Know your Foe: Arizona Cardinals | Week 11

Nov 19, 2023 at 08:15 AM

John Harris

Texans Analyst

For the first time since 2017, the Texans will face the Arizona Cardinals at NRG Stadium. Consequently, there are a ton of different adjectives to describe this Cardinals squad. Scrappy. Feisty. Tough. Relentless. Regardless of the record, the film tells a completely different story; the Cardinals are a MUCH better team than their record indicates.

That's even more true with the return of QB Kyler Murray. Last week, he played his first game against the Falcons since tearing his ACL last season against the Patriots. In the Cardinals win, he was magnificent. If you'd gone into a cryovac like Harrison Ford one night before that Patriots game last year and woke up this week to watch Murray against Atlanta, you wouldn't have noticed any difference in Murray. For most players coming off of an ACL tear, there's something different. A little hitch in the giddy-up. Slower running speed. Lack of quickness.

No. Nope. Not at all.

Murray picked up right where he left off prior to the injury and his presence changes the whole complexion of this current Cardinals' team. Take Murray's dynamic skills, add in the Cardinals scrappy, feisty play they've exhibited this season already and Sunday will not FEEL like a game against a 2-8 squad. Throw in the Texans coming off of two emotional, pressure packed wins in the last two weeks and a potential let down after those wins..and it's going to be a really difficult 60 minutes of game action against this Cardinals squad.

So, before Sunday arrives, let's get to Know the Texans' Week 11 Foe - The Arizona Cardinals

2023 Schedule (2-8)

Week 1 - L @ Washington Commanders 20-16

Week 2 - L New York Giants 31-28

Week 3 - W Dallas Cowboy 28-16

Week 5 - L @ San Francisco 49ers 35-16

Week 6 - L @ Los Angeles Rams 26-9

Week 7 - L @ Seattle Seahawks 20-10

Week 8 - L Baltimore Ravens 31-24

Week 9 - L @ Cleveland Browns 27-0

Week 10 - W Atlanta Falcons 25-23

Week 11 - @ Houston Texans

Week 12 - Los Angeles Rams

Week 13 - @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 14 - BYE

Week 15 - San Francisco 49ers

Week 16 - @ Chicago Bears

Week 17 - @ Philadelphia Eagles

Week 18 - Seattle Seahawks

Cardinals OFFENSE (in 2023 regular season)

Rushing Yards Per game - 126.5 ypg (9th in the NFL)

Passing Yards Per game - 169.4 ypg (31st)

Total offense per game - 295.9 ypg (25th)

Turnovers lost - 13 (8 INT, 5 Fumbles lost)

Expected Cardinals starting offense for Week 11

QB - Kyler Murray

RB - James Conner

WR - Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown

WR - MICHAEL WILSON

WR - Rondale Moore

TE - Trey McBride

LT - D.J. Humphries (missed last week v. Falcons) OR Kelvin Beahum

LG - CARTER O'DONNELL

C - HJALTE FROHOLDT

RG - Will Hernandez

RT - PARIS JOHNSON JR

Other Key Offensive pieces

RB - Keontay Ingram

RB - MICHAEL CARTER (claimed on waivers from Jets this week)

WR - Greg Dortch

WR - ZACH PASCAL

TE - GEOFF SWAIM

RB - TONY JONES (PS Call up last week v. Falcons)

QB - CLAYTON TUNE

Italics - Rookie

ALL CAPS - New to team in 2023

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