Playoffs: The upcoming Bengal game 1/7/12

[Arky]

The Texans (10-6) host their first ever playoff game this Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) in a late afternoon game on NBC. Ironically, the Texans clinched against these very same Bengals in Week 14 at Cincinnati with a 1-point victory (20-19) in what was rookie QB TJ Yates' coming-out-party. The Texans haven't won since going 0-3 over their final three games. Yates is expected to start. Wide receiver Andre Johnson will play. The Texans opted to rest many starters and some played just a half in their final game of the regular season, so teamwide, they should be relatively healthy.

Since playing the Texans in Week 14, the Bengals have gone 2-1 defeating both Arizona and St. Louis by 7 and losing by 8 to Baltimore in their season finale. With the exception of a 34-12 win over Seattle in Week 8 and 35-7 blowout loss to Pittsburgh in Week 13, every Bengal game has been decided by 10 points or less. So, one could say they have a pretty good grasp of how to stay in the game and keep it close. Look for rookie QB Andy Dalton to hand off to RB Cedric Benson (1,067/3.9 ypc) and chuck the ball to favorite wideouts AJ Green (1,057/16.3 ypc) and Jerome "stick-the-landing" Simpson (725/14.5 ypc).

This is a good "starter game" for the Texans as they get their first introduction to the playoffs. They match up well against the Bengals and have a very good chance of winning.


TV = NBC (channel 2 local) 3:30 pm CST, Saturday, Jan 7

Announcers = Tom Hammond, Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan

Favorite = Texans by 3

[HPF Bob]

I've been able to watch every game since mid-season but I've committed to be somewhere else Saturday evening so, rather than watch half and then miss the second half, I'm recording the entire game and will try to avoid any result until I see it later that night. So, I won't be commenting here until well after the game and I will take it as a matter of faith that the Texans will do better than they did a month ago in Cincinnati.

As with anything the Texans ever do, we cannot take for granted that they won't play like a giant clusterf but I have to believe that we are better going in this week at home than we were when we beat them earlier (with Yates but without AJ). The only significant losses since then are Briseil and Hartmann, which I think can be overcome.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

I've been able to watch every game since mid-season but I've committed to be somewhere else Saturday evening so, rather than watch half and then miss the second half, I'm recording the entire game and will try to avoid any result until I see it later that night. So, I won't be commenting here until well after the game and I will take it as a matter of faith that the Texans will do better than they did a month ago in Cincinnati.

As with anything the Texans ever do, we cannot take for granted that they won't play like a giant clusterf but I have to believe that we are better going in this week at home than we were when we beat them earlier (with Yates but without AJ). The only significant losses since then are Briseil and Hartmann, which I think can be overcome.

Wow, that must be some commitment to cause you to miss real-time viewing of the Texans' first-ever P-O game ?

[WMH]

Very excited about this weekend.

I'll be curious to see how the gameplan unfolds with Dre in the mix. Yates seems to be a calm one, so hopefully his sphincter won't curl up under the bright lights.

Can't wait to be in the stadium, and feel the energy from the crowd when on D. Really can't wait to see the Cushing transformation on the big stage. I have a feeling that dude is going to go in psychotic mode. All the D will be pumped and ready to roll.

LESH GEAUX!

[cadams]

i would like to see the game begin with the exact same play as the one they started with in cincinatti last month. with the substitution of aj for jj.

stretch the field to start the game

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Wow, that must be some commitment to cause you to miss real-time viewing of the Texans' first-ever P-O game ?

I'm having to do the same thing. I have a commitment that can not be changed, so I will go into lock down, no phone or radio until I can see the dvr'd game

[Keith]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I will go into lock down, no phone or radio until I can see the dvr'd game

Easier said than done. I have had to be away during gametime for my son's baseball tournaments a couple times this fall, and darn it if Arky's commentary doesn't always call out to me from my smartphone. Plus it doesn't help if others you are with aren't checking their phones for updates, too.

[WMH]

This is nothing short of amazing 3 weeks in, or pharmaceutical....

From the Chronic:
http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans...iel-look-good/

"Kubiak said right guard Mike Brisiel looked so good for the second consecutive practice that he’ll be ready to start against the Bengals. Antoine Caldwell, who started the last three games while Brisiel recovered from surgery to repair a fractured fibula, will return to the bench. Caldwell is expected to play while Brisiel works himself back into playing shape."