Keys for the Cardinals to beat the Texans in Week 7

After a 37-14 drubbing of the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals did not just improve their record to 6-0. They did not just prove they could win a game undermanned and with extreme adversity. They put the league on notice. They are a team to contend with.

Sure, certain mainstream media outlets are still reluctant to give the Cardinals their due. But NFL teams and certainly Arizona’s opponents have noticed and are prepping as such.

Next up for the Cardinals are the Houston Texans. Normally, this would be considered a “trap” game, especially with a Thursday night showdown with the Packers a few days later.

But this team just seems to be built differently. Quarterback Kyler Murray has been in command and has shown immense maturity and leadership. The running game is a good compliment of thunder and lighting with James Conner and Chase Edmonds. The defense is showing dominance at the line, harassing opposing quarterbacks and the secondary is shutting down the passing game in a way we haven’t seen in a very long time.

All in all, this seems to be an easy upcoming Texans opponent, losers of their last five. In order for the Cardinals to move to 7-0, there are a few keys they will need to achieve to make it happen.

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Don’t overlook the opponent

Watching the Texans’ game tape, they remind me of some of the old 90s Cardinals teams. There are good pieces here and there, but not a team playing as a cohesive unit. Recent departures of linebacker Whitney Mercilus and specialist Andre Roberts further signal Houston’s rebuilding phase.

The Texans are only dangerous if the Cardinals overlook the fact they are still an NFL football team. Arizona enters as 17.5-point favorites so the expectation is for the undefeated Cardinals to take care of business. Furthermore, Houston has lost five in a row and been blown out in two of their last three games by a combined score of 96-25.

Arizona faced a similar situation in Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars entered that game with a 17-game losing streak but led the Cardinals 19-10 late into the 3rd quarter before Arizona pulled away with 21 unanswered points.

Take what the Texans give them

(AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

The Texans are one of the worst defensive teams in the NFL. They rank 25th in points allowed, 26th in yards, 18th in passing, and 31st in rushing. Houston’s lack of gap integrity and secondary miscommunications harken back to what we’ve witnessed with previous Cardinals teams. The game plan should be simple, find what Houston is giving them and capitalize on it.

Keep Kyler Murray clean

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

On paper, this should be an easy one. According to Pro Football Reference, the Texans’ defense ranks 31st in total pressures (40) and 29th in sacks (10). Over the past three weeks, the Cardinals’ offensive line has relinquished seven sacks. With the Packers looming on Thursday night, this is not the game where Murray should need to scramble to avoid tacklers. The offensive line should be able to put one of their best performances of the season together. If Murray is battered, it leaves little time for those aching muscles to heal.

When comparing the level of talent and coaching between both teams, this should be a game where the Cardinals score enough points early in order to rest their players late. If they’re playing close in the fourth quarter, more questions will be raised on whether they are true legitimate contenders.

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