The Houston Texans are one of the hottest teams in the NFL currently, as they are riding a five-game win streak that has seen their record jump from 3-5 to 8-5. In the process, the Texans have emerged as a legit playoff contender, as they currently hold one of the AFC’s three wild-card spots heading into Week 15.
With a matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on its schedule this weekend, Houston appears to be in a good position to earn its sixth-straight win when it returns to the field. In fact, the team’s job seemingly became a bit easier on Friday, as Arizona was dealt a tough injury update involving second-year star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
Cardinals Rule Out Marvin Harrison Jr. for Texans Clash
After eight games, it seemed like the Texans were down and out, but they have begun to find a winning formula in recent weeks. Relying on a defense that is one of the best units in the league, Houston is grinding out ugly wins, but they are wins nonetheless. With C.J. Stroud getting a bit more help from the ground game on offense, that’s all Houston has needed to rattle off five straight wins.
Things haven’t been going nearly as well for Arizona. After winning their first two games of the season, the Cardinals have won just one of their next 11 games. In the process, they have lost several players to injury, including quarterback Kyler Murray, whose future with the team appears to be very much up in the air.
Harrison has been battling through a slew of injuries this season, as he’s missed three of Arizona’s past four games. The latest ailment that has been bothering him is a heel injury, and it will result in him missing another game, as Arizona’s head coach, Jonathan Gannon, ruled out the talented pass catcher on Friday afternoon.
“Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) is out again Sunday, coach Jonathan Gannon said,” Tom Pelissero of NFL Network shared in a post on X.
Texans Looking to Keep Pace in Playoff Push by Taking Down Cardinals
GettyC.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans carries the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Harrison has put together a somewhat inconsistent season (40 REC, 594 YDS, 4 TD), as he’s struggled to live up to the expectations that have followed him after he was selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The problem for Houston, though, is that Michael Wilson has been balling out during Harrison’s absence on the sidelines, so it’s not as if the Cardinals won’t be able to throw the ball on Sunday.
If all goes according to plan, though, the Texans will walk away from this game with another win, pushing their record to 9-5. With the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars being neck-and-neck with them in the AFC South division, every game is important at this stage of the season. Houston will look to earn its sixth-straight win when it takes the field against Arizona at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon.
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