NFL Playoffs: Houston Texans Will Be One-and-Done in First Postseason Appearance

The city of Houston is jumping for joy for their Houston Texans because their team has finally reached the promised land. 

Since joining the NFL in 2002, the Texans have always struggled to get over the hump, and have found themselves just on the outside each of the last three seasons. 

However, behind a strong defense, and no Peyton Manning, the Texans were able to win the AFC South and clinch their first appearance into the postseason. 

Laying ahead in Wild Card Weekend are the Cincinnati Bengals—a team the Texans defeated 20-19 earlier in the season—but the setting on Saturday will be a whole different animal.

Can the Texans get a win in their first ever playoff game? 

Here's why they won't.

Key Injuries

It is looking as if the Texans will be with all of their starters when they host the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, but that doesn't mean that they won't be affected by pains. 

When we all thought Andre Johnson was completely healthy earlier in the season yet it only took him a game and a half to show us that wasn't the case. I'm not fully convinced that he's 100 percent again this time. 

As for quarterback T.J. Yates, he, too, looks healthy enough to play, after injuring his shoulder in the final week of the season. 

I'm less worried about Yates, because his injury is on his non-throwing shoulder. However, if he were to tweak that injury, jamming that shoulder into the ground—say, on a sack—the Texans would then have to rely on Jake Delhomme. 

Delhomme is reason alone why the Texans wouldn't win. 

Playoff Shock

The playoffs require a different level of intensity both physically and mentally and I don't think anyone will deny that. So when I say the Houston Texans are going to come out flat against the Bengals on Saturday, it's because I don't think they're ready. 

In the two team's previous contest the Bengals did a fine job of holding Houston's running game in check, and that started with holding Arian Foster to 41 yards on 15 carries. 

Houston's game plan is almost guaranteed to be a healthy dose of both Foster and Ben Tate. But if Cincinnati has already shown their ability to stop the run, then what gives?

It's one thing to come from behind down nine points with five minutes to go in the regular season; it's another thing to do it in the playoffs. So, if the Texans fall behind early and have to venture away from the run at all, things could get dicey for Gary Kubiak and his offense.

Cincinnati's Defense

Going seemingly unnoticed, the Cincinnati Bengals have become one of the stiffest defensive units in the AFC.

They rank in the top 10 in major defensive categories, including points allowed (20.2), total yards (316.3) and rushing yards allowed (104.7). 

Marvin Lewis' unit will need to be on its A-game against the run, as the Texans rank second in the NFL in rushing yards per game with 153.0. 

As I previously mentioned, the Bengals did a fine job of limiting the running game of Houston in their earlier meeting; and if had it not been for a 44-yard scamper by Ben Tate, the Texans running backs would have only totaled 64 yards on 22 carries. 

Andy Dalton and A.J. Green

How good has the rookie duo of Andy Dalton and A.J. Green been for the Cincinnati Bengals this season? 

In the Bengals' previous meeting with Houston, Green and Dalton connected on five balls for 59 yards. 

Green has been nothing short of amazing throughout the entire season and has repeatedly done it against top cornerbacks. So I expect an even bigger game statistically from the rookie. Not to mention that when defenses send extra help to Green it has opened up space for tight end Jermaine Gresham—especially in the red zone. 

They might feel the nerves of playing in their first playoff game as well, but I like their ability to move the ball down the field better than the Texans when the time calls. 

Houston Stumbled into the Playofffs

I should say first that the Bengals aren't on any sort of a hot streak. In fact, they've lost five games since Week 10. But that must be taken with a grain of salt, because four of those losses were against two playoff teams—Baltimore and Pittsburgh. 

As for Houston, they've dropped three straight, all against teams who missed the playoffs—two of which came at home. Most importantly, they dropped a Thursday night contest to a 1-14 Indianapolis Colts team. 

The old adage reads that it's wise to enter the playoffs on as hot of a run as possible. Neither team is really in that position, but if I were to give an edge, it'd be to the Bengals.