Official Texans vs. Bengals Wild Card Game Thread, 1/5/2013
 

So game is announced at 430 , eastern time, Saturday.

Hope team gets its act together after a couple disappointing outings.

12-4 is good but ...

Well, it's a new season.

I hate the path we now have more than anything else.

If we win against Cincinnati, we have to go to New England. That game would be an ass-beating.

Playing Denver would be an ass beating too. Hell, the way these guys are wimpering out, Cinci might be an ass beating.

I think we would have a much better shot against Denver than New England.

Putting this in here because it is playoff related.....

From Walterfootball.com:

A couple of things.....The slippery Falcons ended up only playing two playoff teams during the regular season . Texans and Vikings had to play a whopping 7 playoff teams.... Seattle was the betting champ..... Texans went 9-0 against non-playoff teams....

Lost Sharpton again. Signed Mister Alexander to take his spot and I would bet he is active this week.
Definitely need depth for next year.

Sounds as if the Law Firm is iffy for this game. Strained hammy prior to last weeks game. Has been pretty serviceable for them, and would sting a bit if he can't go.

I'm OK with that. ;)

Edit: Whelp, scratch that. He's back at practice today.

Amazingly, as of 2:30 this afternoon, over 6,000 playoff tickets are available via StubHub, with a low price of $86.00 for some singles.

For a playoff game.......

Is the Houston fanbase spoiled amongst our riches of a single playoff appearance in our brief history that they want to bail on Act II?

Would think some are pissed, some are opportunistic, and some are brokers, but geez.... 6,000+?

Being 1 of 12 with a seat at the big boys table doesn't account for much these days.

Since I can't seem to get into work mode, I looked up the others as well:
Seattle @ Wash has 9,800 tix available
Indy @ Bmore has 5,100 tix available
MN @ GB has 3,800 tix available.

Been saying for a little bit that it seems like Texans fans are incredibly spoiled for no reason. Look at how they've treated Schaub in recent weeks, as if we have a QB situation as bad as Arizona's or something. Ridiculous.

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

Announcers = Tom Hammond, Mike Mayock, sideline - Alex Flanagan

The line = Texans by 4.5

Texans are 0-0, not 12-4. Time for some win or go home.....

Saturday evening game of Vikes vs. Packers should be a good'un, too...

Third weekend in a row the Texans are favored ? What could that mean if anything, third time charm or a jinx ?
I'm wondering if the Chuckster has peered into his crystal-ball for the outcome of this game, or maybe that's something that works best for him post-game ? Hopefully he won't be too reticent with his forecast ? Personally I don't have a clue or a feel what the Texans are gonna do Saturday, but I'm bracing myself for the worst.

Less than 24 hours later, 3100 tix remain. Pretty interesting stuff. Folks making a quick buck I suppose. According to the main site, face value tix thru ticketmaster sold out in 15 minutes.

I'm guessing most fans thought that the Texans wouldn't be playing this weekend and made other plans. Selling an event one week's notice isn't as easy as it sounds. Even if fans had anticipated this, they wouldn't have known whether to set aside Saturday or Sunday, afternoon or evening until Dec. 30th.

And, yes, Houston fans have always been fickle. They've had their hearts crushed a few times before.

A few times? Are you kidding me? Try over and over for 50+ years I have been getting my heart crushed by Houston sports teams.

Apparently today is the 20 year anniversary of the collapse in buffalo

From PFT:
Crocker doubtful, Green-Ellis probable for Saturday

Chris Crocker missed practice all week and he’s been listed as doubtful for the Wild Card game against the Texans thanks to a quadriceps injury. That likely means Nate Clements or Taylor Mays will move into the starting lineup as Crocker sits out the playoff rematch with the Texans.

OUCH..... :(

Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) tweeted:
The #Texans have placed ILB Tim Dobbins on the Reserve/Injured list with an ankle injury

Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) tweeted:
The #Texans have signed rookie ILB Cameron Collins from the practice squad to the active roster

Nice to see these 2 should be a go.
Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) tweeted:
#Texans listed guard Antoine Caldwell as doubtful for tomorrow's game. All others probable including Alan Ball and Brooks Reed.

I don't know what to say, but being in playoffs is great.

Go Texans!!

I'm glad you agree. Geez. I feel like I'm one of the few that's pumped about it. 20 other teams/cities would love to be in our spot right now.

I hope we can bitch about a 12-4 season and a playoff berth every year.

Leggo!

Yep!

"Can't wait!"

/Bart Scott

Let's see if Schaub can beat Yates' numbers from last year...

Late money coming in on mostly the Bengals. Not enough, IMO, to turn on alarm bells but concerning, nonetheless..... Spread is now down to mostly Texans by 4. I think the general consensus for this game is that it is going to be close - like decided by a FG or less close.....

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

Colin Cowherd of ESPN Radio has been nothing short of astonishing this year picking against the spread. He's been hitting at a 70% clip (which is tough to do picking straight up) and gamblers have been tailing him for weeks. Every week he comes out with "The Blazin' Five" - his top 5 picks for the week and this week he's picking Cincinnati to cover the spread but the Texans winning 20-19...

Colin's Blazin' Five

Audio of this weeks picks

Today is the day! I know it's been disappointing lately but all that crap goes out the window now.

Get out there and do what we do. Don't make mistakes. Those will hurt the most. Be disciplined, take care of the ball, etc.

Let's get out there and set the tone early. We play best with the lead, so let's get a lead.

Go Texans!

...and do not put Brandon Harris near AJ Green in any coverage scheme.

Yeah that too. Don't let him anywhere near anything.

Texans in all blue today.....

Kickoff in a few....

Texans win the toss and will receive.

Manning brings the kickoff back to about the 16. Texans ball.

Schaub rolls out and can't find a receiver but scrambles for 1.

Dumpoff to Foster loses 4. 3rd and 13 coming up.

Pass to OD gets 8. Texans have to punt.

Bengals get the punt back to their 37 or 38 yard line. Bengals ball.

Green-Ellis for 2.

Pass to Gresham is dropped. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Pass to Gresham goes inc/broken up. Bengals have to punt.

Martin brings the punt back to the Texan 10. Flag down.....Illegal block on the back on Texans, half the distance. Texans ball at their 5.

Foster for 2.

Pass to OD gets 17.

Foster sweeps left for about 15.

Foster for 4. Ball at the Texan 46.

End around to Martin goes for nice gainer, 16 yards.

Short pass to Foster goes for 8. 2nd and 2 coming up.

Tate for no gain. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Pass to OD, can't hang on, inc. Texans to go for the FG.

Graham's 48-yarder is good.

Texans 3, Bengal 0

7:49 left in the 1st quarter.

That was a nice drive till Owen didn't hang on, nice 48 yd FG.

Bengals bring the ensuing kickoff back to their 16. Bengals ball.

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

Green-Ellis gets loose for 29. Ball at the Bengals 45.

Dalton pressured, scrambles for 3.

Dumpoff pass is sniffed out by Barwin for loss of 6. 3rd and 13 coming up.

Dalton is sacked by Watt! Bengals have to punt.

Martin returns the punt to the Texan 31. Texans ball with 5:51 left in the 1st quarter.

Nice to see defense getting sacks and tackles for loss.

Keep up the offensive pressure. We need seven here.

Pass to OD gets 6.

Foster slips for 1. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Pass to KW gets 3 and the 1st down.

Pass to AJ gets 19.

Foster for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Pass to OD goes inc but draws the flag, PI on Bengals. Ball at the Bengal 27, auto first down.

Foster for 5.

Foster rumbles for almost 5, brings up 3rd and 1. 58 seconds left in the 1st quarter.

Schaub sneaks for the 1 and a 1st down. Ball at the Bengals 16.

End of the 1st quarter.

End of the first. I like our energy. We seem to want it.

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

Pass to Graham just gets 2. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Pass to KW just gets 5. Texans to go for the FG.

Graham's 27-yarder is good.

Texans 6, Bengals 0

13:07 left in the half.

All these fgs are going to come back an bite them in their a**.:mad:

ok, but we need some TD's.

What an absolutely disgusting lack of any sort of spine in the red zone. The Patriots must be laughing their asses off.