Official Texans vs. Bengals Game Thread, 12/27/2020

[Arky]

Week 16 finds the 3-10-1 Cincinnati Bengals coming to town to play the 4-10 Houston Texans in an early game on FOX (CBS and FOX must've pulled a switcheroo, game originally scheduled on CBS). The Bengals are coming off a 27-17 home win over Pittsburgh on MNF. The Texans are coming off a 27-20 road loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Bengals QB Ryan Finley completed just 7 passes vs. the Steelers so look for him to rely on RBs Joe Mixon, Giovani Bernard and Samaje Perine to rack up rushing yardage against the pitiful Texan defense. Look for passes to go to WRs Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, AJ Green as well as TE Drew Sample.

The Texans should be able to win this one if they have any motivation at all. The Bengals will probably still be basking in their win over rival Pittsburgh. I've got it:

Texans 32, Bengals 20

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TV = FOX (channel 26 local), noon CST, Sunday, 12/27/2020

Announcers = Chris Myers, Greg Jennings

The line = Texans by 8 to 9

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

CBS (late) = Carolina @ Washington, Ian Eagle, Charles Davis

FOX (late) = Philadelphia @ Dallas, Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma

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National:

Friday (Christmas) 3:30 CT: Minnesota @ New Orleans (FOX/NFLN)

Saturday 12:00 CT: Tampa Bay @ Detroit (NFLN) (Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth)

Saturday 3:30 CT: San Francisco @ Arizona (Amazon/Twitch) (Andrew Catalon, James Lofton)

Saturday 7:15 CT: Miami @ Las Vegas (NFLN) (Joe Davis, Kurt Warner)

SNF: Tennessee @ Green Bay (NBC)

MNF: Buffalo @ New England (ESPN/ABC)

[HPF Bob]

The NFL is placating NFC East fans by putting the Red...uh, the Football Team game on CBS opposite Dallas-Philly which is the late afternoon prime matchup on Fox. The reason for this is that if the Red, uh, Washington wins this week, it eliminates both Dallas and Philly from the playoffs which would flatline Fox's ratings had the Red...uh, the Football Team's game still had a noon kickoff on Fox.

So CBS owed Fox a crappy game in return so...here, Fox, take the Bengals-Texans.

If nothing else, Watson usually plays well against the Bagels so Houston could actually win this one. If the current rankings are to be believed, both teams would have their first-round pick among the top six - if O'Bonehead hadn't traded Houston's to the Dolphins.

[HPF Bob]

For those wanting a flashback to happier times, here is the 2012 playoff game against the Bengals with Gary Kubiak at the helm. Savor the genius that is Marvin Lewis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF3-vQu3ibY - first half

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyiJPrN9r7c - second half

[Arky]

Texans go 3 and out on their first possession.

Brandon Allen in at QB for the Bengals.

Bengals drive down the field and finish with a 8 yard TD pass to Sample.

Bengals 7, Texans 0

8:32 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

Long pass to Cooks , 50 yards, leads to a Fairbairn 21-yard FG.

Bengals 7, Texans 3

1:22 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

35-yard FG by Seibert gives the Bengals a 7 pt lead.

Bengals 10, Texans 3

3:33 left in the half.