Official Texans @ Bengals Game Thread, 11/16/2015

[Arky]

Figured I'd go ahead and start on a thread on this....

The Bengals are 10.5 to 11.5 pt favorites. Just a tad high I'd say but who knows..... Might be a blowout, might be an upset... Depends on which Texans team shows up.....

The Titans upset the Saints at the Superdome yesterday... All of a sudden the upcoming Saints game doesn't look so tough but the 2nd meeting with the Titans does look tougher...

Broncos gave no help falling to the Colts yesterday.....

[HPF Bob]

Bengals and Texans both have extra time to prepare for this one but this definitely smells like a trap game for Cincy. That's about the only way Houston has a chance if the Bengals just aren't taking them seriously.

Would be funny as hell if the Texans decided to start T.J. Yates just to give Cincy flashbacks and mess with them.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Bengals and Texans both have extra time to prepare for this one but this definitely smells like a trap game for Cincy. That's about the only way Houston has a chance if the Bengals just aren't taking them seriously.

Would be funny as hell if the Texans decided to start T.J. Yates just to give Cincy flashbacks and mess with them.

I think JJ Watt is probably giving Dalton flashbacks already. If not for the 2 playoff games we stomped him in, Dalton would be a top 10 QB with about $30 million more in guaranteed money.

I don't think we'll win this game because we are not good at football. But I don't think Cincinnati is 8-0 level good.

[popanot]

Didn't realize this is a MNF game. We are going to get trounced. We always suck on national TV, let alone on the road against a really good team.

[Arky]

The 3-5 Texans travel to Cincinnati to take on the 8-0 Bengals this Monday night in a prime time affair. The Bengals are coming off Thursday night home win over the Browns 31-10 and thus will have extra rest for the contest.

The Texans, coming off their bye week, will have additional rest time and will need it as the they will be big underdogs. Walterfootball came up with this trend regarding undefeated teams, large spreads and prime time:

..............It sort of makes sense that teams laying two-plus touchdowns wouldn't show up, but that's a small sample size and doesn't apply to any squad this week. So, let's try a different approach:

On National TV: 9-3 ATS

Whoa, here we go. Undefeated teams might be lazy when being favored by a ton against poor opponents, but not if they're showcased in a prime-time affair. These teams have gotten up for the national stage, and predictably so. The three exceptions were the 2007 Patriots, who were favored by 23.5 over the Eagles and 20 at Baltimore, but didn't cover either; and the Colts, who battled rival New England in 2009. Every other occurrence covered, which bodes well for the Bengals on Monday night.

So, doesn't look good for the Texans to cover the spread much less win the game..... :/

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TV = ESPN, 7:30 pm, Monday, October 16

Announcers = Mike Turico, John Gruden

The line = Bengals by 10 to 12

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Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

CBS (early) = Miami @ Philadelphia -- Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon

CBS (late) = Kansas City @ Denver -- Greg Gumbel, Trent Green

FOX (early) = Dallas @ Tampa Bay -- Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch

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Other prime time:

TNF = Buffalo @ New York Jets (NFLN)

SNF = Arizona @ Seattle (NBC)

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Teams on bye: Atlanta, Indianapolis, San Diego, San Francisco

[Arky]

I think no one is going with the Texans to win straight up tonight.... The ESPN "experts" and everyone else are all onboard the Bengal bandwagon.... Yesterday, the Lions vs. GB were in similar position - underdog, big spread, etc... Jason LaCanfora actually picked the Lions to pull off the upset and got it right. I don't think anyone saw that coming....Would probably be asking the football gods too much for a "one mo' time"....

Against the spread, there are a few who like the Texans - Prediction Machine thinks the Bengals will win by 9. Also, some betting site that has a weekly interview on Sportsradio610 likes the Texans to cover....

In this video, one guy is leaning Texans, the other guy is leaning Bengals (ATS).

And in this video, the "sharp" likes the Texans to cover the spread.....

[WMH]

Originally Posted by Arky

I think no one is going with the Texans to win straight up tonight.... The ESPN "experts" and everyone else are all onboard the Bengal bandwagon.... Yesterday, the Lions vs. GB were in similar position - underdog, big spread, etc... Jason LaCanfora actually picked the Lions to pull off the upset and got it right. I don't think anyone saw that coming....Would probably be asking the football gods too much for a "one mo' time"....

Against the spread, there are a few who like the Texans - Prediction Machine thinks the Bengals will win by 9. Also, some betting site that has a weekly interview on Sportsradio610 likes the Texans to cover....

In this video, one guy is leaning Texans, the other guy is leaning Bengals (ATS).

And in this video, the "sharp" likes the Texans to cover the spread.....

My glass is usually half full, so I'll go with the any given Sunday mantra until kick off. My hope is that the game is entertaining enough for me to want to stay up and watch the 4th quarter.........

Sad place to be, but that's about where I'm at this year.

[Arky]

Texans win the toss and defer. Bengals to receive.

Bengals bring the kickoff back to their 21.

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Bengals ball at their 21.

Hill for a couple, flag down..... holding on Bengals, -10. Makes it 1st and 20 coming up.

Pass to Jones gets about 16.

Pass to Green gets 6 or 7 and the 1st down.

Pass to Green in the flat gets 5. 2nd and 5 coming up.

Flags presnap..... Offsides Bengals, -5. Makes it 2nd and 10 coming up.

Hill for 5 or 6. 3rd and 5 coming up.

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

Mumph brings the punt back to the Texan 22.

[Arky]

Texans ball at their 22.

Pass to Hop is caught out of bounds, inc. Hop gets called for PI.....Makes it 1st and 20.

Blue for 4 yards. 2nd and 16 coming up.

Pass to Griffin is dropped, inc. 3rd and 16 coming up.

Handoff to Grimes gets 9. Texans have to punt.

Bengals return the punt to about their 24.

[Big Texas]

Wait to start off the first possession with a drop and offensive pass interference.

[Big Texas]

Defense is playing there asses off...offense needs to step it up.

[Arky]

Bengals ball at their 24.

Eeesh, deep ball to Jones draws the PI on KJo. 29 yards on the penalty.

Dalton scrambles for 7.

Hill caught for a loss of 1.

Flags presnap. False start Bengals, -5. Makes it 3rd and 9 coming up at the Texans 46.

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

Mumph fair catches at the Texan 17.

[Big Texas]

Offense still sucks...they should just stop running...or pass to set up the run

[Arky]

Texans ball at their 17.

8:30 left in the 1st qtr.

Blue for 4.

Blue caught for a loss of 2. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Hoyer sacked at the 10 yard line. Texans will have to punt.

Jones brings the punt back all the way to the Texan 30 or so but a flag is down.....Offsetting penalties... replay the down....

Jones brings the punt back to about the Bengal 48.

[HPF Bob]

Four penalties already, one dropped pass, one sack.

Same old Texans.

[Arky]

Bengals ball at their 49.

Bernard for 3.

Pass to Green gets 20. Ball at the Texan 28.

Pass to Eifert gets 14.

End around sniffed out by Mercilus. Loss of 8. 2nd and 18 coming up.

Flat pass to Bernard only gets 1. 3rd and 17 coming up.

Bengals use a timeout with 2:31 left in the 1st qtr.

Screen pass only gets about 6..... Bengals will go for the FG.

Nugent's 32-yarder is good but flag is down.... holding on Bengals backs it up 10 yards. Rekick.

Nugent's 42-yarder is good.

Bengals 3, Texans 0

1:28 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

The ensuing kickoff is brought back to the Texan 22.

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Texan's ball at their 22.

Checkdown to Blue gets 9.

Pass to Shorts kinda low but shoulda been caught, inc. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Blue gets about 3 and the 1st down.

Pass to Hop over the middle broken up, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Shorts gets 1. Hard hit on Shorts. 3rd and 9 coming up.

End of the 1st qtr.

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On 3rd and 9, pass to Washington goes to the Bengal 45, 1st down.

Pass to Fido goes to the Bengal 21. Adam Jones shaken up on the play. Injury timeout.

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Hoyer scrambles all the way to the 5. 1st and goal.

Blue to the 1. 2nd and goal.

Blue caught for a loss of 3. 3rd and goal.

Pass to Hop in the endzone a little off the mark, inc. Texans to go for the FG.

Novak's 22-yarder is good.

Texans 3, Bengals 3

12:16 left in the half.

[Arky]

The ensuing kickoff is brought back to the Bengal 18.

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Bengal's ball at their 18.

Dalton keeps for 11 yards right up the gut.

Dalton caught for loss of 2 (sack?)... 2nd and 11 coming up.

Dalton tries to scramble up the gut again but Dunn snags him... 3rd and 9 coming up.

Pass to Green inc but flag is down.... Holding on KJo.... auto 1st down at the Bengal 35.

Hill caught in the backfield by Charles James... loss of 3.

Pass to Jones gets 13 and the 1st down.

Deep pass to Jones sails out of bounds, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Screen to Hewitt gets about 7. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Bernard goes right for 5 and the 1st down at the Texan 41.

Oy, pass is popped up in the air and nearly INT'ed by C James but falls inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Bengals use a timeout with 7:35 left in the half.

On 2nd and 10, deep pass to Burkhead is too long, inc. Brings up 3rd and 10.

Checkdown to Bernard goes for the 1st down at the Texan 27.

Bernard for 6.

Bernard for no gain. Brings up 3rd and 4.

Pass to Eifert broken up by Pleasant, inc. Bengals to go for the FG.

Nugent's 39-yarder is good.

Bengals 6, Texans 3

5:26 left in the half.

[Arky]

The ensuing kickoff is brought back to the 27 by Mumph.

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Texan's ball at their 27.

Polk for 1.

Pass to Griffin gets 7. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Pass to Washington broken up, inc. Texans will have to punt.

Bengals bring the punt back to the 25 yard line.

[Arky]

Bengals ball at their 25.

3:48 left in the half. A turnover would be kinda nice right along here......

Hill goes left for 1.

Checkdown to Hill gets 3. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Checkdown to Bernard gets 8 and the 1st down. Ball at the Bengal 38.

Flags presnap.... 12 men on the Texans makes it 1st and 5.

2 minute warning.

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Ball at the Bengal 43.

Dalton can't find a receiver and scrambles to the Texan 46 for a 1st down.

Finally, holding on Bengals, -10. Makes it 1st and 20.

Bernard for about 4 on the delay.

Deep pass to Jones sails inc. 3rd and 16 coming up.

Dalton pressured, throws it away, inc. Bengals will have to punt with 41seconds left in the half.

Punt goes out of bounds at the Texans 29.