Arizona Cardinals: Texans Will be Tough

Oct 6, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals fans do the wave during the second half against the Carolina Panthers at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The Cardinals are coming out of their bye week 4-4 and are taking on the 2-6 Houston Texans. The Texans are on a six game losing streak and will be without Arian Foster. Wade Phillips will be taking over for Gary Kubiak after he suffered a stroke during halftime last week and that might pose a problem for the Texans today.

This will be the third game of Case Keenum`s carrer and his last two games he wasn`t to shabby. Keenum has 11 passes for 25+ yards, zero interceptions, and has rushed six times for 36 yards with a longest rush of 22 yards. The Cardinals defense is going to have to bring some pressure today to try to get him to throw that first interception today.

Ben Tate will get the start today with Foster being out but Tate has a cracked rib and he is going to get beat up today. Tate is averaging 4.5 yards a carry and 3.2 yards a catch, but no matter what, the Cardinals front seven will be all over him. While the Cardinals are a run stopper, they do need to be careful because Tate does have a 60 yard rush under his belt this season and Keenum is able to scrabble as well.

Andre Johnson will be up against Patrick Peterson and that is going to be a good match up. Johnson is averaging 14.3 yards a catch and with how big Johnson is, I`m not sure what to think with him going up against Peterson, but it should be good. DeAndre Hopkins is averaging 15.2 yards a catch and if the Cardinals` defense can`t get pressure on Keenum, it`s going to be a long day for the secondary.

The Cardinals offense line are coming together as a unit and Carson Palmer is finding his footing in Bruce Arians` system, but the Texans are going to be tough. The offense will be going up against Whitney Mercilus, Antonio Smith, Brain Cushing, J.J. Watt, and Ed Reed. Palmer is going to have to play his best game yet as a Cardinal if he is going to put points up on the board.

The Cardinals running game is going to be a big part on how well Palmer is going to play, but even if the backs can get past the Texans front seven, Palmer is still going to have to stay on his toes. Rashard Mendenhall is going to get the start today, but Arians said that he wants Andre Ellington to get 20 touches. I have faith in Ellington and today is going to show how good he is.

This game should be a fun one to watch and I am going to go with a Cardinals win today just because of Keenum`s inexperience.