The upcoming Bengals game, 12/11/2011

[Arky]

The 9-3 Texans travel to Cincinnati this Sunday to take on the Bengals (7- 5) in a CBS early game. The Texans are coming off a 17-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons at home and look to extend their team record 6-game win streak. Rookie backup QB TJ Yates will make his second NFL start and look to keep it going without the services of veteran WR Andre Johnson who injured another hamstring in the win against Atlanta.

The Bengals are led by rookie QB Andy Dalton (209.5 yds/game, 17 TD, 12 INT, 81.6 rating). Dalton likes to toss the ball to wide receivers AJ Green (50/832), Jerome Simpson (36/577), Andre Caldwell (35/307) and tight end Jermaine Gresham (40/407). Running back Cedric Benson (792, 3.9 ypc) makes up the bulk of the Cincinnati running game. Statistically, the Bengal defense is top 10 in many categories though Football Outsiders ranks them more as middle of the pack (16th). This is probably related to the fact that the Bengals seem to struggle against the really good teams (49'ers, Ravens, Steelers) and get by against the weaker teams (Cleveland, Indy, Jacksonville). Their most significant wins to date are a 24-22 victory over the Orton-led Denver Broncos in Week 2, handing the Bills their first loss 23-20 in Week 4 and a 24-17 victory over the Titans in Tennessee. With the exception of last week's blowout loss to Pittsburgh 35-7 in Pittsburgh, the Bengals other four losses were decided by less than 7 points.

TV = CBS (channel 11 local), 12 noon CST

Announcers = Marv Albert, Rich Gannon

Favorite = Bengals by 1.5 to 3

[HPF Bob]

If the Bengals noticed how often the Falcons found Tony Gonzalez open, I'd expect we'll see a lot of Gresham. I think the Texans will try to give the Bengals a steady dose of Foster and Tate, particularly with their FB healthy again. Weather could be a factor, since it is Cincinnati in December.

I expect it to be a close game and the toughest test we have left on the schedule. 3-point game in either direction.

[WMH]

Amazing to me they can't sell this game out. Sad state of affairs in Cincy. Team is fighting for a playoff spot, and a team that will likely be a playoff team coming in, and you can't sell out?

I know what the numbers say, but I just don't see this game being that close. Cincy has 1 win over teams with a winning record. One. That was against the Titans by 7.

While Dalton has been impressive for a rook, he has struggled against decent D's. Not worried too much about Benson, we have faced better backs this year, and came out OK.

We should be able to move the ball on this D, even without AJ. Hell, they've given up 20 or so points to the likes of the Hags and Browns (twice).

Could be that my Battle Red Kool-Aid Glasses have become a permanent fixture, but I say.......Why not?

[barrett]

The afc north is hugely overrated. They all play the afc south and NFC west so right there they get 5 easy wins, 1 winnable game, and two tough ones. On top of that, cincy took last place last year so they filled out there schedule with last place teams.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Weather could be a factor, since it is Cincinnati in December.

Since we are primarily a running team, maybe that would potentially be a more negative effect on Cinci especially since I hear they've got a Texas boy @ QB ?

[NBT]

Katy, Texas to be exact.

[WMH]

Great news:
@NickScurfield: FB Lawrence Vickers practiced today and should be good this wk. Kubiak called his return "huge" for the running game #Texans

[chuck]

Originally Posted by WMH

Great news:
@NickScurfield: FB Lawrence Vickers practiced today and should be good this wk. Kubiak called his return "huge" for the running game #Texans

I watched Casey pretty carefully last Sunday and for every decent block he made at FB he whiffed on two or three. I remember one play in particular that should have gone for ten yards but Casey ole'd his man and Arian got stuffed in the hole for no gain.

Sunday's weather is expected to be clear and (for Houston) cold, temperatures in the 30s. As long as there's little wind weather will not be a factor.

[edo783]

Originally Posted by chuck

I watched Casey pretty carefully last Sunday and for every decent block he made at FB he whiffed on two or three..

Yup, Casey has blown hot & clod since coming back. I suspect the pec is more of a problem than the Texans are saying (Nooo, they wouldn't hold back, would they?). However, he did knock the snot out of Dumbta on one play. In fact, knocked his helmet right off. Loved it. I will give Dumbta some props though for getting to AJ first when he went down and calling over to the bench for help. IIRC, they are pretty close.

[Nconroe]

Should also thank Dunta for the holding penalty on pick 6 that came back and started our 19 play TD drive. And he seemed to be friends with a lot of our players after the game which is always nice to see.

For the upcoming game, seems both sides have quite a few injuries this year.

[cadams]

i think dunta was not the only falcon at fault on that play. if i remember correctly there were two defensive penalties on that play. they had to decline one and accept one, dunta drew the short straw on that one.

[WMH]

Not surprising, but Kubiak made it official:
@NickScurfield: Andre Johnson (hamstring) will not play this week, Gary Kubiak just said #Texans

Also, and a little bit concerning due to his skills in run blocking:
From the Chronic - http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans...ainst-bengals/
Also, receiver Kevin Walter missed practice because he is ill. He is expected to play Sunday.

[barrett]

If by drawing a short straw you mean he pulled a WRs jersey off because he was beaten so badly, then I agree. He drew the short straw.

[NBT]

I'm more worried about this game coming up with Cinci than last week, because this game T.J. Yates will have to play an entire game with hostile crowd noise. Their defense against the run ain't too shabby, and so we will probably have to go to the pass to loosen 'em up a little.

[WMH]

Originally Posted by NBT

I'm more worried about this game coming up with Cinci than last week, because this game T.J. Yates will have to play an entire game with hostile crowd noise. Their defense against the run ain't too shabby, and so we will probably have to go to the pass to loosen 'em up a little.

A crowd estimated @ 49,000 can't make that much noise. Its not like he hasn't played in a hostile environment, he played in a major program and college atmospheres are WAY rowdier than the NFL.

[WMH]

@Bengals: #Bengals inactives: DE C. Dunlap, LB D. Moch, WR R. Whalen, G C. Boling, T A. Smith, RB B. Leonard, S R. Sands

@HoustonTexans: Texans inactives: QB Garcia, CB Harris, G Austin, T Gardner, WR A. Johnson, TE Graham, DE Bulman #GoTexans

[Nconroe]

Cncy has some good players, at home, fighting to stay in plaoffs, cold weather so could be a tough battle.
They do have injuries on OL and DL .