The Arizona Cardinals are expected to be one of the top Super Bowl contenders in the NFC but haven’t played like it through the first two games of the preseason. However, the veteran group could turn it on in Week 3 against the Houston Texans. The Cardinals are slight road underdogs but an offense that has sputtered thus far could break out and lead to a road victory in NFL odds.
This Week 3 preseason matchup will be held on Sunday, August 28th, 2016, at 4 p.m. ET on FOX at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Cardinals +1
Texans -1
Over/Under 41.5
Odds Analysis
The Cardinals have a more talented team but the home field advantage is enough to give the Texans a slight edge. They are helped by the fact that quarterback Brock Osweiler could see more action than Arizona’s Carson Palmer, who is a veteran and doesn’t need to prove much. The point total could be ripe for the “over” if the Cardinals come out hot and put up some early points, leaving the backups to finish it off.
Quarterback Rotation
Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer should start Sunday against the Texans. Palmer saw very limited time in each of first two preseason games, and should see an increased amount of reps in this matchup in Houston, but will likely still play less than a full half of football.
Backup Drew Stanton could take over for Palmer. Stanton was 2-of-7 for 32 yards with an interception last week against San Diego. Third-string quarterback Matt Barkley needs a standout performance in the next two preseason games to have a shot at making the team. Barkley completed only 8-of-24 passes in his preseason debut against Oakland with an interception. He was 10-of-15 for 85 yards against San Diego. Undrafted free agent Jake Coker is also on the team but he might not play. Stanton is a proven veteran and could easily bounce back with a nice performance if the Cardinals decided to use him.
The Texans should start quarterback Brock Osweiler again. Osweiler had a decent outing against the Saints on August 20th, finishing 12-for-19 with 124 yards with an interception and a touchdown. He is trying to develop a rapport with star receiver DeAndre Hopkins, and could see substantial playing time in this contest.
Brandon Weeden had a nice game last week in a win over the Saints, completing all four of his passing attempts for 54 yards. Tom Savage was 7-of-12 for 75 yards and they will both aim to follow that up with success against the Cardinals backups.
Coaching History
Bruce Arians has a preseason record of 6-8 in his four preseasons as the head coach in Arizona. He was 2-2 last season after winning just a single preseason game in 2014. Arians’ best preseason performance came in 2013 when he went 3-1.
Bill O'Brien is 6-4 in the preseason in his three years as a head coach. O'Brien went 2-2 in both 2014 and 2015 preseasons and is off to a 2-0 start this year.
Free ATS Pick
The Cardinals have one of the best starting offenses in football, but if Carson Palmer is taken out earlier than halftime then it might not remain clicking. The Texans are missing a crucial piece as star defensive end J.J. Watt continues to make his way back from an injury. The Cardinals’ defense will test Osweiler, as they have All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson available to guard Hopkins. While Arizona has been underwhelming thus far, scoring just 13 combined points in its first two games, more time for the starters in this one could result in a positive outcome in NFL odds.
NFL Odds: Cardinals 22, Texans 19
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