The focus going in to Sunday's game was the quarterback. That made sense. The Cardinals were on their third one of the season and it is the most important position on the team. And for the most part, Blaine Gabbert acquitted himself pretty well. There were the two picks late, and you can't have those, but the Cards were chasing 10 points by then.

No, it was the issues that have been around all season that doomed the Cards in Houston. A running game that has echoed the struggles of the pre-Adrian Peterson ground game. A defense that makes some plays but just can't clamp down when the team desperately needs it. An offense that needs to find more consistency overall.

-- Drew Stanton was healthy enough to be the backup Sunday. Could that mean he's healthy enough to start next week — and does Bruce Arians drop him right back in? (I know the public-at-large's answer.) Gabbert did look very comfortable, and he clearly has some chemistry with rookie tight end Ricky Seals-Jones. That makes sense, because Seals-Jones and Gabbert have been working together on third team since the offseason. We'll see. It's fair to point out the Texans secondary has struggled quite a bit against the passers it has seen, and next week's game against the Jaguars will feature one of the better secondaries the Cardinals have seen.

-- Speaking of secondary, the Cardinals sure look like they have a star-in-the-making back there with rookie safety Budda Baker. He was everywhere Sunday. He was great on defense and continues to play so well on special teams — I repeat that he deserves (heavy) consideration for the NFC's Pro Bowl special teams spot.

-- Bruce Arians opened his press conference by taking the blame on the failed fourth down. I'll admit I was on the move when the play happened, seeing it on the TV screen as I made my way down to the field. But I agree that the Cards had been stuffed all day inside. There wasn't much to get, but the Texans made it obvious the wanted Gabbert to try and beat them. It was going to be tough sledding for Adrian Peterson on every run play, and the fourth-down try was only the one in the spotlight.

--Peterson ended up with 13 yards on 12 carries after his first two totes gained six and seven yards.

-- I do think the absent D.J. Humphries makes a big difference when it comes to the run game.

-- The Patrick Peterson vs. DeAndre Hopkins battle was exactly how it was expected to go. Peterson did give up the back-to-back big plays, finishing with Hopkins' TD. But he broke up/defended a bunch of other tries, and nearly got a second interception late in the game with perfect technique. It's funny that his first pick was on a pass that wasn't even thrown to Hopkins or at Peterson. A deflection, and the right place, right time.

-- Speaking of missed chances on turnovers, the Cards were there. There were a couple of other fumbles on the ground by the Texans that the Cards just couldn't fall on, in addition to Peterson's near-pick. Tyrann Mathieu also dropped a deep pass that could've been an interception, although the play was wiped out by an Arizona penalty. The Cards need all the turnovers they can get. At least they converted their two short-fields into TDs.

-- Arians said he'd be going to different receivers this next week. That would seem to me that Chad Williams has a chance to be active, but other than that, I'm not sure where you turn. Maybe more Brittan Golden? I don't see them bringing up Carlton Agudosi from the practice squad, but who knows.

-- As much as Tom Savage had struggled this season, it hurts to give up a 97.1 passer rating to him, and 31 points to the Houston offense without the aid of turnovers.

-- Fitz was asked about playing in 2018. He did not answer, one way or the other, and wouldn't even say if he's still thinking about it. So he leaves everyone in suspense — and makes sure the questions keep coming probably more often than not the rest of the season.