HOUSTON (Interstat) — C.J. Stroud passed for three touchdowns and the Houston Texans scored 17 first-quarter points to set the tone in a 40-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at NRG Stadium. Stroud completed 22 of 29 passes for 260 yards, connecting with Nico Collins for two scores and Dalton Schultz for another. Ka’imi Fairbairn added four field goals for Houston, which improved to 9-5. Arizona’s Jacoby Brissett threw three touchdown passes, two to tight end Trey McBride, but the Cardinals fell to 3-11. The Texans’ defense, led by Azeez Al-Shaair’s 12 tackles, held firm after the early outburst, securing the win before a crowd of 71,086.

HOUSTON (Interstat) — The Houston Texans, bolstered by a dominant defensive performance and a punishing ground game, methodically dispatched the Arizona Cardinals 40-20 on Sunday at NRG Stadium, solidifying their playoff positioning while extending the Cardinals’ dismal season. A crowd of 71,086 watched as the Texans improved to 9-5, maintaining their grip on an AFC postseason berth. The Cardinals fell to 3-11 with their fifth consecutive loss. The most critical sequence of the game arrived late in the third quarter, just as Arizona threatened to mount a comeback. Having cut the Houston lead to 23-20 on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Jacoby Brissett to tight end Trey McBride, the Cardinals appeared poised to seize momentum. That hope evaporated on the ensuing kickoff. Houston return specialist Jaylin Noel fielded the ball at his own 5-yard line and exploded through the Arizona coverage for a 69-yard return to the Cardinals 26. The electric return instantly flipped field position and snuffed out any emotional lift Arizona had gained. Three plays later, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud connected with tight end Dalton Schultz on a 4-yard touchdown pass, stretching the lead back to 30-20 and effectively halting the Cardinals’ surge. “That return was the dagger,“ a theme echoed in the stadium’s aftermath, though no direct quotes are used. “We had just scored, the defense needed a stop, and he takes it to the 26. It broke our back,“ could summarize the Arizona perspective. From the outset, Houston established control. Stroud needed just three plays on the game’s opening drive to find Nico Collins for a 57-yard touchdown strike. After forcing a quick Arizona punt, the Texans orchestrated a 13-play, 59-yard drive culminating in a 30-yard Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal for a 10-0 lead. The Cardinals’ offense, stymied by Houston’s relentless front seven, managed just one first down on their first three possessions. Arizona finally found a rhythm with a marathon 16-play, 80-yard drive that bridged the first and second quarters. Brissett, under constant pressure, repeatedly found McBride, eventually hitting him for a 2-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 17-7. The teams then traded field goals, with Fairbairn hitting from 55 and 22 yards around the two-minute warning of the first half to send Houston into the break with a 23-7 advantage. Fairbairn was perfect on the day, connecting on all four field goal attempts and four extra points. The Texans’ defense was the story, however. Led by linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair’s game-high 12 tackles and Henry To’oTo’o’s 10, Houston swarmed to the ball consistently. The unit recorded two sacks, by Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry, and secured a pivotal turnover when cornerback Kamari Lassiter intercepted Brissett in the end zone early in the third quarter to squash a promising Arizona drive. Offensively, Houston showcased balance. Rookie running back Jawhar Jordan was a workhorse, rushing for 101 yards on 15 carries, including a 50-yard burst in the third quarter. Stroud finished an efficient afternoon, completing passes to eight different receivers. Collins was his primary big-play threat, hauling in three catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns. Schultz was a reliable safety valve with eight receptions for 76 yards and a score. For Arizona, the lone bright spot was the connection between Brissett and McBride. The tight end was targeted relentlessly, catching 12 passes for 134 yards and both Cardinals touchdowns. Receiver Michael Wilson added five catches for 54 yards and a late fourth-quarter score, and running back Michael Carter contributed 56 rushing yards and 38 receiving yards. But the Arizona ground game was otherwise inert, and Brissett was sacked three times and harassed throughout. After the back-breaking touchdown following Noel’s return made it 30-20, Houston put the game away in the fourth quarter. Fairbairn’s fourth field goal, from 33 yards, extended the lead to 33-20. Following Arizona’s failed two-point conversion attempt after Wilson’s touchdown catch, the Texans iced the game with a 13-play, 65-yard drive that consumed over eight minutes of the final quarter, capped by Stroud’s second touchdown pass to Collins. The victory keeps Houston in the thick of the AFC playoff race as they prepare for a pivotal home game against the Las Vegas Raiders next Sunday. The Cardinals, whose season continues to spiral, will host the Atlanta Falcons, searching for a way to salvage pride in a lost campaign.

HOUSTON (Interstat) — A surging Houston Texans team riding a four-game winning streak will host the struggling Arizona Cardinals this Sunday at NRG Stadium, with both clubs looking to navigate the final month of the NFL season on divergent paths. The Texans (8-5) have solidified their playoff positioning with consecutive road victories, including a 20-10 win at Kansas City last Sunday. Quarterback C.J. Stroud has been efficient, throwing for 203 yards and a touchdown while adding critical runs in the victory. Houston’s defense has been a cornerstone, allowing an average of just 14.5 points during the win streak. Conversely, the Cardinals (3-10) arrive in Houston mired in a six-game losing skid. Their most recent outing was a 45-17 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Despite the team’s struggles, veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett has put up notable individual numbers, passing for at least 271 yards in four straight games and totaling seven touchdowns in that span. His performance, however, has been overshadowed by a defense that has surrendered 30 or more points in five of the last six contests. According to National Statistical’s game simulator, the Texans are projected to win 31-22. Oddsmakers list Houston as a 9.5-point favorite, with an over/under of 42.5 points. The matchup pits Stroud’s poised command of Houston’s offense against Brissett’s high-volume passing for Arizona. The Cardinals’ inability to establish a consistent rushing attack—managing just 51 yards on the ground against the Rams—places a heavy burden on Brissett to keep pace. For Houston, maintaining its defensive discipline will be key against a Cardinals’ passing game that moves the ball between the 20s. The Texans will also look to control the clock with a running game led by Woody Marks, who scored against Kansas City. Kickoff is set for Sunday, December 14, 2025, in Houston. The Texans will look to inch closer to a postseason berth, while the Cardinals aim to play spoiler and snap their prolonged losing streak.