ut Arizona back on top 20-17 entering the fourth quarter

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer knows what his teams personality has become. And it has nothing to do with his side of the ball. "Were a tough, grind-it-out defensive team," he said. That was apparent on the first play from scrimmage against Houston on Sunday, when the Cardinals forced a fumble and returned it for a touchdown. It was a sign of what would come in the second half. The Cardinals turned up the defensive pressure and sent the Texans to their franchise-record seventh straight loss, 27-24 Sunday. Palmer threw two touchdown passes and Arizona held on despite a late fumble. The Texans (2-7) were without coach Gary Kubiak, who collapsed on the sideline against Indianapolis last Sunday night with what was diagnosed as a mini-stroke. Defensive co-ordinator Wade Phillips is filling in as interim coach. "All in all it seems like the same theme," Phillips said. "Team is playing tremendously hard but not enough plays. One play here, one play there, and they really dominated us in the second half on their defensive side of the ball." Arizona (5-4) got off to a quick start when linebacker John Abraham knocked the ball out of quarterback Case Keenums arm and Matt Shaughnessy returned it 6 yards for a touchdown only 14 seconds into the game. The Texans led 17-14 at the break, but managed just 41 yards in the final two quarters "As a defence, we just told ourselves 17 is the max," linebacker Daryl Washington said. "No more points to be scored. Lets play nasty, lets play dirty." Keenum threw three touchdown passes, two on remarkable catches by Andre Johnson. J.J. Watt forced two fumbles, recovering both of them for Houston. The second one set up Johnsons 5-yard TD catch that cut the lead to three with 4:34 to play. "We made good adjustments," Arizona coach Bruce Arians said of the second half. "The running game was kind of gone. We felt if we could get them in a one-dimension game we could get after the quarterback, and we were able to do that." Palmer completed 20 of 32 for 241 yards. Keenum was 22 of 43 for 201 yards no interceptions, but was just 7 for 17 for 42 yards in the second half. Arizona reeled off 13 consecutive points and Palmers 19-yard touchdown pass to Andre Roberts put Arizona up 27-17 with 6:42 to play. The Cardinals, coming off a bye, had trouble holding on. Rashard Mendenhall was stripped of the ball by Watt in a crowd on a run up the middle and the standout Houston lineman recovered at the Arizona 5. On third down, Johnson gathered in Keenums pass and was able to get both feet inbounds for the touchdown. He had scored on a similar catch in the first quarter. "Those were two of the best catches I have ever seen in my life," Keenum said. "You cant even describe it. You have to watch it to see how awesome those catches are. " Houston got the ball back with just over two minutes to play but, at third-and-3 at the 35, Keenum threw two incompletions. Jerraud Powers knocked the ball away from receiver DeAndre Hopkins on fourth down to seal the win. After his first-play miscue, Keenum completed 4 of 4 for 44 yards in an eight-play, 49-yard drive. Johnson got his left foot down then barely dragged his right foot inbounds on a 7-yard touchdown catch and it was 7-all. Arizona regained the lead with its only touchdown drive of the first half. Recently signed tight end Jake Ballard had a 15-yard catch, his first reception since 2011, and Rob Housler got his first pro touchdown catch on a 12-yard screen pass to put the Cardinals up 14-7 with 13:57 left in the half. It was Palmers 200th career touchdown pass. But Keenum responded, going 5 for 6 for 55 yards in a nine-play, 80-yard TD drive. Keenum threw 2 yards to wide open tight end Ryan Griffin for the touchdown that tied it at 14-14 with 9:37 left in the half. Arizona was pinned deep in its own territory after the subsequent kickoff and Palmer tried to throw long to Housler. But D.J. Swearinger intercepted, setting up Randy Bullocks 48-yard field goal that gave Houston its first lead, 17-14, with 6:31 to go in the half. Arizona committed another turnover late in the second quarter. With less than a minute left in the half, Watt knocked the ball out of Palmers hands and recovered at the Cardinals 22. Houston couldnt move it from there, and Justin Bethel blocked Bullocks 40-yard field goal attempt. Bethel has two blocked field goals this season. Arizona tied it at 17 on Jay Feelys 35-yard field goal with 6:06 left in the third quarter. Palmers 26-yard pass to Housler gave Arizona a first-and-goal at the Houston 5 in the final seconds of the third quarter. Feelys 21-yarder put Arizona back on top 20-17 entering the fourth quarter. NOTES: The Texans were without running back Arian Foster and wont have him the rest of the season after he decided to undergo season-ending back surgery. During the game, Houston lost starting cornerback Kareem Jackson (ribs), Griffin (concussion) and backup cornerback Elbert Mack (hamstring). ... Arizona lost wide receiver Michael Floyd in the first half with a shoulder sprain. Jonathon Simmons Jersey .m. ET, CBSOPENING LINE — Falcons by 3 1/2RECORD VS. Justin Jackson Jersey . Eller said the Oilers were a "junior team" that was "all over the place" before Edmontons 4-3 victory over Montreal on Tuesday night, Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins took offence to Ellers comments and used it to motivate his youthful team. http://www.magicauthentic.com/kids-dwigh...d-magic-jersey/. -- Dane Fox scored his 61st and 62nd goals of the season and Brendan Gaunce had a goal and three assists as the Erie Otters downed the Kitchener Rangers 7-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Aaron Gordon Jersey . -- Get a flow chart ready to follow the Packers quarterback situation. Melvin Frazier Jersey .Y. - OK, it is done.PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Pittsburgh Penguins are worried forward Beau Bennett has mumps.General manager Jim Rutherford said Monday that Bennett has symptoms and the team is awaiting test results before making a diagnosis. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is out for Monday nights game against Tampa Bay after being diagnosed over the weekend.Rutherford said Crosby is past the infectious stage and could return to the team as early as Tuesday.He probably could have been here today, but we took an extra day to be cautious, and as far as I know he will return tomorrow or the next day, Rutherford said.The Penguins are one of a handful of NHL teams dealing with a mumps outbreak. The virus usually is found in children, and its symptoms include facial swelling and fatigue.Weve taken the prroper steps to make sure that he is quarantined and not around anybody else at this point in time, Rutherford said of Bennett.ddddddddddddThe 23-year-old Bennett has struggled to stay healthy during his brief career. He is already out indefinitely while recovering from a lower body injury against Boston last month. Bennett attended a function at Pittsburghs Childrens Hospital last week with the team.The hospital said in a statement Monday that children who have not received an age appropriate vaccine will be put in isolation and monitored for symptoms.Theyre testing any possible people he may have come in contact with and theyre on top of the situation, Rutherford said. We feel bad about that. At that point in time, obviously he is not tested to be positive. 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