The Arizona Cardinals became the latest team to take advantage of the Houston Texans' slide to irrelevance.
Carson Palmer threw two touchdown passes and the Arizona defense made a late stand in a 27-24 win over the Texans on Sunday.
Here's what else we learned:
- Andre Johnson isn't the reason the Texans can't buy a win. The wide receiver has thrived with Case Keenum under center and has five touchdowns in the past two weeks. He had zero scores in the seven weeks before that.
- Keenum has lost his three starts by a combined seven points. Not-so-loosely-related subplot: Kicker Randy Bullock has missed four field-goals attempts in the past two games, including a blocked 40-yard attempt at the end of the first half on Sunday.
- John Abraham turned back the clock Sunday. The veteran pass rusher finished with two sacks, including a strip of Keenum that led to an early Cardinals touchdown.
- Another quiet day for Larry Fitzgerald, who's been held to less than 50 yards receiving four times in the past five weeks. He's on pace for his second consecutive sub-1,000-yard season.
- The Texans' offensive line didn't get it done. Keenum rarely had a clean pocket to work with and the Arian Foster-free backfield found few running lanes. Murphy's Law has taken hold in Houston.
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