Official Texans vs. Bengals Wild Card Playoff Game Thread, 1/07/2012

[Keith]

Let's do this Texans!

[chuck]

AFC Championship Game: Pittsburgh at Houston

[Nconroe]

Can't wait, great being in the playoffs.

Texans inactives
7 QB Jeff Garcia
15 WR Jeff Maehl
26 CB Brandon Harris
33 FS Troy Nolan
61 G Thomas Austin
66****T Andrew Gardner
88 TE Garrett Graham

Bengals inactives
26 S Taylor Mays
31 S Robert Sands
52 LB Dontay Moch
60 G Otis Hudson
73 OT Anthony Collins
85 WR Armon Binns
98 DT Nick Hayden

[Arky]

Point spread is up to mostly 4 right now...

Let's get it on!

[Nconroe]

Nice "Go Texans" by fans in the stadium

[Arky]

Kubes looks mic'ed up - saw him fiddling with a little gadget.....

----------------------

Bengals win the toss and defer. Texans to receive.

Manning downs the kickoff in the endzone. Texans ball at their 20.

[Arky]

Whoa, Foster almost fumbles but gets 5.

Flags presnap. False start Foster. Foster nervous? Makes it 2nd and 10.

Tate for 5. Brings up 3rd and 5.

Yates pass too high to AJ, inc. Texans have to punt.

Bengals bring the punt back to their 26.

[Arky]

Benson sweeps left for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Pass to Green good for about 6. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Pass to Benson off the mark, inc. Bengals have to punt.

JJ brings the punt back to about the Texan 13.

[Arky]

Pass to AJ good for about 21. Ball at the Bengal 33.

Yates pressured, throws inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Foster TFL'ed -2. 3rd and 12 coming up.

Yates' pass is batted down at the LOS. Texans have to punt.

Bengals bring the punt back to their 25/26.

[Arky]

Benson for about 2 yards. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Oh boy, deep pass goes inc but PI on GQ. Places the ball at the Texan 20. 52 yard penalty.

Benson for about 2.

Pass into the endzone goes inc. Makes it 3rd and 7 coming up.

Screen to Leonard goes all the way to the Texan 2. 1st and goal, Bengals.

Benson punches it in.

Bengals 7, Texans 0

7:34 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

The ensuing kickoff goes out of the endzone. Texans ball at their 20.

-------------------------

Foster for almost 4. 2nd and 6 coming up.

Foster starts right and the reverses to the opposite of the field for 19 yards.

Pass to OD complete and they are going to get the Bengals for hitting a defenseless receiver... Places the ball at the Bengal 20.

Foster up the gut for about 8. 2nd and 2 coming up.

Foster to the 8. 1st and goal.

Foster sweeps left for the TD!

Texans 7, Bengals 7

4:56 left in the 1st qtr.

[Nconroe]

Nice TD run by Foster.

But Foster is lucky to get back two fumbles already. Gotta clean that up.

TJ passes look pretty good now that early jitters gone.

[chuck]

It's a totally different OL with Brisiel playing.

[Arky]

Bengals down the ensuing kickoff in the endzone. Bengals ball at their 20.

-----------------------

Bumbled snap exchange. Dalton falls on it for no gain. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Simpson good for 8. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Scott gets 2 and the 1st down.

Pass to Green good for about 9. 2nd and 1 coming up.

Scott runs for 1.... Measurement coming up..... 1st down. Ball at the Bengal 41.

Flags presnap. Offsides Bengals. Makes it 1st and 15.

Pass to Whalen good for about 4. Makes it 2nd and 11.

Dump to Scott goes for about 8 or 9. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Pass to Green gets 6 and the 1st down. Ball at the Texan 46.

End of the 1st qtr.

[Nconroe]

Like to see one of those sack - fumbles by our defense pretty soon.

[Arky]

Pass to Green good to the Texan 26. 20 yards.

Scott for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Pass is batted down at the LOS by Jamison, inc. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Dalton sacked by Reed! Bengals to try the long FG.

Nugent's 50-yarder is no good.

Score remains:

Texans 7, Bengals 7

12:45 left in the half. Texans ball at their 40.

[chuck]

Like to see one of those sack - fumbles by our defense pretty soon.

Cracker sack. No fumble but with the missed field goal it amounts to the same thing.

[Arky]

Yates pressured but gets back to the LOS. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Foster for 4. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Pass to OD goes inc. Texans have to punt.

Punt goes into the endzone. Bengals ball at their 20.

11:24 left in the half.

[Arky]

Pass to Hawkins gets 7 or 8. 2nd and 2 coming up.

Benson gets 2. Ball at the Bengal 30.

Red flag down. Bengals challenge that they got the first down (Ball was marked just short).

Ruling on the field is confirmed. Still 3rd and 1.

Dalton sneaks for 1 and gets the 1st down.

Pass to Lee goes for big gainer, 36 yards. Flag on the play. Late hit on A Smith, 15 yards. Places the ball at the Texan 18.

Dump to Benson loses about 2. 2nd and 12 coming up.

Pass is almost INT'ed by McCain. Makes it 3rd and 12 coming up.

Shovel pass to Leonard only gets 1. Bengals to go for the FG.

Nugent's 37-yarder is good.

Bengals 10, Texans 7

7:09 left in the half.

[Arky]

Bengals are moving the ball way too easy.....

--------------------

The ensuing kickoff is downed by the Texans in the endzone. Texans ball at their 20.

--------------------

Foster for no gain. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Yates uses a timeout (#1, 2 left).

--------------------

Pass to KW good for 11 and the 1st down.

Oy, deep pass to AJ goes inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Foster squirms for about 6. 3rd and 4 coming up.

Pass to OD good for the 1st down. Bengals throw the red flag and challenge that OD got the ball stripped on the way down. Looks like the Bengal just wrestled the ball away after OD was down....

---------------------

Play stands as called. No more challenges left for the Bengals...

Foster sweeps right for 12. Ball at the Bengal 43.

Foster sweeps right again and only gets 1. 2nd and 9 coming up. 3:30 left in the half.

Pass to OD goes inc. Brings up 3rd and 9.

Pass to AJ good for 17 and a 1st down. Ball at the Bengal 25.

Tate for about 2. Under 3 minutes left in the half.

Dump off to Foster gets not much but flag on the play. Refs rule no foul.

2 minute warning.

[Arky]

Ball at the Bengal 21, 3rd and 6 coming up.

Pass into the endzone to AJ is broken up, inc. Texans to go for the FG.

Rackers 39-yarder is good.

Texans 10, Bengals 10

1:48 left in the half.

[Arky]

Rackers kickoff goes out of the endzone. Bengals ball at their 20.

-----------------------

How about a turnover....

------------------------

Dump off Leonard sniffed out by Cushing -1.

Dalton scrambles for about 15, 1st down.

Ball is INT'ed by Watt at the LOS! Pick 6!

Texans 17, Bengals 10

52 seconds left in the half.

[Nconroe]

Nice of Cincy to burn both of its challenges.

And now, fantastic pick six. Yahoo, yipeea-yi- yeh mr jj watt.

[Arky]

Bengals down the kickoff in the endzone. Bengals ball at their 20. Braman down on the play. Injury timeout.

-----------------------

Leonard for about 1. 2nd and 9 coming up. Less than 30 seconds left.

Leonard gets about 20 on the delay. Timeout Bengals with 7 seconds left. Ball at the Bengal 40.

Dalton sacked by Watt!

Halftime.

Texans 17, Bengals 10

[chuck]

The Texans played a pretty poor half all in all but go to the locker room up seven. I'll take it.

And thanks to Marvin for a couple of downright Kubiakian challenges.

[Nconroe]

Whew, this is exciting, so far so good. JJJ Watts is doing his thing.

[Arky]

Halftime stats:

Passing: 6/13, 79 yds

Rushing: Foster 12/70, Tate 2/7

Receiving: AJ 2/37, OD 2/29, KW 1/11

Tackles: JJo/Cush 5 each, Allen/Ryans/Reed 4 each, Cody 3, Watt/Manning/Barwin 2 each

Time of possession: Texans 12:45, Bengals 17:15

1st downs: Texans 10, Bengals 12

3rd down efficiency: Texans 2/6, Bengals 4/7

Red zone: Texans 1/1, Bengals 1/2

Turnovers: Texans 0, Bengals 1

Total yards: Texans 156, Bengals 156

Penalties: Texans 3/72, Bengals 2/20

[Arky]

Still got a half to play...... Texans, in a perfect world, will extend the lead...

--------------------

Bengals bring the 2nd half kickoff back to their 16.

---------------------

Benson for about 6 or 7. 2nd and 3 coming up.

Benson TFL'ed by A Smith for -2. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Penalty down, presnap. 12 men in the huddle on Bengals. Makes it 3rd and 10.

Dalton uses a timeout (#1 of 3).

---------------------

Dump off to Leonard only gets about 6. Bengals have to punt.

JJ picks up the bounce is downed immediately at the Texan 35. Texans ball.

[Arky]

Foster for about 4 on the right side. 2nd and 6 coming up.

Foster goes left for 12 and a 1st down.

Tate for about 2. Ball at the Bengal 47. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Pass to AJ is behind him, inc. Makes it 3rd and 8 coming up.

Yates is sacked. Texans have to punt.

Bengals fair catch the punt at their 8 yard line. 10:43 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

Scott for no gain. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Dump off to Scott gets about 9. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Scott gets about 3 and the 1st down. Ball at the Bengal 21.

Floater pass to Whalen good for about 20.

Pass to Simpson goes out of bounds, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Scott for about 2. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Dalton is sacked by Smith! Bengals have to punt.

JJ brings the punt back to midfield but flag is down.... Block in the back on Texans places the ball at their 17. 5:45 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Nconroe]

Antonio Smith having a great game too.

To bad block in back wiped out 32 yard kick return by JJ.

[Arky]

Foster for maybe 1. 2nd and 9 coming up.

Screen to Foster goes for 15 and a 1st down.

Tate for maybe 1. 2nd and 9 coming up.

Dump to Foster goes for 12 and a 1st down. Ball at the Texan 45.

Foster for 4 or 5. Ball at midfield. 2nd and 6 coming up.

Oh man, Yates pass nearly INT'ed but dropped. Brings up 3rd and 6 coming up.

Pass to AJ goes for about 9 or 10 and the 1st down. Pacman Jones injured on the play. Injury timeout.

[Arky]

Foster for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Deep pass to AJ good for the TD! 40 yards!

Texans 24, Bengals 10

1:08 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

Rackers kickoff goes out of the endzone. Bengals ball at their 20.

---------------------

Dalton's pass to Simpson is broken up by Allen. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Simpson goes for 16 and a 1st down.

Pass to Gresham goes for 10 and a 1st down.

End of the 3rd qtr.

[Nconroe]

TJ to AJ , what a TD.

One quarter to go, still a lot of football to go.

Let's keep up the defensive pressure.

[Arky]

Dalton sacked by Mitchell! Big loss. Makes it 2nd and 19.

Deep pass too long for a wide open Simpson, inc. 3rd and 19 coming up.

Pass to Gresham goes for 16. Makes it 4th and 3. Bengals to punt. Timeout Texans.....

------------------------

Bengals going for it on 4th down.....

Dalton is pressured and throws it up for grabs. INT'ed by JJo at the Texan 24.

[Nconroe]

Looks like its Arian Foster time. Nice to see these first downs.

[Arky]

Foster for 1. 2nd and 9 coming up.

Short pass to AJ gets 4.

Foster goes right for 6 and the 1st down.

Foster goes left side for 6. 2nd and 4 coming up. About 11 minutes left in the game.

Tate goes left for 7 and a 1st down.

Tate goes for about 4. 2nd and 6 coming up.

Foster for maybe 1. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Pitch to Casey going left gets 1 or 2. Texans have to punt with under 8 minutes left in the game.

Delay of game on Texans -5.

Turk's punt is fielded and the runner is caught at the Bengal 8 yard line. Bengals ball. 7:25 left in the game.

[Arky]

Pass to Gresham goes for 7.

Pass by Dalton is INT'ed by Manning! Texans ball! 7:01 left in the game. Ball at the Bengal 44.

[Arky]

Foster spins for about 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Foster slips for about 2. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Foster sweeps right and runs it in for the TD! 42 yards!

Texans 31, Bengals 10

5:15 left in the game.

[Arky]

Rackers kickoff is downed in the endzone. Bengals ball at their 20.

------------------------

Screen to Leonard gets 10 and a 1st down.

Pass to Simpson good for 9. 2nd and 1 coming up.

Dump to Leonard only gets about 1. Nice tackle Cush but a 1st down.

Draw play to Leonard goes for another 1st down. Under 4 minutes left.

Pass to Gresham gets 9.

Pass to Gresham gets 3. 1st down at the Texans 30.

Dump pass to Scott is dropped. 3:13 left in the game. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Green goes for 5. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Dump off to Scott goes for 11 and the 1st down.

Dalton's pass goes out of the endzone, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up at the Texan 14.

Flags presnap. Offside Texans -5. Makes it 2nd and 5 coming up.

Pass over the middle to Hawkins is broken up by McCain, inc. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Dalton's pass is batted down at the LOS by Mitchell. Makes it 4th and 5. Bengals to go for it.

Dalton uses the last timeout cause the formation is wrong.... 2:28 left in the game.

[Arky]

On 4th and 5, pass is batted down by JJo! Texans takeover on downs. Ball at their 9 yard line.

-------------------------

Tate for about 3. 2nd and 7 coming up.

2 minute warning.

[Arky]

Tate for about 6. 3rd and 1 coming up. Clock is under 1.5 minutes....

Tate rambles for about 7, 1st down.

Texans kneeling it out.

Final score:

Texans 31, Bengals 10

Awesome. :D On to Baltimore.......

[Nconroe]

Wow. Texans win. Looking good all phases, lots of big plays everywhere. No turnovers, few penalties, great game.

Maybe just me, but even Kareem Jackson did ok to day.

[idymoe]

I am so happy for everyone who comes to this board. What a great game. Team effort. Big play after big play. I think next week will be a good, tough game, regardless of the outcome. Enjoy it everyone.

[chuck]

The team played a shaky first half and a great second half. They'll need two great halves to win next week. I know they have it in them.

Time to go to Baltimore and get Omar on them, oh indeed.

[nunusguy]

OK now, anybody still got a problem with extending Kubiaks contract ?

[barrett]

Great game. The defense was asleep for the first 20 minutes. No pressure on Dalton early. But From the sack to knock them back out of FG range on, our front 3 dominated like I've never seen from a 34 DL. No running game for cincy and Watt, Smith, and Mitchell living in the backfield. Not to mention Watt snatching a fastball from 2 yards away. Great day to be a Texans fan.

[Arky]

Early line (http://www.footballlocks.com/nfl_odds.shtml) for Texans vs. Ravens: Ravens by 7.5

[Keith]

Man, could not get any connection with either Sprint or Verizon inside the stadium today.

You know, I thought people were batsh*& when they thought it would be better for the Texans to miss out on that first round bye... especially since it meant losing a home game for the Divisional round. But... that 1st qtr and halfway or so into the 2nd qtr is evidence that this team needed to shake off both some rust and jitters before settling in.

They could get away with it against the Bengals. Not sure they would have been able to against a better team like the Steelers/Ravens/Pats in their first playoff game.

Having Andre back, even at less than 100%, really helped to open things up a little for Arian too. Whole offense just works better when he is on the field.

The lack of pass rush in the first half had me thinking about missing Mario for the first time in awhile.

[WMH]

Wah Freakin Who.

That. Is. All.

Time to pass out. Catch ya'll tomorrow.

Plane tix and hotel to Bmore are booked.

[painekiller]

WOW! What a game. I was at the last the playoff game when Montana basically scared Buddy Ryan into a base defense and a loss. This game today was a lot more fun to watch.

For a safe draft pick, Watts had a huge season and he is going to be a beast for us. What a game he had.

[HPF Bob]

I successfully did not find out anything until I could come home from my prior commitment and watch the game on the DVR. Great game, guys! Didn't feel like it for the first 29 minutes but Watt's pick was clearly the play of the game.

Yates threw some WTF passes that have me a bit worried for next week but we overcame them to win going away. I also was getting worried we were overworking Foster toward the end. I wanted to see Ward those last couple of series.

Houston, you've waited a long long time for this. Stop to enjoy it before worrying about next week. The Ravens saw a team that was still learning how to play the 3-4 and I think we'll be better defensively than we were back then.

[chuck]

Plane tix and hotel to Bmore are booked.

Damn, dude, that is solid. How the hell did you score the tickets?

[WMH]

Damn, dude, that is solid. How the hell did you score the tickets?

Thru that NFL ticket exchange site. We ended up paying about $250 per. Upper deck level, but whatever.

A buddies wife had some free air tix, that's always nice.

Might not turn out great for us, but should still be pretty fun.

[Arky]

Afterthoughts:

1. When it came apparent the Texans would make the playoffs, I don't know how many times I read "one and done" not necessarily here, but at other forums/blogs/messageboards. (Where do all these people with their dirty crystal balls come from?)

2. Looked like Braman reaggravated the stinger injury. Anyone have updates? Besides that, I think the Texans came out pretty healthy.....

3. The Texans with the midseason 7-game winning streak showed up yesterday. After the slow/jittery/OMGweareintheplayoffs start, they played pretty good football.

4. Offense scored 24 pts and the defense (Watt) kicked in 7 more. Nice to see after all the harping from local radio guys about the 18 pts/game avg. since Schaub went down.

5. Baltimore will be a huge challenge. The Texans are 0-5 all time against them. The Ravens are rested up and have playoff experience. If the Texans have a chance, they'll have to get a couple of turnovers and hold Ray Rice in check. In the first meeting, the pressure on Flacco was good but I recall many times, just as he was about to be sacked, he got the ball out for a big gainer. There were 8 QB hits but just two sacks (both by Jamison) in that game - going to need to do a better job in that area. AJ didn't play in that first game so, his presence should help. Interesting that the Ravens -7.5 pt spread is exactly the same as it was back in Week 6...

[nunusguy]

10 AM (PCT) start for the Texans next Sunday in Vegas - wife and I will be cheering them on from our hotels nearest Sports-Bar on the Strip.

[HPF Bob]

Do I dare dream of an AFC Championship Game at Reliant?

[TheMatrix31]

I don't even have the words to describe how incredible yesterday was.

I would have done ANYTHING to be inside Reliant for that.

Onto Baltimore. MUST win time of possession.

[edo783]

10 AM (PCT) start for the Texans next Sunday in Vegas - wife and I will be cheering them on from our hotels nearest Sports-Bar on the Strip.

Go to NY/NY to the ESPN center. They have a semi/private room at the back of the bar area where you have your own private waiter, recliner chairs and monster screens. Pretty cool. I watched a Super Bowl there a few years ago. Get there early and they have a min/hr spend, but it isn't rediculouse, something 20 bucks per person. Pretty easy to meet that number. Just serves drinks and bar food like wings and such.

[chuck]

recliner chairs

Some people sit when they watch the Texans play?

[nunusguy]

Go to NY/NY to the ESPN center. They have a semi/private room at the back of the bar area where you have your own private waiter, recliner chairs and monster screens. Pretty cool. I watched a Super Bowl there a few years ago. Get there early and they have a min/hr spend, but it isn't rediculouse, something 20 bucks per person. Pretty easy to meet that number. Just serves drinks and bar food like wings and such.

Thanks for the info, we might check it out.

[WMH]

Damn, dude, that is solid. How the hell did you score the tickets?

Sadly, our trip has crashed and burned. :(
My buddy turned out not to be master of his domain ;)

Oh well, tickets were flipped back in less than 24 hours, and he is footing the convienence charges.

Bummer.

[chuck]

Sadly, our trip has crashed and burned. :(
My buddy turned out not to be master of his domain ;)

Oh well, tickets were flipped back in less than 24 hours, and he is footing the convienence charges.

Bummer.

Well, that sucks.

[HPF Bob]

My sympathies. I'm not sure I'd be that interested in shivering in a Maryland January day in a hostile crowd anyway. I'm holding out hope we can host the AFC Championship at Reliant. Miracles do happen.

[Keith]

Miracles do happen.Not so subtle Tebow referece implied. :p

On paper, the AFC matchups this weekend seem to really favor the home teams, but crazy stuff has happened in the Divisional round.

For a trip down memory lane, here is the link to the game thread for the Ravens game back in October: http://www.inthebullseye.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1364

[WMH]

For a trip down memory lane, here is the link to the game thread for the Ravens game back in October: http://www.inthebullseye.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1364

It always amuses me to go back and re-read the roller coaster of emotions of being an NFL fan. Good stuff!