WHEN THE CARDINALS PASS

In his third season, Kyler Murray has been exceptional. He’s a legitimate MVP candidate with 14 touchdown passes, four interceptions and a 116.2 rating. Because he’s short, some think he doesn’t have a strong arm, but he does. He can make every throw. He can throw from the pocket, sliding to his right or left or rolling to his right side.

He’s been ideal for Kliff Kingsbury’s system. The success of the running game has made the run-pass option and play action consistently productive for Murray. He’s loaded with talented receivers, beginning with DeAndre Hopkins, who has 26 catches for 367 yards and six TDs. The other outside receiver, veteran A.J. Green, has 21 receptions for 340 yards and three TDs. The Cardinals, who are ninth in passing (272.3 yards), utilize a lot of four-receiver formations. Christian Kirk and rookie Rondale Moore, the inside receivers, have speed and quickness and work the middle of the field. Because they traded for veteran tight end Zach Ertz, expect Kingsbury to get the ex-Eagle involved in the passing game. The Texans are

18th in pass defense (249.8), but the defensive backs are coming off an awful performance at Indy.