The Texans got an impressive win over the Bengals last weekend in Houston. Playing the Ravens in Baltimore tomorrow is a whole different animal. The Texans lost against the Ravens 29-14 in week #6 against the Ravens in Baltimore. The Ravens and Texans mirror each other in style as they both like to run the ball offensively and play solid D. This is going to be a slobberknocker in Baltimore tomorrow afternoon. Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Texans have the ball: The Texans are in for battle in this game. They are going to want to run the ball a lot in this game, but, Arian Foster and Ben Tate are going to have to fight for every yard they get against a very stout front seven of the Ravens. One way to loosen up the front seven of the Ravens a little bit is to take some shots down the field and make them pay for overplaying the run. In worked in their first playoff game, as Andre Johnson caught a 40-yard TD pass against the Bengals. The key to having time to throw the ball for the Texans will be keeping OLB Terrell Suggs out of their backfield. Yates will also throw some shorter passes to Kevin Walter and Owen Daniels in this game. I have a feeling that the Texans are going to run the ball a lot better than they did in the first meeting between these two teams.

When the Ravens have the ball: The key to beating the Ravens is to stop RB Ray Rice and force Joe Flacco to beat you with his right arm. This is easier said than done as Rice had 161 total yards against the Texans the first time around. The Texans have an outstanding pass rush and secondary, so they are more than capable of making Joe Flacco screw up. He has definitely not been at his best in big games, so the Texans are going to be coming after him all day long. That being said, Flacco has a nice set of targets in the passing game in WR Torrey Smith, WR Anquan Boldin, TE Dennis Pitta and TE Ed Dickson.

PREDICTION: RAVENS 20, TEXANS 16

The Houston Texans and the Cincinnati Bengals will square off in the first round of the NFL Playoffs tomorrow afternoon in Texas.  The Texans have not played well lately as they have lost three games in a row.  The Bengals have won 2 of their last three games, but they lost last weekend against the Ravens and needed some help to get to the playoffs.  The Texans beat the Bengals 20-19 in Cincy just four weeks ago.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Texans have the ball:  After watching the Bengals’ D get shredded by the Ravens’ running game last weekend, Arian Foster and Ben Tate have to be chomping at the bit for tomorrow’s game.  T.J. Yates is going to try to give it a go tomorrow (he separated his left shoulder last weekend).  With Andre Johnson really to likely go full bore, whoever is playing at QB for the Texans (Yates or Jake Delhomme) is likely going to have some success throwing the ball.  The Bengals do have 45 sacks on the year, so the O-Line is going to have to step up and give the QB time to throw the ball.

When the Bengals have the ball:  The Bengals are likely going to run the ball a lot tomorrow with Cedric Benson and Bernard Scott.  The front seven of the Texans is going to get challenged in this game, but they should be up for the challenge.  If the Texans can force the Bengals to be one dimensional in this game, they might be able to force rookie QB Andy Dalton into making some mistakes with the ball.  The Texans have 44 sacks and 17 interceptions this year as they have been in QBs heads the whole year.  That being said, Dalton was a nice set of receivers in A.J. Green, Jerome Simpson and Jermaine Gresham.

PREDICTION:  TEXANS 23, BENGALS 16

The Texans had their 7-game winning streak stopped last weekend by the Panthers.  They are still in the hunt for one of the top two seeds in the AFC, so look for them to be more than ready to rumble tonight with the Colts, who they thumped 34-7 in the season opener in Houston.  The Colts finally broke the seal last weekend in beating the Titans 27-13 in Indianapolis.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Texans have the ball:  The Texans are going to be very run heavy tonight as they are going to be all business.  Look for Arian Foster and Ben Tate are going to both have heavy workloads in this game against a Colts’ D that is allowing 138.7 yards rushing per game and 4.1 yards per carry.  T.J. Yates was off last weekend against the Bengals, but he should have an easier time tonight as long as his O-Line is giving him time to throw the ball.  Yates will be spreading the ball around, using a lot of receivers with Andre Johnson missing another game.

When the Colts have the ball:  The Colts ran the ball a lot last weekend and they will likely try it again tonight against the Texans.  Donald Brown will be the main man in the running game for the Colts tonight, but, Joseph Addai and Delone Carter will also get some work in.  The Texans are giving up 96.8 yards rushing per game so far this year, but 4.2 yards per carry.  The front seven will have to step up and make the Colts a 1 dimensional team offensively.  Dan Orlovsky will make mistakes when pressured and theh Texans are going to bring the heat.

PREDICTION:  TEXANS 23, COLTS 13

The Texans have won 7 games in a row and they are 5-1 at home this year.  They are in the hunt for the #1 seed in the AFC Playoffs, so they need to take this game very seriously.  The Panthers lost last weekend, but they have won 2 of their last three games.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Texans have the ball:  The Texans are going to run the ball a lot this weekend.  The Panthers are giving up 128.9 yards rushing per game and 4.5 yards per carry so far this year, so Arian Foster and Ben Tate are likely to have big games against the Panthers.  The Texans will likely let T.J. Yates pass the ball a bit more as he proved he could handle it last weekend against the Bengals.  The Panthers are giving up 236.5 yards passing per game so far this year, so there will be plays to be made in the passing game.  Owen Daniels, Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones will have to make some plays this weekend for the Texans.

When the Panthers have the ball:  This is going to be a big test for the defense.  The Texans are going to have to get after Cam Newton, while also containing him in the pocket.  The Texans are likely going to double cover WR Steve Smith and dare Newton to beat them by throwing to someone else.  He likes throwing to his TEs (Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey) and he also has decent receivers opposite of Smith in Legedu Naanee and Brandon LaFell.  The Panthers also have two very solid RBs in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.  All of that being said, the Texans have a dominating defense!

PREDICTION:  TEXANS 20, PANTHERS 17

The Houston Texans have won six games in a row as they are trying to win the AFC South this year.  The Bengals have lost three of their last four games coming into this weekend.  The Bengals are only 1-5 vs. teams with a .500 record so far this year.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Texans have the ball:  The Texans are in for a rough battle in the “Jungle” this weekend.  They are going to run the ball to protect rookie QB T.J. Yates, but it isn’t going to be easy.  The Bengals are only giving up 96.3 yards rushing per game and 3.6 yards per carry and they are going to key on stopping Arian Foster and Ben Tate.  The Bengals have a good pass rush, but if T.J. Yates has time to throw the ball, he could be effective against their secondary.  Jacoby Jones will be starting in place of Andre Johnson (hamstring) and the Texans are going to need him to stretch the field to set up shorter passes to Kevin Walter, Arian Foster, Owen Daniels and Joel Dreessen.

When the Bengals have the ball:  The Bengals are likely going to want to challenge the Texans’ run defense in this game.  Cedric Benson, Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard will likely all get a lot of work in this game against a Texans’ offense that is giving up 90.7 yards rushing per game and 4.2 yards per carry.  The Texans will look to pressure rookie QB Andy Dalton and force him into making mistakes, which he has done lately.  The Texans will likely double team A.J. Green and force Dalton to beat him throwing the ball to someone else.

PREDICTION:  TEXANS 17, BENGALS 10

The Texans have won five games in a row and they are 4-1 at home on the year, losing to only a very inspired Raiders’ team the day after the death of their owner Al Davis.  But, the Texans are going into this game with rookie T.J. Yates at QB adding intrigue to this game.  The Falcons have won two games in a row as they are starting to get things back on track.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Texans have the ball:  The Texans are going to run the ball a lot this Sunday.  Arian Foster and Ben Tate are going to have to likely work for every yard they get as the Falcons are only giving up 83.5 yards rushing per game and 3.7 yards per carry so far this year.  But, the Falcons don’t have much of a pass rush and they are giving up 245.7 yards passing per game so far this year, so the stage is set of rookie QB T.J. Yates to make some plays this Sunday.  The Falcons will likely be double covering Andre Johnson, forcing T.J. Yates to throw the ball to someone else.  So Owen Daniels, Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter will need to step up this weekend.

When the Falcons have the ball:  The Texans are likely going to key on RB Michael Turner and dare Matt Ryan to try to beat them through the air.  The Texans have 35 sacks and 15 interceptions already this year as they have a lot of playmakers to stop opposing passing game.  Opposing QBs only have a 62.1 QB Rating when playing the Texans.  QB Matt Ryan and his band of WRs and TEs are definitely going to challenge the Texans’ D this weekend.  Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez are good at catching shorter passes while Harry Douglas and Julio Jones get the deeper shots.

PREDICTION:  TEXANS 20, FALCONS 17

The Texans have won four games in row (including a 24-14 win over the Jags in Houston) and they had an extra week to get ready for the re-match in Jacksonville.  The Jaguars have won 2 of their last four games as they are playing their best football of the season.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Texans have the ball:  The Texans are likely going to be more run heavy than usual in Matt Leinart’s first start at QB, and it makes perfect sense.  Arian Foster (740 yards rushing) and Ben Tate (686 yards rushing) will share the load in this game against a Jaguars’ D that is allowing 111.2 yards rushing per game and 4.1 yards per carry.  The Texans’ O-Line has only given up 16 sacks so far this year, so Leinart should have time to throw the ball.  WR Andre Johnson will be Leinart’s #1 target as he is making his first start in six weeks.  TE Owen Daniels and WR Kevin Walter will give Leinart options if he’s in a hurry to get rid of the ball.

When the Jaguars have the ball:  The Jaguars are going to come out feeding the ball to Maurice Jones-Drew in this game.  The Texans are going to have to sell out to stop him and force rookie QB Blaine Gabbert to beat them with his arm.  Gabbert has played decent in his last two games, but he was horrible in the first game with the Texans when he completed 10 of 30 passes for only 97 yards.  The Jaguars got TE Marcedes Lewis involved more in the offense last weekend, so the safeties better be ready to deal with him this Sunday.

PREDICTION:  TEXANS 24, JAGUARS 7

The Houston Texans are only 1-2 on the road so far this year, but, they are red hot right now.  The Texans have won three games in a row, outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 95-33!  The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 3-2 at home this year, but they have lost three of their last four games.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Houston Texans have the ball:  The Houston Texans are going to come out running the ball on the Buccaneers.  Arian Foster (656 yards rushing) and Ben Tate (623 yards rushing) will be going up against a Bucs’ D that is allowing 132.4 yards rushing per game and 4.9 yards per carry so far this year.  After the running game is established (it won’t take long), then Matt Schaub is going to take some shots down the field off of play action.  The Bucs are giving up 266.5 yards passing per game, so Schaub will spread the ball around to Jacoby Jones, Owen Daniels, Kevin Walter and Arian Foster.

When the Buccaneers have the ball:  The Bucs have the kind of big, powerful back in LeGarrette Blount who could give the Texans’ D trouble, but they don’t like to stick with the run much.  They like to throw the ball, so the Texans will have to get after Josh Freeman.  Freeman has only been sacked 10 times so far this year, so it isn’t going to be easy.  Freeman has been spreading the ball around as he doesn’t really have a go-t0 WR….so it will be useless for the Texans to double cover anyone.

PREDICTION:  TEXANS 34, BUCCANEERS 20

The Houston Texans are back on track after winning two games in a row by a combined score of 65-21!  The Browns lost last weekend 20-10 at San Francisco last weekend.  The Browns have only scored more than 20 points 1 time this year (27 against the Colts).  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Texans have the ball:  The Texans finally have WR Andre Johnson back for this weekend’s game with the Browns.  That means that they will likely be more balanced than they have been recently.  Still, Arian Foster and Ben Tate will be taking aim at a Browns’ D that is giving up 127.3 yards rushing per game and 4.0 yards per carry.  Matt Schaub should have more than enough  time to throw the ball against the Browns.  The Browns are only giving up 171.9 yards passing per game this year, as the secondary has been pretty solid this year.  Matt Schaub should have success this Sunday, especially if they give him time to throw the ball.

When the Browns have the ball:  It’s looking like Peyton Hillis might actually play for the Browns this weekend, which would give them solid balance.  If Hillis can’t go, ex-Texans back Chris Ogbonnaya will get the start at RB.  The Texans are likely going to blitz Colt McCoy a lot this Sunday in an effort to force him into making mistakes with the ball.  The Browns are the master of the short passing game with TEs Ben Watson, Evan Moore and WRs Greg Little, Josh Cribbs and Jordan Norwood…..so the Texans can’t afford to miss tackles.

PREDICTION:  TEXANS 30, BROWNS 17

The Houston Texans are coming off a huge win in beating the Titans 41-7 in Tennessee.  The Jaguars are also coming off an impressive 12-7 win last Monday Night at home against the Ravens.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Texans have the ball:  The Texans have turned into a run first team without Andre Johnson.  I don’t look for that to change this weekend as they are going to feed the ball to Arian Foster and give it to Ben Tate when he needs a break.  The Jaguars are only giving up 103.4 yards rushing per game and 4.0 yards per carry so far, so Foster & Tate will have to fight for their yards this Sunday.  The Jaguars aren’t a big pass rush team, so Matt Schaub should have time to throw the ball.  Look for him to spread the ball around to Kevin Walter, Owen Daniels, Jacoby Jones and Arian Foster.

When the Jaguars have the ball:  The Texans must make the first priority to stop Maurice Jones-Drew.  That will be easier said than done as the Texans are giving up 4.5 yards per carry this year.  The Texans need to stop the run and force rookie QB Blaine Gabbert to throw the ball.  He likes throwing to WR Jason Hill, so the Texans should give him some special attention.  That would force Gabbert to beat the Texans by throwing the ball to Mike Thomas, Marcedes Lewis and Mike Sims-Walker….and that’s not going to happen.

PREDICTION:  TEXANS 27, JAGUARS 13