Wild Card Weekend: Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans

[PatsFaninAZ]

"if we can't beat Houston we are not good enough to go to the Super Bowl"....OK, this brilliance has shown me that I need to eschew this thread the rest of the game.

I think you missed my point.

It's a response to those suggesting Balt or Indy would be a better matchup than Houston. I don't agree, but even accepting the argument, the point was that there are two things going on here. One is our opponent, the other is the Bronco's opponent.

Even if one thinks Baltimore is not as good as Houston, we still would prefer to play Houston because Baltimore is definitely better than Cinci, and we care about the Bronco's opponent too. That was the context.

 

[Rob0729]

Looking at everything, I think I am going for the Texans to win this and Ravens to win the next- sending the Ravens to Denver and Texans to us. Looks like we are going to have to face either Denver or the Texans at some point because this Bengals team is not going to beat the Broncos. Between Broncos and Texans, I would rather face the Texans again. Maybe the Ravens can take care of the Broncos.

Barring how they are playing today, I think the Bengals actually have the best shot at beating the Broncos next weekend. I think their strengths can exploit the Broncos' weaknesses. Unfortunately, those strength aren't built to exploit the Texans' weaknesses.

 

[Wax Frog]

Could Houston go up by 5? The suspense is killing me

 

[ctpatsfan77]

CIncinnati has -6 yards passing so far against Houston's porous secondary. Not impressive.

Still not as bad as the Titans' –7 gross passing yards back in the 2009 blizzard game.

As near as I can tell, that is the only time in NFL history a team has finished with negative passing yards before adjusting for sacks.

 

[Halifax_Pats_Fan]

well...at least it's some semblance of football to watch...

 

[TyronePoole]

both of these teams are bad

 

[RIpats88]

Houston shouldve put this game away already.....look at how many chances Cinci has given them...but their own inept offense is what is killing them.

if Cinci puts together a good drive to start the 2nd half they very well could be leading again despite how horrible they have been playing

 

[Rob0729]

I think you missed my point.

It's a response to those suggesting Balt or Indy would be a better matchup than Houston. I don't agree, but even accepting the argument, the point was that there are two things going on here. One is our opponent, the other is the Bronco's opponent.

Even if one thinks Baltimore is not as good as Houston, we still would prefer to play Houston because Baltimore is definitely better than Cinci, and we care about the Bronco's opponent too. That was the context.

You may be right, but that is not really a compliment to the Texans in my opinion. The Ravens are one 4th and 27 conversion on a dump off from losing 5 their last 6 games. The Colts are one dimensional on offense and a weak defense.

 

[Deus Irae]

As poorly as the Bengals offense has played, this is a 2 point. game. If Dalton ever figures it out, Cincinnati should walk away with this win.

 

[PatriotSeven]

The problem with Dalton is he is very Jeckyl and Hyde. He has been mostly Hyde today.

Honestly, I think the problem is the Bengals are still using the 1990 version of the WCO. Their play designs are too predictable and generic.

They need to figure out a way to get their best receiver and one of the best in the NFL, AJ Green, more involved in the short passing game. He has yet to be targeted in this game.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

If Houston and Baltimore win I'd arguably take the Pats road to the SB over Denver's, even without HFA. Baltimore is a tough out and physically menacing. Pats could catch a huge break this weekend, but there's still a chance Houston could actually blow this.

Cincy would have no chance against Denver.

 

[jcdavey]

marvin lewis needs to be fired, unless BJGE is hurt

3 carries all half? and he's getting yards

that's dumb

i know the plays are 49 for texans and only 17 for cincy, but jesus.....use the guy who is actually producing!

 

[TyronePoole]

the problems I have with facing the Ravens is that a) we always struggle against them and b) Harbaugh is the most capable out of all the other AFC coaches of pulling some annoyingly effective gameplan out of his ass.

Lewis and Kubiak aren't gonna do anything but be their predictable and conservative selves.

 

[Joker]

marvin lewis needs to be fired, unless BJGE is hurt

3 carries all half? and he's getting yards

that's dumb

i know the plays are 49 for texans and only 17 for cincy, but jesus.....use the guy who is actually producing!

it's the end days for sure.. I agree with jcdavey

 

[TyronePoole]

If Houston and Baltimore win I'd arguably take the Pats road to the SB over Denver's, even without HFA. Baltimore is a tough out and physically menacing. Pats could catch a huge break this weekend, but there's still a chance Houston could actually blow this.

Cincy would have no chance against Denver.

Broncos fared worse against Cincy than they did against the ravens this season.

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

You may be right, but that is not really a compliment to the Texans in my opinion. The Ravens are one 4th and 27 conversion on a dump off from losing 5 their last 6 games. The Colts are one dimensional on offense and a weak defense.

Right, but take the Patriots next game out of the equation. Of the three, who do you want the Broncos playing next week? Indy, Baltimore, or Cinci. I am hard pressed to put Cinci anywhere but third. If Cinci wins, the Broncos get them.

Put it more bluntly. Would you rather have the winner of today's game or tomorrow's? If you answer is the former, that can only happen if Houston wins.

 

[PatriotSeven]

marvin lewis needs to be fired, unless BJGE is hurt

3 carries all half? and he's getting yards

that's dumb

i know the plays are 49 for texans and only 17 for cincy, but jesus.....use the guy who is actually producing!

And no targets to AJ Green. If not Lewis, their OC needs to go. This is an ancient version of the West Coast Offense.

 

[Rob0729]

the problems I have with facing the Ravens is that a) we always struggle against them and b) Harbaugh is the most capable out of all the other AFC coaches of pulling some annoyingly effective gameplan out of his ass.

Lewis and Kubiak aren't gonna do anything but be their predictable and conservative selves.

I don't know if this Ravens' team has the teeth to be that tough of an out for the Pats. They barely beat the Pats at home this year with a far better team than they have now and Hernandez out for the Pats and no revamped secondary for the Pats. I wonder if emotions weren't so high to win for Torrey Smith and some God-awful referring whether the Pats leave there with a win and they had Webb and actual healthy ILBs to slow down the Pats' offense that scored 30 points anyway.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Broncos fared worse against Cincy than they did against the ravens this season.

Yes, but Baltimore is a playoff tested team with a defense capable of shutting down a strong passing offense. Cincy would walk into Mile High like a deer in headlights and get slaughtered. Their offense is not prime time. It would be one of those frustrating games where they continually settle for field goals, play conservative, an make critical mistakes.

Most likely Baltimore would lose, too, but their chances are much better. That team is tough in big games.

 

[Foxypats]

How do the bengals have negative 6 pass yards??