Official Texans vs. Bengals Game Thread, 12/24/2016
 

Week 16 finds the 5-8-1 Cincinnati Bengals coming to NRG for the rare Saturday Night game on CBS/NFLN. The Bengals are coming off a home loss to the Steelers 24-20. Bengal QB Andy Dalton is having a decent enough year throwing for 3712 yards, hitting at a 64.4% completion rate with 16 TDs and 7 INTs and a 91.9 rating. The main rusher for the Bengals is Jeremy Hill (831 yds, 3.9 avg). RB Giovani Bernard tore his ACL in the Buffalo game is on IR. Dalton's favorite targets in the passing game are AJ Green (964 yds, 14.6 avg), Brandon LaFell (665 yds, 13.0 avg), Tyler Boyd (539 yds, 10.8 avg) and Tyler Eifert (394 yds, 13.6 avg). On the other side of the ball, the Bengal defense is currently rated 21st giving up 359.1 yds/gm and 11th giving up 20.9 pts/gm. The Bengal's giveaway/takeaway is currently at +2 (Texans at -8).

The Texans are coming off a 21-20 home win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. This game could or could not have playoff implications for them - it depends on how the Titans do earlier in the day....

These two teams met last year on MNF with the Texans pulling out the 10-6 road win.

Bengals are 4-10 ATS (against the spread). Texans are 6-7-1 ATS.

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TV = NFLN/CBS, 7:25 pm, Saturday, Dec 24

Announcers = Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon

The line = Texans by 1½ to pickem

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Saturday viewing in the Houston area:

CBS (early) = Tennessee @ Jacksonville, Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein, Steve Tasker

FOX (early) = Minnesota @ Green Bay, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman

FOX (late) = Arizona @ Seattle, Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch

NFLN Sunday late afternoon = Baltimore @ Pittsburgh, Mike Tirico, Doug Flutie

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Other prime time:

TNF = NY Giants @ Philadelphia (NBC; NFLN), Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth

SNF = Denver @ Kansas City (NBC)

MNF = Detroit @ Dallas (ESPN)

Video - Teddy Covers breaks down Cincy vs. Houston - 3:05 TRT. His conclusion: Bengals are coming to play....

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Deandre Hopkins still has a shot at 1,000 receiving yards this year. He's currently at 788 yds so he'll probably need a couple of 100+ games to finish the year.....

I'm sure one of the things Marvin Lewis fears most is another game versus a Texans backup quarterback...:eek:

Let L Miller rest - time for Blue and Hunt to step up.

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Vontaze Burfict, Tyler Eifert, Clint Boling won't play for Bengals but WR AJ Green (hamstring) will play.

While you're waiting, enjoy a little look into not very long ago...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ft9tf-5XiQ&t=5767s

Remember two years ago when we beat the Ravens with Case Keenum and a heavy dose of the Wildcat? I could see something similar. We even have Braxton Miller, if healthy, for a few trick plays. Wasn't Jonathan Grimes our wildcat back with Foster doing some of the work?

I think you let Dan Savage play like an NFL quarterback and save the wildcat and all that other cute bullshit for another day.

Let's go out and dickstomp these clowns and win the division playing like a real team, not some zany six-man outfit from West Muleshoe.

Titans lost today, so if we beat Cincy tonight we win the division again.

If Savage as good as last week, a normal offense game plan should do well.

Texans win the toss and defer. Bengals to receive.

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Bengals bring the kickoff back to their 41. Bengal's ball.

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Hill for 2.

Hill loses 3. 3rd and 11 coming up.

Dalton pressured, throws it away, inc. Bengals will have to punt.

Ervin fair catches the punt at the Texan 24. Texan's ball.

13:15 left in the 1st qtr.

Blue for 3.

Pass to Fuller gets 6. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Prosch goes for 3 or 4 and the 1st down.

Savage can't find a receiver and throws it away, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Blue for 3. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Savage gets sacked. Texans will have to punt.

Lechler's punt is brought back to the Bengal 16. Bengal's ball.

10:01 left in the 1st qtr.

Pass to LaFell good for 9.

Hill for about 4 and the 1st down.

Pass to Core goes for loss of 1.... 2nd and 11 coming up.

Pass to Hewitt gets 8. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Pass to Core is broken up by Bouye, inc. Bengals will have to punt.

Ervin brings the punt back to the Texan 22. Texan's ball with 7:16 left in the 1st qtr.

Savage sacked. Loss of 7.

Savage sacked, again.....flag down....holding on the Texans is declined. Brings up 3rd and 23.

Delay to Hunt picks up 6. Texans will have to punt.

Bengals bring the punt back to their 43. Bengal's ball with 5:19 left in the 1st qtr.

Might be a good idea to 1)block someone, 2)roll out once in awhile, or 3)try a combination of both 1 and 2.

Burkhead carries for 2.

Screen to Core gets 7. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Burkhead for 2 and the 1st down.

Pass to Core is broken up by Bouye, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Dalton pressured, throws complete to Core for 2 yards. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Pass to Boyd over his head, inc. Bengals will have to punt.

Ervin fair catches at the Texan 13. Texan's ball with 2:33 left in the 1st qtr.

Blue for 1.

Blue for 6. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Pass to Fuller broken up, inc. Texans to punt.

Punt is fair caught at the Bengal 28. Bengal's ball with 1:05 left in the 1st qtr.

Hill for 2.

Hill loses 2. 3rd and 10 coming up.

End of the 1st qtr.

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On 3rd and 10, pass to Core gets 6. Bengals will have to punt.

Ervin fair catches at the Texan 18. Texan's ball with 14:13 left in the half.

Blue for 3.

Blue for about 3 more. 3rd and 4 coming up.

Oy, pass to Fido is dropped, inc. Texans will have to punt.

Punt is fielded and tackled immediately at the Bengal 28.

12:40 left in the half.

Dalton's pass off the mark, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Core gets 9. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Deep pass to Core broken up by Bouye, inc. Bengals will have to punt.

Punt is fielded and run out of bounds at the Texan 17. Texan's ball with 11:39 left in the half.

This has all the makings of a typical prime time Texans game...

Blue for no gain.

Draw to Blue gets 5. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Pass to Fuller behind him, inc. Texans will have to punt.

Punt is brought back to the 23 of the Bengals. Bengal's ball with 10:04 left in the half.

Pass to Burkhead gets 11.

Burkhead carries for 8. 2nd and 2 coming up.

Burkhead caught behind the line for a loss of 1. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Dalton sacked by Clowney! Loss of 10! Bengals will have to punt.

Ervin brings the punt back to the Texan 29. Texan's ball with 7:42 left in the half.

The OL is sucking tonight but the play calling hasn't been much better. My gosh.

Pass to Fido gets 7.

Blue for 3, 1st down.

Blue for 2 or 3.

Blue caught for a loss of 4. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Dhop is off the mark, inc. Texans to punt.

Bengals bring the punt back to their 19 but a flag is down.....block in the back on the Bengals = ½ the distance = ball placed at the Bengal 8. Bengal's ball.

We might as well tell them what we are gonna run...there's protecting your QB and there's telegraphing your plays...this game is on BOB

Burkhead for 2.

Pass to Core gets 7. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Short pass to LaFell gets the 1st down at the Bengal 21.

Burkhead for almost 4.

Pass to Erickson gets 5. 3rd and 1 coming up.

2 minute warning.

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On 3rd and 1, Hill gets the 1 and a 1st down.

Flags presnap. Delay of game on the Bengals but they had called timeout.

Pass to Uzomah goes inc.

On 2nd and 10, pass to Boyd goes for nice gainer, 21 yards.

Dalton pressured, throws it away, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Core gets 6. 34 seconds left in the half. Ball at the Texan 42.

On 3rd and 4, pass to Uzomah gets 6 and the 1st down.

Pass to LaFell goes for 11. Ball at the Texan 25.

Dalton's pass sails out of bounds, inc. Bengals will go for the FG with 5 seconds left in the half.

Bullock's 43-yarder is good.

Bengals 3, Texans 0

Halftime.

I think BOB doesn't like Savage...this may be a sabotage attempt...LOL

Total yards: Texans 34, Bengals 122

1st downs: Texans 2, Bengals 8

Passing yards: Texans -5, Bengals 101

Rushing yards: Texans 39, Bengals 21

Time of possession: Texans 12:18, Bengals 17:42

My over 42 ain't lookin' so hot right now....

2nd half kickoff is a touchback. Texan's ball at their 25.

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Pass to Fido gets about 12 but flag is down..... illegal contact on the Bengals is declined.

Pass to Fuller in Bengal territory good for 24.

Dumpoff to Blue gets 6.

Blue goes right side for no gain. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Pass to Fido goes for 12 and the 1st down. Ball at the Bengal 29.

Deep pass to Hop in the end zone goes inc. Flag on Dhop for PI, -10. Makes it 1st and 20.

Dump to Grimes gets 8. 2nd and 12 coming up. Flag down.....illegal contact on the Bengals, 5 yards and an auto 1st down.

Savage pressured, throws it away but flag on the Bengals for facemask, 15 yards, 1st down. Ball at the Bengal 19.

Blue goes for about 6.

Dump off to Blue goes to the 8 yard line, 1st down and goal.

Oy, Savage pressured, throws inc in the end zone to Griffin. 2nd and goal coming up.

Blue for about 2. 3rd and goal from the 6 coming up.

Flags presnap. False start, Texans, -5. Places the ball at the 11.

Screen to Hunt just gets 4. Texans will go for the FG.

Novak's 25-yarder is good.

Texans 3, Bengals 3

9:05 left in the 3rd qtr.

Bengals bring the ensuing kickoff back to their 30. Bengal's ball.

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Pass to LaFell gets 4.

Hill goes for 4. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Pass to Boyd gets 4 and the 1st down. A Texan (Bouye) injured on the play....

Dalton sacked by Mercilus! Loss of 8. 2nd and 18 coming up.

Screen to Burkhead goes for 4. 3rd and 14 coming up.

Dalton uses a timeout (#1).

On 3rd and 14, screen to Burkhead only gets 1. Bengals will have to punt.

Ervin returns the punt to the Texan 24. Texan's ball with 5:47 left in the 3rd qtr.

I'm actually fine with where we are at this point in the game. I feel like we'll score a couple of touchdowns in the fourth quarter and maybe get a turnover. I think we're OK.

Pass to Fido broken up, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Dumpoff to Blue goes inc. but roughing the passer on the Bengals is good for 15. Ball at the Texan 39.

Blue powers for 6.

Flat pass to Mumph gets 2. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Pass to Fuller too tall, inc but flag comes in on the Bengals for PI. 5 yards and an auto 1st down.

Flat pass to Hop goes for 15. Ball at the Bengal 30 but flag is down....PI on Hop makes it 1st and 20 at the Texan 45.

Pass over the middle to Hop gets 6. 2nd and 14 coming up.

Dump to Blue gets 4. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass towards Hop draws the PI.....Auto 1st down at the Bengal 36.

Savage can't find a receiver and gets sacked for loss of 3.

Pass to Fido gets 9. 3rd and 4 coming up.

End of the 3rd qtr.

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On 3rd and 4 at the Bengal 30, screen to Hunt goes for 24! 1st and goal at the 6 yard line!

Savage can't find a receiver and chunks it away, inc. 2nd and goal coming up.

Blue for 1. 3rd and goal at the 5 coming up.

Pass to Hop in the corner of the end zone, too tall, inc. Texans to go for the FG.

Novak's 22-yarder is good.

Texans 6, Bengals 3

13:31 left in the game.

Or maybe I'm wrong. BOB and Godsey are idiots the way they are using Hopkins. But we already knew that.

The ensuing kickoff is brought back to about the Bengal 20. Bengal's ball.

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Slant to LaFell goes for 15.

Dalton's pass is tipped and INT'ed by Demps! Texans ball at the Bengal 40!

Take a shot...........

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Blue for no gain.

Oh my, pass to Hop is dropped, inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Griffin over the middle is broken up, inc. Texans will punt.

Bengals fair catch at their 8 yard line. Bengal's ball with 11:40 left in the game.

Beavis and Buttface are the two worst play callers I have ever seen. Christ, these guys are too stupid to work at Walgreens.

Aight, let's do it the hard way....

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Ball marked at the 9 yard line.

Burkhead for 5.

Pass to LaFell in the flat goes inc. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Slant to LaFell goes all the way for the TD. Offsides Texans is declined. 86 yards.

Bengals 10, Texans 6

10:45 left in the game.

The ensuing kickoff is a touchback. Texan's ball at their 25.

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Pass to Fuller gets 19.

Savage scrambles for 11. Ball at the Bengal 45.

Pass to Hop goes to the Bengal 24, 1st down.

Blue runs it in for the TD! 24 yards!

Extra point is blocked. Ouch.

Texans 12, Bengals 10

8:41 left in the game.

Nice work, Izzo.

I mean, seriously, just kick the motherfking extra point. Quit lining up on the hashmark, quit dicking around, just fking kick it. Christ. You see the Patriots doing this sort of bullshit?

Man, it would really suck to have to decide the AFCS next week....

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Bengals bring the ensuing kickoff back to their 29. Bengal's ball.

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Burkhead for 3.

Dalton is sacked! Loss of 6. 3rd and 13 coming up.

Pass towards LaFell (?) is inc. Bengals will have to punt.

Ervin fair catches the punt at the Texan 20. Texan's ball with 7 minutes left in the game.