Arizona Cardinals vs. Houston Texans: 2023 Week 11 Recap

Game story

In Week 11 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-11-19, the Houston Texans took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 21–16 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 23 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Stroud (Houston Texans) paced the passing game, with +3.80 total EPA, and +6.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, N. Dell (Houston Texans) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.49 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-19.1% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (:35) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass incomplete deep left to 2-M.Brown (21-S.Nelson) [51-W.Anderson].

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 N. Dell · Houston Texans · Receiving · +10.49 total EPA · 10 snaps · +1.05 EPA/play
2. 2 R. Moore · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +4.03 total EPA · 1 snaps · +4.03 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Stroud · Houston Texans · Passing · +3.80 total EPA · 40 snaps · +0.09 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Schultz · Houston Texans · Receiving · +3.24 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
5. 5 S. Sims · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.78 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Metchie · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.17 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.17 EPA/play
7. 7 G. Swaim · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.09 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.54 EPA/play
8. 8 K. Murray · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +1.01 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.25 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Arizona Cardinals — R. Moore (K. Murray pass) (Q1 58:36)
• Houston Texans — D. Schultz (C. Stroud pass) (Q1 50:54)
• Houston Texans — D. Singletary (Q2 41:27)
• Houston Texans — N. Dell (C. Stroud pass) (Q2 30:34)
• Arizona Cardinals — K. Murray (Q3 17:57)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — M. Prater (Q1 46:26)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Houston Texans won the period 13–10. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the HOU 48 (Q1 58:36) — (13:36) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass deep right to 4-R.Moore for 48 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q1 58:28); Houston Texans found the end zone from the ARI 20 (Q1 50:54) — (5:54) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass deep middle to 86-D.Schultz for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the ARI 15 (Q1 50:48) — 16-M.Ammendola extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the HOU 39 (Q1 46:26) — (1:26) 5-M.Prater 57 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-12-B.Gillikin..

The second quarter: Houston Texans won the period 20–0. Houston Texans found the end zone from the ARI 11 (Q2 41:27) — (11:27) 26-D.Singletary right guard for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q2 41:20) — 16-M.Ammendola extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the ARI 40 (Q2 30:34) — (:34) 7-C.Stroud pass deep right to 3-N.Dell for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the ARI 15 (Q2 30:26).

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 12–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the HOU 1 (Q3 17:57) — (2:57) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the HOU 2 (Q3 17:52) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 1-K.Murray rushes right tackle. ATTEMPT FAILS..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 0:35) — (:35) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass incomplete deep left to 2-M.Brown (21-S.Nelson) [51-W.Anderson]. [WPA -19.1% · EPA -2.26]
• Houston Texans (Q4 9:42) — (9:42) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass short middle intended for 2-R.Woods INTERCEPTED by 51-K.Barnes (33-A.Hamilton) at ARI 3. 51-K.Barnes to ARI 49 for 46 yards (77-G.Fant). [WPA -15.9% · EPA -7.14]
• Houston Texans (Q4 10:48) — (10:48) 11-C.Johnston punts 50 yards to ARI 19, Center-46-J.Weeks. 33-A.Hamilton MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by HOU-20-K.Hollman at ARI 25. The Replay Official reviewed the kick touched ruling, and the pla [WPA +13.5% · EPA +4.54]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 58:36) — (13:36) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass deep right to 4-R.Moore for 48 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +12.2% · EPA +4.03]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 12:54) — (12:54) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short right to 83-G.Dortch to HOU 21 for 2 yards (4-T.Thomas; 24-D.Stingley). [WPA -11.6% · EPA -3.72]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Houston Texans (Q4 9:42) — (9:42) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass short middle intended for 2-R.Woods INTERCEPTED by 51-K.Barnes (33-A.Hamilton) at ARI 3. 51-K.Barnes to ARI 49 for 46 yards (77-G.Fant). [WPA -15.9% · EPA -7.14]
• Houston Texans (Q2 36:15) — (6:15) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass short middle intended for 12-N.Collins INTERCEPTED by 34-J.Thompson at ARI 0. Touchback. [WPA -10.7% · EPA -5.09]
• Houston Texans (Q2 30:34) — (:34) 7-C.Stroud pass deep right to 3-N.Dell for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.3% · EPA +4.55]
• Houston Texans (Q4 10:48) — (10:48) 11-C.Johnston punts 50 yards to ARI 19, Center-46-J.Weeks. 33-A.Hamilton MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by HOU-20-K.Hollman at ARI 25. The Replay Official reviewed the kick touched ruling, and the pla [WPA +13.5% · EPA +4.54]

Quarterback report card

C.Stroud led all passers in efficiency for Houston Texans, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.Stroud (Houston Texans) · 40 dropbacks · 67.5% completion · +6.3% CPOE · +0.09 EPA/play · +3.80 total EPA
• K.Murray (Arizona Cardinals) · 39 dropbacks · 51.3% completion · -0.9% CPOE · -0.10 EPA/play · -3.97 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Arizona Cardinals -0.05, Houston Texans -0.02) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Arizona Cardinals: 10 drives, -3.41 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Houston Texans: 11 drives, -1.67 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Houston Texans leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• N. Dell (Houston Texans) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Stroud (HOU) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q1 58:36 · HOU 48 · Score 6-0
   (13:36) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass deep right to 4-R.Moore for 48 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 58:28 · HOU 15 · Score 7-0
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-12-B.Gillikin. PENALTY on HOU, Illegal Formation, 5 yards, enforced between downs.
3. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q1 50:54 · ARI 20 · Score 7-6
   (5:54) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass deep middle to 86-D.Schultz for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Houston Texans TD (+7) — Q1 50:48 · ARI 15 · Score 7-7
   16-M.Ammendola extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
5. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q1 46:26 · HOU 39 · Score 10-7
   (1:26) 5-M.Prater 57 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-12-B.Gillikin.
6. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 41:27 · ARI 11 · Score 10-13
   (11:27) 26-D.Singletary right guard for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 41:20 · ARI 15 · Score 10-14
   16-M.Ammendola extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
8. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 30:34 · ARI 40 · Score 10-20
   (:34) 7-C.Stroud pass deep right to 3-N.Dell for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Houston Texans TD (+7) — Q2 30:26 · ARI 15 · Score 10-21
   16-M.Ammendola extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston. PENALTY on ARI-33-A.Hamilton, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced between dow
10. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 17:57 · HOU 1 · Score 16-21
    (2:57) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 17:52 · HOU 2 · Score 16-21
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 1-K.Murray rushes right tackle. ATTEMPT FAILS.