NFL Wild Card Playoffs: Cincinnati Bengals' 5 Keys to Defeating Houston Texans

The Cincinnati Bengals travel to Reliant Stadium Saturday to take on the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round of the AFC Playoffs. The game marks only the third time the Bengals have made the postseason in 20 years.

The game is the first time in NFL history since the Superbowl era that two opposing playoff teams have starting rookie quarterbacks. The Bengals are led by rookie sensation Andy Dalton while the Texans are led by under-the-radar rookie T.J. Yates.

Every NFL fan knows the respective stories of the Texans and Bengals. Cincinnati was projected to be a two-win team with a rookie at the helm, but instead is playing in the postseason. Houston was supposed to be a Superbowl contender, but is now decimated by injuries. For Houston, this marks the first playoff appearance in franchise history.

These two teams are very familiar with each other, having played less than a month ago on December 11^th. The Texans escaped Paul Brown Stadium with a 20-19 victory via a touchdown pass with two seconds remaining in the game. Cincinnati is now hoping to travel to Houston and get revenge.

If the young Bengals want to prove they are legitimate contenders, the road begins now. Here are five keys to Cincinnati winning a postseason game for the first time in 20 years:

Shut Down Arian Foster and Ben Tate

The Texans’ offense is pretty straightforward: Run the ball an excessive amount of times with the deadly combination of Arian Foster and Ben Tate. This allows Houston to cover up the weakness at the quarterback spot known as a third sting rookie by the name of T.J. Yates.

The last time these teams met the Bengals defense effectively limited Arian Foster to  41 yards.  Tate was the problem, with 67 yards on fewer carries. Tate had a run of 44 yards that put the Texans in scoring position.

The big play is something the Bengals must prevent. Last week the Bengals gave up a 71 yard run for a touchdown and a 51 yard run for a touchdown to the Ravens’ Ray Rice.

In order to win, Bengals defensive coordinator better have his unit ready to focus on the run, and limit the big run. Forcing the Texans to win by passing won’t work with a rookie quarterback with a hurt shoulder. The Bengals sacked Yates five times in the last match up, and if they are forced to throw a lot expect a repeat performance and a victory for Cincinnati.

Limit Andre Johnson and Houston's Tight Ends

Andre Johnson didn’t participate in the last game between these two teams. Johnson has been hurt for most of the year, but is still one of the best players in the league. He is a massive deep threat the Bengals will have to take into account on every down.

The Yates to Johnson connection hasn’t been impressive yet with the duo hooking up eight times for 140 yards. The Bengals have to make sure that trend doesn’t change in order to win.

While on the topic of the pass defense, the Bengals also have to focus heavily on tight end screens. The Bengals have been torched all season long by tight ends, including the last time these teams played. Owen Daniels seven catches for 100 yards and Joel Dreessen had 22 yards and a touchdown.

To win, Bengals’ safeties and linebackers need to do a better job in man coverage against these big targets.

Bengals Offense Must Run Through A.J. Green and Jermaine Gresham

The Bengals have been struggling to run the ball effectively recently. A.J Green and Jermaine Gresham have been the most consistent things about the offense all season, and that has to continue.

Green will once again be matched up with former Bengals’ cornerback Jonathan Joseph. Last time Joseph limited Green to five catches for 59 yards. However, what the statistics don’t show is the penalties Green draws on Joseph and how the defense has to account for Green stretching the field.

With Houston having to account at least two players to Green at all times, tight end Jermaine Gresham will have opening underneath and in the middle of the field. Houston has a variety of athletic linebackers, but it is a hard match up for anyone to guard the 6’5 260lb Gresham in the air.

If Cincinnati wants to score on an elite defensive unit like Houston, the offense must utilize its two best targets efficiently. Houston will know it’s coming, but that hasn’t stopped Green or Gresham much so far.

Bengals Must Run Bernard Scott More Than Cedric Benson

This will likely be an unpopular opinion, but as the season has progressed Cedric Benson has been regressing. Benson has hit over 1,000 yards for the third straight season, but he has also become careless with the football.

 Benson has fumbled five times in the last three games, and has been seen carelessly waving the ball around while running. He also only mustered 51 yards on 13 carries last week against Baltimore.

Bernard Scott on the other hand has made the most of his limited opportunities. Scott carried the ball six times last week against the Ravens and came away with 34 yards and a touchdown, including a 25 yard run for a touchdown.

Scott is the better option against a fast Texans’ defense. His ability to change directions on the drop of a dime and reach the outside and cut up field explosively is something Benson simply can’t do.

Turning the ball over is something the Bengals can’t afford to do against elite teams in the playoffs. Running the ball effectively is also an important factor, and Benson simply hasn’t been effective enough lately. Benson and Scott should receive at least the same amount of carries against the Texans if Cincinnati is to not become a one-dimensional offense.

Young Bengals Must Stay Composed in a Hostile Environment

Reliant Stadium is sure to a noisy environment for the Bengals since it is the first time Houston fans have had a playoff game there. The good news for the Bengals is that they have been a great road team all season, going 5-3 on the road. A road victory in Seattle, considered to be the loudest stadium in the NFL, is a good indicator of the Bengals being fine in Reliant Stadium.

Staying composed also means to penalties. The Bengals have had several costly drive-killing penalties this season. The team has to play error-free football in order to prove they belong in the playoffs. The basic fundamentals of football like snap counts are something the Bengals can’t afford to mess up at this point in the season.

The Final Step

This is an intriguing rematch that the city of Cincinnati has been praying for. A playoff victory for the first time in over 20 years would mean everything to the city and organization.

With that being said, the pressure isn’t on the Bengals, it’s on the Texans. The Texans were expected to be in the playoffs, no one expected the Bengals. The Texans are even the favorite in Vegas. Cincinnati is a dangerous team with a lot to prove.

Andy Dalton and A.J. Green have led a culture change in Cincinnati that is hard to ignore. The once laughable franchise is now one step away from being a legitimate franchise for the first time in over 21 years.

The Cincinnati Bengals attempt the final step Saturday in Houston.