The Houston Texans welcome the Arizona Cardinals to NRG Stadium in a Week 15 AFC-NFC crossover where the streaking Texans aim to extend their five-game winning streak and lock in a playoff spot, while the reeling Cardinals seek a morale-boosting spoiler against a divisional rival in the AFC South race. Houston, clinging to the No. 7 seed (one game behind Jacksonville), boasts the NFL’s top-ranked defense (16.0 PPG allowed, 1st) and a resurgent offense led by C.J. Stroud (3,060 pass yds, 20 TD). Arizona, mired in the NFC West basement and eliminated from contention, relies on veteran QB Jacoby Brissett (1,800+ yds, 12 TD) to spark a stagnant attack (21.7 PPG, 21st), but faces a daunting challenge against Houston’s pass rush (38 sacks, 3rd). Expect a lopsided affair favoring the home team’s dominance, with the Texans eyeing a sixth straight win to clinch their third consecutive winning season.
Kickoff: 1:00 PM ET (12:00 PM CT).
Broadcast: FOX: Chris Myers, Mark Schlereth, Jen Hale (field reporter)
Streaming on NFL+ ($6.99/mo) and Fubo (free trial). Pregame coverage kicks off at 12:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 1.
Venue Location:
NRG Stadium, 1 NRG Park, Houston, TX 77054 (29°41’04″N 95°24’27″W). This 72,220-seat retractable-roof marvel—home to the Texans since 2002—features a massive HD video board and luxury suites, creating an intimidating dome environment (roof closed for this matchup). Accessible via I-610 (exit 42B) or George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH, 25-min drive). Parking at on-site lots ($40-60); hotels like the Hilton Americas-Houston (0.5-mile walk) offer game packages. Tickets via Ticketmaster start at $67 (upper level).
Injury Report
Injuries plague both squads, but Arizona’s list is longer and more impactful on offense (WR/OL depth hit hard), while Houston’s absences thin the backfield and secondary. Updates as of Thursday, December 11 (via NFL.com; Friday reports pending).
Arizona Cardinals:
Out: OL Paris Johnson Jr. (knee), RB Trey Benson (meniscus—season-ending, out since Week 4).
DNP: S Budda Baker (thumb/personal), OT Kelvin Beachum (rest), C Evan Brown (personal), WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel—missed Week 14, DNP Wed/Thu), DT Bilal Nichols (knee), OLB Josh Sweat (rest), S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (ankle), S Jalen Thompson (hamstring), DT Dalvin Tomlinson (rest), WR Xavier Weaver (hamstring).
Limited: CB Max Melton (heel), DT Walter Nolen (knee), CB Will Johnson (thumb).
Impact: Harrison Jr.’s heel sidelines a top target (800+ yds, 6 TD); OL vulnerabilities expose Brissett to Houston’s rush (projected 3+ sacks). Secondary depth tested without Taylor-Demerson.
Houston Texans:
DNP: LB Azeez Al-Shaair (ankle), DE Denico Autry (knee), OT Trent Brown (hand), RB Nick Chubb (ribs), CB Kamari Lassiter (foot), RB Woody Marks (knee), DT Sheldon Rankins (elbow/shoulder).
Limited: TE Harrison Bryant (neck/shoulder).
Impact: RB duo Chubb/Marks out thins backfield (team 23rd in rush, 107.7 ypg); Lassiter’s foot hurts secondary vs. Brissett. Autry/Rankins absences soften D-line, but core (Will Anderson Jr.) intact.
Both teams held full Thursday practices; no QB concerns (Brissett/Stroud full-go).
Player Matchups
This tilt contrasts Arizona’s patchwork offense against Houston’s suffocating D, with trenches and big plays deciding a potential rout. Key battles:
QB Jacoby Brissett (ARI) vs. Texans Pass Rush (Will Anderson Jr./Danielle Hunter): Brissett (238.1 pass ypg, 12 TD/8 INT) stabilized ARI post-Murray injury but faces HOU’s 3rd-ranked sack rate (2.8/g). Anderson (10 sacks) exploits ARI’s 28th-ranked OL (24 sacks allowed).
RB Emari Demercado (ARI) vs. Texans Front 7 (B.J. Hill/Christian Wilkins): Demercado (600+ yds, 4 TD sans Conner/Benson) tests HOU’s 4th-ranked run D (91.7 ypg allowed). ARI’s 26th-ranked rush (96.8 ypg) vs. HOU’s stout LBs.
WR Greg Dortch/Trey McBride (ARI) vs. CBs Derek Stingley Jr./Kris Boyd (HOU): Dortch (top target sans Harrison) vs. Stingley’s shutdown (12 PD); McBride’s TE mismatches (74 rec, 800+ yds) vs. HOU’s 1st-ranked TE coverage.
QB C.J. Stroud (HOU) vs. Cardinals Secondary (Garrett Williams/Budda Baker): Stroud (6.7 ypa, 20 TD) carves ARI’s 26th pass D (261.7 ypg allowed). Baker’s thumb limits tackling.
RB Joe Mixon (HOU, if Chubb out) vs. Cardinals Front (Darius Robinson/L.J. Collier): Mixon (900+ yds, 8 TD) exploits ARI’s 26th run D (132.5 ypg allowed); HOU’s 23rd rush vs. depleted ARI DL.
Texans Defense Edge: 1st in scoring (16.0 PPG), forcing TOs vs. ARI’s 1.5/g turnover rate.
Team Records
| Team | Record | Division | Playoff Odds | Key Stats |
| Cardinals | 3-10 (.231) | 4th NFC West | 0% | 21.7 PPG (21st), 26.8 OPP PPG (26th), 335.5 TOT YPG (18th) |
| Texans | 8-5 (.615) | 2nd AFC South | 72% | 21.8 PPG (20th), 16.0 OPP PPG (1st), 326.8 TOT YPG (18th) |
Cardinals: Worst in West, 0-5 divisional. Texans: Tied for wild card, 5-1 last 6.
Recent Form
Arizona Cardinals (0-5 in last 5): Dismal skid with offensive regression (18.4 PPG last 5); Brissett steady but D leaky (30+ pts allowed 3x).
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec 7 | vs LAR | L 17-45 | Brissett 250 yds/1 TD; D torched for 450+ yds. |
| Nov 30 | @ TB | L 20-27 | 3 TOs; 35% 3rd-down conv. |
| Nov 23 | vs JAX | L 24-27 | Demercado 80 rush yds; late collapse. |
| Nov 16 | @ DAL | W 27-17 | Brissett 320 yds/2 TD; upset MNF win. |
| Nov 9 | vs SF | L 21-31 | Harrison 100+ yds; 4 sacks on Brissett. |
Houston Texans (5-0 in last 5): Blistering surge with D stifling foes (10 PPG allowed); Stroud efficient (65% comp.).
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec 7 | @ KC | W 23-17 | Stroud 280 yds/2 TD; D holds Mahomes under 200. |
| Nov 28 | vs IND | W 27-20 | Mixon 120 rush yds/1 TD; 50% 3rd-down. |
| Nov 23 | @ BUF | W 23-19 | Stroud 244 yds; 2 TO forced by D. |
| Nov 16 | vs TEN | W 26-0 | Shutout; Stroud 233 yds/2 TD. |
| Nov 9 | @ BAL | W 44-10 | Stroud 244 yds/3 TD; blowout road win. |
Series History
The series is dead even at 3-3 all-time (6 meetings since 2005), with low-scoring trends (avg. total 39.2 pts; U 4/6). Houston edges recent form (2-1 last 3), including a 21-16 home win in 2023. Cardinals’ biggest: 31-5 (2021 home); Texans’: 31-21 (2017 home). December games: HOU 2-0 SU. ATS: ARI 4-2; O/U: U 4-2.
Betting Trends
Under claims 65% action at 42.5 (HOU 10-3 U season, 4-0 last 4; series U 4/6). Cardinals +9.5 draws sharp nibbles (28% high-limits) as road dogs (5-1 ATS away); HOU 4-2 ATS home but 1-4 ATS as 9+ favorites. ARI 1-4 ATS last 5, 0-5 SU; HOU 7-6 ATS overall. X buzz: 75% pro-Texans post-KC win; no major movement expected.
Predicted Score: Houston Texans 28, Arizona Cardinals 13
CARDINALS NOTES:
• QB JACOBY BRISSETT passed for 271 yards & 2 TDs in Week 14. Aims for 9th in row with TD pass. Has 250+ pass yards & TD in all 8 starts this season. Ranks 1st with 2,459 pass yards, 1st with 229 completions & 4th with 15 TD passes since Week 6. Passed for 244 yards & TD pass in last start vs. Hou (11/7/21 w/ Mia.). • RB BAM KNIGHT has scrimmage TD in 3 of his past 4 games. • WR MICHAEL WILSON led team with 11 receptions for 142 yards & 2 TDs in Week 14. Has 100+ rec. yards in 3 of his past 4. • TE TREY MCBRIDE had 5 receptions for 58 yards in Week 14, his 15th consecutive game with 5+ catches, tying Travis Kelce (15 games in 2018) for the longest streak of games with 5+ receptions by a TE in NFL history. Aims for 6th in row with TD catch on road. Ranks 1st among TEs with 937 rec. yards & aims for 2nd consecutive season with 1,000+ rec. yards. Has 314 career receptions, the most by a TE in 1st 4 seasons in NFL history. • WR MARVIN HARRISON JR. has 50+ rec. yards in 3 of his past 4 & TD pass in 2 of his past 3. • LB JOSH SWEAT aims for 4th in row on road with sack & 3rd in row on road with FF. Ranks tied-5th with 11 sacks this season. • LB OWEN PAPPOE led team with 9 tackles & had PD in Week 14. • DL CALAIS CAMPBELL has TFL in 2 of his past 3 games on road & aims for 5th in row with TFL vs. Hou. • DL PJ MUSTIPHER had season-high 7 tackles in Week 14. • S BUDDA BAKER had 6 tackles in Week 14 & has 6+ tackles in 8 of his past 9 games. Has PD in 2 of his past 3. Is only S since 2017 with 900+ tackles (976) & 10+ sacks (10). • S JALEN THOMPSON had 7 tackles last week & has 5+ tackles in 5 of his past 6. Has PD in 3 of his past 4.
TEXANS NOTES:
• TEXANS lead NFL in yards allowed per game (266.3) & points allowed per game (16). • QB C.J. STROUD passed for 203 yards & TD in Week 14. Has 205+ pass yards & TD pass in 3 of his 4 at home this season. Completed 27 of 37 atts. (73 pct.) for 336 yards & 2 TDs in last meeting. • RB WOODY MARKS (rookie) had 76 scrimmage yards (68 rush, 8 rec.) & TD catch last week. Aims for his 4th in row with 65+ scrimmage yards. • RB DARE OGUNBOWALE had 1st rush TD of season in Week 14. • WR NICO COLLINS had 4 catches for 121 yards last week. Has 75+ rec. yards in 5 of his past 6. Had 7 catches for 65 yards in last meeting. • WR CHRISTIAN KIRK spent 1st 4 seasons (2018-21) with Ari., totaling 236 receptions, 2,902 rec. yards & 17 rec. TDs. • TE DALTON SCHULTZ had TD catch in last meeting. • DE DANIELLE HUNTER had 4 tackles & PD in Week 14. Aims for his 3rd in row with PD. Had 3 tackles, TFL & PD in last game vs. Ari. (10/30/22 w/ Min.). • DE WILL ANDERSON had 3 tackles & TFL last week. Has TFL in 9 consecutive games, longest active streak. Ranks tied-4th in TFL (16). Aims for his 5th in row at home with sack. Had 2 TFL & sack in last meeting. • DT TOMMY TOGIAI led team with career-high 10 tackles & had sack in Week 14. Aims for his 3rd in row at home with 5+ tackles. • LB AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR had 5 tackles & 1st INT of season last week. Aims for his 7th in row with 5+ tackles. Has PD in 5 of his past 6 at home. Had 11 tackles in last game vs. Ari. (1/8/23 w/ SF). • S JALEN PITRE had 6 tackles, 2 PD & INT in Week 14. Aims for his 3rd in row with 2+ PD. Had 6 tackles & TFL in last meeting. • CB KAMARI LASSITER had 6 tackles, 2 PD & INT last week. Has PD in 9 of his past 10. • CB DEREK STINGLEY had PD last week. Has PD in 5 of his past 6 at home. Had 6 tackles, 2 PD & INT in last meeting.
Game Odds
Arizona Cardinals 42.5
Houston Texans – 9.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Saturday, December 13, 2025
