Arizona Cardinals vs Texans Match Player Stats: Texans Win 40-20
Arizona Cardinals vs Texans match player stats from December 14, 2025, show a game that was mostly decided in the first fifteen minutes. Houston scored on its opening drive, added a field goal, and then returned a fumble for a touchdown. By the time the first quarter ended, the Texans led 17-0, and the Cardinals spent the rest of the afternoon chasing.
The final score of 40-20 looks lopsided, but the individual numbers are more interesting than the margin. tight end put up a monster day in a losing effort, quarterback was close to perfect, and the running game quietly made the difference. Here is a full breakdown, plus a look back at the teams’ previous meeting.
How the Game Unfolded
| Quarter | Arizona | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 0 | 17 |
| 2nd | 7 | 6 |
| 3rd | 7 | 7 |
| 4th | 6 | 10 |
| Final | 20 | 40 |
C.J. Stroud connected with Nico Collins on a 57-yard touchdown pass at the very start of the game. Ka’imi Fairbairn then kicked a 30-yard field goal, and Woody Marks scored on a 1-yard fumble return to make it 17-0.
Arizona finally got on the board in the second quarter on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Jacoby Brissett to Trey McBride. Fairbairn answered with field goals from 55 and 22 yards, so Houston led 23-7 at halftime.
The second half followed the same pattern. Stroud found Dalton Schultz for a 4-yard score, McBride caught a 20-yard touchdown just before the third quarter ended, and Brissett hit Michael Wilson from 11 yards in the fourth. Houston closed it out with a Fairbairn field goal and a 4-yard Stroud-to-Collins touchdown with about three minutes left.
Quarterback Stats: Efficiency vs Volume
The two quarterbacks played very different games.
C.J. Stroud (Texans) completed 22 of 29 passes (75.9%) for 260 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. He averaged 9.0 yards per attempt and posted a passer rating of 137.1. He also ran six times for 10 yards and was sacked once. Two of his touchdowns went to Collins and to Schultz.
Jacoby Brissett (Cardinals) was busy, completing 27 of 40 attempts (67.5%) for 249 yards, three touchdowns, and interception, with a rating of 98.8. He was sacked twice and ran three times for 6 yards. His average was 6.2 yards per attempt, meaning Arizona needed many more throws to produce similar touchdown totals.
Both passers threw for three scores. The difference was that Stroud needed 11 fewer attempts, and he never gave the ball away.
Trey McBride Had a Day to Remember
If you read line of the box score, make it this one: McBride caught 12 of the 13 passes thrown his way for 134 yards and two touchdowns. That is a catch rate of 92.3%, and it made him the best offensive player on the field for Arizona by a wide margin.
His first touchdown was a 2-yard score that put the Cardinals on the board. His second was a 20-yard catch late in the third quarter that cut the lead to 30-14. Those two scores accounted for most of Arizona’s offense in the middle of the game.
Michael Wilson was the other notable receiver. He caught 5 of 11 targets for 54 yards and an 11-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. His catch rate (45.5%) shows how much more difficult the targets outside McBride were.
Rushing: Houston Controlled the Ground
The ground game rarely makes headlines, but here it explains the shape of the contest.
- Houston ran 33 times for 143 yards, an average of 4.3 per carry.
- Arizona ran 21 times for 72 yards, an average of 3.4.
Michael Carter led the Cardinals with 14 carries for 56 yards (4.0 per carry) and added 4 catches for 38 yards. Corey Kiner had 2 carries for 11 yards. The attack never became a threat big enough to take pressure off Brissett, who threw 40 times while trailing most of the game.
On the Houston side, the box score data I could verify shows the team total but not a full individual rushing breakdown, so I’m not listing player-by-player figures I can’t confirm.
Player Stats Summary Table
| Player | Team | Key stats |
|---|---|---|
| C.J. Stroud | Texans | 22/29, 260 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT; 6 rushes, 10 yds |
| Jacoby Brissett | Cardinals | 27/40, 249 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT; 3 rushes, 6 yds |
| Trey McBride | Cardinals | 12 catches, 134 yds, 2 TD (13 targets) |
| Michael Wilson | Cardinals | 5 catches, 54 yds, 1 TD (11 targets) |
| Michael Carter | Cardinals | 14 carries, 56 yds; 4 catches, 38 yds |
| Nico Collins | Texans | 2 TD catches (57 and 4 yards) |
| Dalton Schultz | Texans | 1 TD catch (4 yards) |
| Ka’imi Fairbairn | Texans | 4 field goals (30, 55, 22, 33 yds) |
| Woody Marks | Texans | 1-yard fumble-return touchdown |
Special Teams and Turnovers
Fairbairn’s kicking was quietly decisive. Four field goals, including a 55-yarder, provided 12 points and kept Arizona from getting within possession at several points. His four extra points were also all good.
Arizona’s mistakes hurt from the start. The fumble Houston returned for a touchdown turned what could have been a 10-0 deficit into 17-0, and Brissett’s interception added to the damage. The Cardinals also missed a chance to close the gap late when their two-point try after the Wilson touchdown failed, leaving them down 13 instead of 11.
Looking Back: The 2023 Meeting
The previous time these teams met was November 19, 2023, and it was far closer. Houston won 21-16.
- Kyler Murray completed 20 of 30 passes for 214 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. He also ran seven times for 51 yards and scored from a yard out.
- James Conner carried 14 times for 62 yards.
- Stroud threw touchdown passes to Schultz (20 yards) and Tank Dell (40 yards), and Devin Singletary ran in an 11-yard score.
- Matt Prater kicked a 57-yard field goal for Arizona in the first half.
The earlier game was decided by a single score, while the 2025 meeting was a 20-point gap. In both, Houston scored early and kept the pressure on.
Where Both Teams Stand Now
As of mid-October 2026, Arizona is 1-4 after beating the Chargers 26-14 in Week 1 and then losing to Seattle, San Francisco, the Giants, and Detroit. They face the Rams on Sunday, October 18, and a lot can change from there.
The two teams are not scheduled to play each other in the 2026 regular season. The Texans and Cardinals meet occasionally because they play in different conferences, so the next matchup depends on how the NFL builds future schedules. When a new date is announced, the player stats above make a useful baseline.
What the Numbers Teach Us
Three takeaways from the 2025 game stand out:
- Starts matter. Houston’s 17-0 opening quarter forced Arizona into a pass-heavy script that favored a Texans defense built to rush the passer.
- Efficiency beats volume. Brissett threw 11 more passes than Stroud but produced fewer yard per attempt and a turnover.
- One star isn’t always enough. McBride’s 134 yards were historic for a single game, but the supporting cast could not match Houston’s balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the last Cardinals vs Texans game?
Houston won 40-20 on December 14, 2025.
Who threw for the most touchdowns?
Both quarterbacks threw three, Stroud for Houston and Brissett for Arizona.
Who was the top receiver?
Trey McBride of the Cardinals, with 12 catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns.
When did the teams meet before that?
November 19, 2023, a 21-16 Texans win.
When is the next Cardinals vs Texans game?
There is no meeting on the 2026 schedule.
Final Word
The Arizona Cardinals vs Texans match player stats tell a simple story: Houston started fast and stayed efficient, while Arizona produced individual highlights without ever threatening to take control. If the teams meet again, watch the opening quarter first. In both of their recent games, it set the tone.