The Houston Texans travel to Phoenix today to take on the Arizona Cardinals with several disadvantages. Not only will the 2-6 Texans play today without their head coach, who suffered a “mini stroke” last week, but they’ll also be playing with a backup quarterback and most likely won’t have the services of star running back Arian Foster. The 4-4 Cardinals, meanwhile, are coming off a bye week that they’d gone into with a victory, so they’re bound to be ready for today’s 4:25 EST / 1:25 PST showdown. If you can’t watch it on CBS, you can watch Texans vs Cardinals online free live using one of several different methods.
Amid all those Houston horrors, the Texans today will try to avoid the longest losing streak in team history. With coach Kubiak out, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips has slipped in as interim coach. Phillips is no stranger to the head coaching role or offensive schemes, but he’s at a decided disadvantage today against the Cardinals as a defensive-minded coach playing with a backup QB. To be fair, Texans quarterback Case Keenum has been a nice surprise, throwing for 621 yards and four touchdowns since replacing Matt Schaub two games ago. But the Texans have still lost.
The offensive problems haven’t been all Keenum’s fault. The Texans have managed just one touchdown and 19 points during the second half of the past six games, while their opponents have scored 94 points. Keenum’s only been the starter for two of those six games, but he shares some of the blame. Not enough, however, to keep one NFL analyst from saying the second-year pro gives the Texans a better chance to win than Schaub. “Keenum just knows when and where to throw it and when to hold on to the ball. He’s more of a ‘win the game for you’ quarterback than Schaub.”
That assessment may be all the Houston offense has going for it, since Texans running back Foster may be out today against the Cardinals. Foster left the game last Sunday with a back injury after only one possession. It isn’t Foster’s first injury this season, as he left the Texans’ game at Kansas City on Oct. 20 with a hamstring injury. Suffice it to say, it’s unclear what offense Wade Phillips will be playing with. Good thing the Texans have the NFL’s top-ranked defense. Yes, coach Phillips can take a bow for that one.
That Houston defense will be waiting to handle whatever the Arizona Cardinals offense can throw at them when you watch Texans vs Cardinals online free live. In the backfield, it looks like that will be rookie running back Andre Ellington, who’s helped breathe life into a Cardinals rushing attack that had previously been on life support. Ellington may even share some carries with Rashard Mendenhall, who could return today at home after missing the Cardinals’ previous game with a toe injury.
Those running backs will be looking for help from star wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who’s had a mixed bag in his last few outings. During the past two games Fitzgerald has been limited to six catches for 65 yards and one TD, although three games ago he had 117 yards on six receptions. Historically Fitzgerald has had decent games against Texans, with 11 catches for 164 yards and three TDs in his two previous games against Houston. Fitzgerald, Ellington and Mendenhall may all need to be on their game today, as the Houston defense is an absolute force.
If you’d like to watch Texans vs Cardinals online free live, you can do so on DirecTV’s website if you have the NFL Sunday Ticket Package. The package requires a subscription, but anyone who has one can watch the live streaming version free of any game. Yes, that includes today’s 4:25 EST / 1:25 PST NFL game between the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals.
