The Houston Texans have a big challenge ahead of them. For their Week 7 assignment, they will try to become the first team to stop the Arizona Cardinals. That's a tough ask, considering where both teams are at this point of the season. The Texans have not won also a game since Week 1's victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Then again, we have seen crazier things happen in the NFL before. With that said, it's time to take a look at four bold predictions for this Texas-Cardinals game down in Glendale.
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Texans Week 7 Predictions
4. David Johnson scores a touchdown in return to Arizona
Running back David Johnson might have mixed emotions in his return to Glendale this Sunday. Johnson played many years with the Cardinals before getting shipped to the Texans in a controversial trade that continues to be talked about to this day. Those emotions could fuel Johnson into coming up with his best game of the season, so far.
The 29-year-old tailback has yet to score a rushing touchdown this season, partly because he’s no longer that David Johnson who used to take the ball, run, and crush opposing defenses before. But it’s also because the Texans’ situation isn’t ideal for a running back. The hope is that Johnson will make something meaningful out of the touches he’s going to get against the Cardinals. Johnson leads Houston’s running back committee that also features Mark Ingram II and Phillip Lindsay in snaps (159) though he’s only the one left among the three without a rushing score this season.
3. Texans pick off Kyler Murray
Don’t sleep on the Texans’ secondary. It’s easy to overlook whatever is left that Houston is doing right because of all the other things they are floundering on, but the Texans’ defense against the pass has had some shining moments in the past weeks. The team is sixth in the NFL in opponents’ picks thrown percentage (3.21%). Safety Justin Reid has two interceptions.
Cornerback Lonnie Johnson also has a pair of picks. Another cornerback, Vernon Hargreaves, has an interception just like linebacker Christian Kirksey. Murray is one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in the NFL this season, but he’s not been flawless. He has thrown four interceptions, two against the Minnesota Vikings and one each against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans. He has not been picked off in the last three Arizona games, but he could be in for a surprise this week against the Texans.
2. Davis Mills passes for over 250 yards and a TD
The rookie Davis Mills will continue to start for the Texans, while the team waits for Tyrod Taylor’s return. Taylor presents Houston the best option under center when healthy, but Mills, at times, looked respectable at the very least. Sure, there was the stinker against the Buffalo Bills where he tossed four interceptions and finished with a 23.4 passer rating, but that’s not entirely his fault. Mills has thrown for 555 yards in his last two starts; he passed for 312 yards against the New England Patriots and 243 more against the Indianapolis.
In the Patriots game, Mills lasered a touchdown pass three times with zero interceptions before throwing for zero touchdowns and a couple of interceptions against the Colts. In Week 7, the Texans are expected to play catchup early again. Mills will be forced to throw the ball a lot again and he should be able to pick up plenty of yards in garbage time.
1. Texans cover the spread
The Texans are on a free fall, while the Cardinals are the only undefeated team standing this season. It's not difficult to imagine Houston getting destroyed in this matchup. Arizona is a huge 18-point favorite to win this game. Even for an awful Texans unit, that seems pretty high. There's the 40-point demolition job the Texans suffered at the hands of the Buffalo Bills, but Houston must have learned a lot from that game.
The Cardinals will beat Houston by double digits, though a backdoor cover for the Texans will be in play here. Arizona's likely to rest their starters in the fourth quarter when the game's virtually in the bag, while Mills and the Texans try to pick up yards and drive the ball down the field for scoring chances.
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