out for rest of season. He looked strong with two TD today. Incredible number of top Texan players having injuriies. Hope they are all back healthy and stronger next year.

I had to miss this one as I was driving back from Louisiana. :( I-10 drivers east of town suck.

Sounded like Clowney had another great game. Not sure why the defense though let Gabbert beat them in the first half or so, save for field position the strip sack fumbles from Savage gave them.

It is so 2017 Texans for the team to lose Foreman just as he was starting to deliver on some of his rookie promise. Given how weak the AFC has been this season, with all of the Texans injuries, this is really becoming a coulda-woulda-shoulda year for them.