The Arizona Cardinals are down 21-10 at halftime to the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.
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First Quarter
Right out of the gate, Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray targeted tight end Trey McBride for 13 yards.
At Houston’s 48-yard line, Murray launched a dart over to Cardinals wide receiver Rondale Moore in the end-zone for a touchdown. Kicker Matt Prater’s extra-point conversion was good and Arizona took a 7-0 lead.
Without wide receiver Noah Brown due to injury, questions arose as to who Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud would target today.
Before, Brown had 325 from 13 receptions in his last two games for the Texans.
Instead, Stroud handed the ball off the ball to running back Devin Singletary for 28 yards, including a 19-yard run.
However, on 4th and 2, Texans running back Mike Boone was tackled by Arizona linebacker Kyzir White to force a turnover on downs.
Regaining possession, Arizona didn’t do much with it as a quick, three-play series ended abruptly resulting in them having to punt back.
Then, Stroud fired a 20-yard pass to Houston wide receiver Tank Dell to the ARZ 41.
Quickly, wide receiver Robert Woods had a 17-yard reception as the Texans were edging closer to tying the game.
Eventually, Stroud found Houston tight end Dalton Schultz open for a 20-yard touchdown to tie the game 7-7 with 5:48 remaining in the first quarter.
As the quarter was concluding, the Cardinals somehow were able to pull ahead despite miscues.
From what looked like a 35-yard scramble by Murray, it was called back for a penalty behind the play.
Two sequences later, Murray lost control of the ball and caused a fumble, but Arizona running back James Conner was able to jump on it.
The Cardinals’ field goal unit came out and Prater’s 57-yard attempt was good as Arizona went up 10-7 with 1:21 left.
Second Quarter
Carrying off of what he did in the first quarter, Singletary ran for 33-yards in the second, including getting a TD.
With two Cardinals defenders trying to grab onto him, Singletary crashed into the end-zone for an 11-yard touchdown as the score would be 14-10 Texans.
Going back onto the field, Murray and Arizona tried to respond being down for the first time in the game.
But, that is not what would happen.
In a shotgun formation, Murray’s attempted pass to wide receiver Marquise Brown was intercepted by Texans cornerback Derek Stingley at the HOU 25.
Houston regained the ball and were threatening to score again, but the Cards’ defense came in clutch.
Returning the favor, Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson picked-off Stroud in Arizona’s end-zone.
Two series’ later, Houston would get the ball back before Dell would slip past multiple Arizona defenders and diving to catch a 40-yard pass by Stroud to give Houston a wider advantage, 21-10 before halftime.
Halftime Stats
Arizona Cardinals:Â 144 yards, 1 turnover, 18 first downs.
- Passing: Murray – 8/12, 99 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception.
- Rushing: Conner – 6 receptions, 43 yards.
- Receiving: Moore – 1 reception, 48 yards, 1 touchdown.
Houston Texans: 333 yards, 1 turnover, 18 first downs.
- Passing: Stroud – 18/24, 259 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception.
- Rushing: Singletary – 16 receptions, 84 yards, 1 touchdown.
- Receiving: Dell – 6 receptions, 120 yards, 1 touchdown.
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Alec Cipollini is a reporter of the Arizona Coyotes and Cardinals for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account @AlecCipollini
