Bengals vs. Texans: Houston Has Huge Problems Heading into Wild Card Matchup

The Houston Texans' celebration of heading into their first playoff game in franchise history will be short-lived, all thanks to the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Granted, a great deal of the blame can be placed on the Texans themselves, who have suffered injury and malaise on their way to a three-game losing streak that threatens to linger into the postseason. 

We saw exactly what these two teams have in store for one another when they met in Week 14. At that point, it took a tremendous effort from T.J. Yates to bring the Texans back in the fourth quarter for a marvelous comeback win. 

That is not what will go down on Saturday when the Wild Card weekend sees the Texans flame out in their first attempt at playoff glory. Yates left the final game of the season against the Titans after just one series. 

The shoulder injury is not serious and he is expected to make it back on the field. What I have no confidence in is the inconsistent effort the Texans have displayed on both sides of the ball. 

The Bengals' run defense will be better on Saturday after shoring up the holes made visible by the Baltimore Ravens. One thing was clear in the Bengals loss to the Ravens, and that's the fact that they defend much better than that. 

A.J. Green will be far more incorporated in the offense against the Texans, stretching Houston to the breaking point. 

This game will be reminiscent of the one we saw a few weeks ago. Only, I wouldn't bank on the Texans succeeding on a late comeback like they did in that game. The momentum and poise just isn't there to expect such things. 

Houston can finally say they are playoff bound, but that is where the praise and adulation will end.

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