What started as a shootout turned into a defensive battle, with the Cardinals going only 1-for-4 on fourth down and C.J. Stroud throwing three interceptions.
Houston held on for a 21-16 win over Arizona, moving to 6-4. The Cardinals fell to 2-9 after Kyler Murray nearly pulled off back-to-back comebacks in his return.
The game ended on a fourth-and-eight play from the Houston 27 with 35 seconds to play. The Texans blitzed Murray, with Will Anderson getting close, and Murray threw it up for grabs to Hollywood Brown. It fell incomplete, ending Murray’s chance to play the part of hero again.
Murray led the Cardinals to a last-play field goal last week in his return from an ACL tear that ended his 2022 season.
The Cardinals’ final three drives ended on downs in Houston territory, with the Texans getting fourth-down stops with Arizona at their 23, 45 and 27.
Murray went 20-of-30 for 214 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
The Texans could have avoided the drama if Stroud, for the first time in his young career, hadn’t been so careless with the ball. He threw interceptions with the Texans at the Arizona 12, 13 and 26.
Backup kicker Matt Ammendola, who kicked the game-winner on the final play last week, missed a 48-yard field goal in the second half.
Stroud, who had only two interceptions before Sunday, finished 27-of-37 for 336 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Devin Singletary rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Tank Dell caught eight passes for 149 yards and a touchdown, and Nico Collins had seven receptions for 65 yards.