Arizona Cardinals vs Houston Texans Prediction and Picks - December 14, 2025
Sunday afternoon NFL action, and we have an Arizona Cardinals vs Houston Texans prediction locked and loaded for you. The Cardinals come in off a 45-17 home loss to the Rams to fall to a miserable 3-10 on the year. Houston is off a HUGE 20-10 road win over the Chiefs, and they are now at 8-5 on the year. These teams met back in 2023, and Houston won that game 21-16 at home. Read on to see our Cardinals vs Texans prediction.
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Cardinals Get Blasted by The Rams
Arizona’s most recent game was a 45–17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on December 7, where Jacoby Brissett threw for 271 yards and two touchdowns but also tossed a costly interception. Michael Wilson was the lone bright spot, hauling in 11 passes for 142 yards and two scores, while Trey McBride added 58 receiving yards to extend his streak of five-catch games. The Cardinals fell behind quickly after a promising start and were overwhelmed by Matthew Stafford and the Rams’ balanced attack, marking their fifth straight defeat.
Offensively, the Cardinals average 335.5 yards per game (16th), with the passing game ranking 7th at 238.7 yards per contest. Brissett has been steady filling in for the injured Kyler Murray, but the lack of a consistent rushing attack has hurt, as Arizona ranks 26th with just 96.8 rushing yards per game. Wilson and McBride have been reliable targets, but injuries have thinned the receiving corps, with Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) and Xavier Weaver (hamstring) sidelined last week. Running back Emari Demercado also missed the Rams game with an ankle injury, leaving Zonovan Knight to carry the load with just 16 yards on seven carries.
Defensively, Arizona has struggled, allowing 347.4 yards per game (23rd) and 26.8 points per game (26th). The secondary has been hit hard by injuries, with cornerback Max Melton (heel) and safety Jalen Thompson (hamstring) both leaving the Rams game. The Cardinals’ run defense has been inconsistent, giving up 123.1 yards per game (19th), and their inability to generate turnovers—just nine all season—has left them vulnerable. With a depleted roster and a defense that has been unable to stop the run or force mistakes, Arizona faces a daunting challenge against Houston’s efficient attack.
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Defense Leads The Texans To Big Road Win
Houston’s most recent game was a 20–10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on December 7, where C.J. Stroud threw for 203 yards and a touchdown while Nico Collins exploded for 121 receiving yards. Dare Ogunbowale added a go-ahead rushing score in the fourth quarter, and the Texans’ defense intercepted Patrick Mahomes three times to secure their fifth straight victory. The win improved Houston to 8–5 and kept them just one game behind Jacksonville in the AFC South race.
Offensively, the Texans average 322.2 yards per game (20th), with Stroud leading a passing attack that ranks 17th at 216.5 yards per contest. Collins has been the breakout star, posting 916 yards on the season, while rookie Woody Marks has contributed 554 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Injuries have impacted the backfield, with Nick Chubb (ankle) questionable heading into Week 15, but Marks has carried the load effectively. Houston scores 21.8 points per game (20th), and while not explosive, they’ve been efficient at protecting the football with only 10 turnovers, ranking 4th best in the league.
Defensively, Houston has been elite, allowing just 266.3 yards per game (1st) and a league-low 16 points per game. Their pass defense ranks 3rd at 172 yards allowed per game, while the run defense sits 5th at 94.3 yards per game. Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter have combined for over 20 sacks, anchoring a pass rush that consistently disrupts opposing quarterbacks. The Texans have forced 15 takeaways, ranking 3rd, and their ability to control games with defense has been the foundation of their winning streak. With Arizona’s offense banged up and Houston’s defense in peak form, the Texans enter this matchup as heavy favorites to extend their run.
Arizona Cardinals vs Houston Texans Pick
Cardinals vs Texans Spread Pick
- Houston -10 (4 Units)
Houston -10 looks like the right side given how dominant the Texans have been and how poorly Arizona has matched up against strong defenses. Houston’s most recent outing was a 20–10 win over Kansas City on December 7, where C.J. Stroud threw for 203 yards and a touchdown while Nico Collins posted 121 receiving yards. The Texans intercepted Patrick Mahomes three times and held the Chiefs to just 274 total yards, showcasing why they rank 1st in total defense (266.3 yards per game) and 1st in points allowed (16.0 per game). With Stroud protecting the football and Collins emerging as a reliable weapon, Houston has the balance to cover this number comfortably, especially at home.
On the other side, Arizona is coming off a 45–17 loss to the Rams on December 7, where Jacoby Brissett threw for 271 yards and two touchdowns but the defense was shredded for 500 total yards. The Cardinals rank 26th in scoring defense (26.8 points per game) and have forced just nine takeaways all season, leaving them vulnerable against efficient offenses like Houston’s. Injuries have piled up, with Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) and Max Melton (heel) both sidelined, further limiting their ability to compete. With the Texans riding a five-game winning streak and boasting the league’s most suffocating defense, laying the -10 is backed by both statistical dominance and recent form.
Cardinals vs Texans Over/Under Pick
- Under 42 (5 Units)
The Under 42 stands out in Cardinals–Texans given Houston’s defensive dominance and the strong historical trends backing it. The Texans are coming off a 20–10 win over Kansas City on December 7, where their defense intercepted Patrick Mahomes three times and held the Chiefs to just 274 total yards. Houston leads the NFL in both total defense (266.3 yards per game) and points allowed (16.0 per game), consistently suffocating opponents and keeping scores low. The betting angles line up as well: the Texans are 1-8 to the Under in the first of back-to-back home games and 1-6-1 to the Under in their last eight home games against NFC opponents, trends that highlight how often their defense dictates pace in these spots. With Arizona struggling offensively and Houston built to grind games down, the Under 42 is the sharper play.
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