The Houston Texans make their first regular season trip to Arizona ever today, as they bring a 2-2 record (yes they ARE 2-2 for those that want to get snooty and challenge me on twitter for typo’s I make) to University of Phoenix Stadium.
The Arizona Cardinals are coming off their bye week, a week after losing to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football. The Cardinals (1-2), are looking to even their record and move ahead into the tougher part of their schedule with road games in Seattle and New York against the Giants the next two weeks.
For the first time this season, all 53 players will be available for the Cardinals. It should be interesting to see which players are put on the inactive list. Don’t let the Cardinals injury list fool you. Receivers Steve Breaston and Anqaun Boldin will both play. So will quarterback Kurt Warner, and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
For the Texans, the biggest injury is on the defensive side of the ball where defensive lineman Mario Williams is questionable.
The matchup to watch this week will be the Arizona defensive front four vs. Houston’s offensive line and their running back Steve Slaton. Slaton, who has gotten off to a rough start, had his best week of the season last week with 65 yards rushing, but scored two touchdowns in their victory over the Oakland Raiders. The Cardinals are currently sixth in the NFL against the run.
I’ve seen a mixed bag of predictions for this weeks game. The Cardinals have left something to prove after three games, that’s for sure, however I just can’t see them going 0-3 at home, especially against the Texans. Nothing against the Texans, but remember this is a team that gave up 31 to the Tennessee Titans in week 2, and although they won that game, the Titans aren’t exactly an offensive juggernaut. Look for Warner to connect more often with Larry Fitzgerald today and get everyone in the offense involved.
Arizona 34 Houston 21
Go Cards!
Scott Allen