THE STORY: HOUSTON – The Cardinals had to chase again, and that was not what they had wanted to do.
It was 10-0 before quarterback Jacoby Brissett took a snap, and 17-0 before the Cardinals scored. Tight end Trey McBride was still a monster, but that wasn't enough.
"You can't allow points to be scored no matter where it's at," linebacker Zaven Collins said after what ultimately became a 40-20 loss to the surging Texans at NRG Stadium on Sunday. "But you have to play ball at the end of the day. You can't get down. You have to keep going."
McBride not only set the NFL record for tight ends with his 16th straight game of at least five receptions, but he also became the first tight end in NFL history with two 100-reception seasons on his way to 12 catches, 134 yards and two touchdowns.
But he shrugged it all off.
"Sixteen games, for what?" McBride said. "We've got to get more wins."
That's been hard after a 2-0 start for this team. One of Sunday's highlights was a blocked field goal by veteran Calais Campbell, the 10th of his career and seventh all-time as a Cardinal (but first since he departed as a free agent after the 2016 season.)
But Campbell's block was the only drive of the Texans' first eight that didn't result in points. Houston (9-5), which started 0-3 this season, got three touchdown passes from QB C.J. Stroud and 101 yards rushing on 15 carries by practice-squad elevation Jahwar Jordan.
Nico Collins' 57-yard catch-and-run TD 49 seconds into the game got it started, and then Jalen Brooks fumbled away the kickoff return, setting up a Texans' field goal with only three minutes elapsed.
If it wasn't for the Cardinals managing to hold up a few times in the red zone -- forcing field goals in three of Houston's six trips inside the 20 -- it could've been more lopsided.
"Every time we had a chance to get some momentum back, one of the three phases kind of let us down," coach Jonathan Gannon said. "We can't dig a hole like that."
Brissett had a season-high three TD passes – the other one went to Michael Wilson – but also threw a key interception in the end zone. The Cardinals' reshuffled offensive line managed to hold up OK – they allowed just two sacks and the Cardinals' 235 net passing yards was the most allowed this season by the Texans.
With the bad start, "I don't think it changed much," Brissett said. "It's 'let's go out there and start playing football. That was the mindset."
Gannon again reiterated he believed the players the Cardinals have – even the reserves now playing with injuries mounting – were good enough with which to win. He said again the Cardinals will get back to work Monday, with the home finale against the Falcons next.
"I'm confident in everybody we put out there," Gannon said. "That's everybody involved."
TURNING POINT: As bad as it started, the Cardinals were driving, down 23-7, and into the red zone knowing a TD and two-point conversion would make it a one-score game. But Brissett threw an interception in the end zone to cornerback Kamari Lassiter trying to hit Michael Wilson. Texans running back Jawhar Jordan then broke off a 50-yard run – the longest run allowed this season by Arizona – to spark an 80-yard touchdown drive to end hopes.
"That was a big drive," Brissett said. "I've got to make a better play."
THE STANDOUTS: McBride was obvious. Wilson's touchdown catch was an impressive contested grab and he finished with five receptions. Running back Michael Carter came in after Bam Knight got hurt and was productive, gaining 94 yards on 18 touches. Left guard Jon Gaines was solid in his second NFL start.
INJURY UPDATE: Wide receiver Andre Baccellia put a scare into the sideline when he went down after a kickoff return with a neck injury. He left the field on a stretcher with head immobilized, but had feel in all extremities when he was taken to a local hospital to be checked out. Baccellia was able to fly home with the team.
Running back Bam Knight left the game with an ankle injury suffered on the game's first possession. Linebacker Cody Simon (knee) also left in the first quarter. Cornerback Darren Hall left to get checked for a concussion.
