Cincinnati Bengals: 5 Reasons the Bengals Were Embarrassed by the Houston Texans

The Cincinnati Bengals were embarrassed by the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round of the AFC playoffs to the tune of 31-10. The young Bengals had to play in an extremely loud and hostile environment in Reliant Stadium, but only have themselves to blame for the loss.

Everything seemed to come crashing down for the Bengals in the playoffs after a surprise season. Andy Dalton didn't play his best game, A.J. Green didn't have an impact and the only bright spot of the team was again the defensive line led by Geno Atkins.

Most importantly, and most discouraging, the worst part of the team was coaching. From questionable play-calling to flat our horrible challenges, the Bengals leaders failed the young team.

Despite the loss, the worst is over for Cincinnati. The Bengals have one of the most talented young rosters in the league and gained valuable, albeit unexpected, playoff experience this season.

The following is five ways the Bengals failed against the Texans.

5. Cedric Benson

Cedric Benson had a mediocre 2011 campaign, and that run of mediocrity concluded in Houston Saturday.

Benson carried the ball seven times for 14 yards. Half of his total yardage came on one run for seven yards. Obviously, the amount of carries Benson received isn’t all necessarily his fault, but if he had shown something early, he might have received more carries.

His one yard touchdown run was nice, but a 2.0 average won’t win a playoff game in a hostile environment. For a man playing for a new contract, and possibly his NFL career, Benson didn’t end his Bengals career with a bang, but with a whimper.

4. Chris Crocker

There isn’t much to say about Chris Crocker. He is an average player thrust into a starting role due to lack of better options.

Crocker finished the game with two tackles and one pass defended, but the play fans will remember for years is the game-changing interception Crocker somehow dropped. The Bengals were down 17-10, and Crocker made a perfect play on the ball, only to drop it. Had he intercepted it, Crocker might have been able to take it back for a touchdown; instead, the Texans continued on to go up 24-10.

Actually, the play Crocker will always be remembered for is his inexplicable performance in the fourth quarter during Arian Foster’s 42-yard touchdown run. Crocker took a bad angle, and instead of tackling Foster, he instead escorted him into the end zone.

Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer loves the veteran presence Crocker provides, but his apparent lack of effort with the game over isn’t something that will keep Crocker in stripes next year.

3. Offensive Line

The offensive line has been a problem for Cincinnati all season due to various factors, including injuries and suspensions. The main problem of the offensive unit reared its ugly head for the final time on Saturday in Houston.

Guards Nate Livings and Mike McGlynn have struggled mightily all season, and the absence of Bobbie Williams was noticeable. Tackle Andre Smith has had a tumultuous season, and Andrew Whitworth was the only bright spot against the Texans.

Andy Dalton was sacked four times, and with the offensive line consistently collapsing inward, Dalton threw three interceptions.

Of course, the highlight of the game was a direct result of horrible offensive line play courtesy of McGlynn. He was responsible for J.J. Watt with 52 seconds left in the first half. Watt pushed McGlynn back easily, jumped and intercepted Dalton’s pass and returned it for a touchdown to break the tie and allow the Texans to never look back.

The offensive line is arguably the weakest point on the team, and if the Bengals hope to make another appearance in the playoffs next year, things have to change in the trenches.

2. Jay Gruden's Offensive Play Calling

Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden is receiving attention around the league as a head coaching possibility, and rightfully so. His performance at directing the offense all season has been admirable, especially for what Bengals fans have had to suffer through before him.

With that being said, Gruden’s game plan for the game against the Houston Texans made no sense. Gruden stated he wanted rookie receiver A.J. Green to be the focal point of the offense. Green was targeted 12 times and had five receptions for 47 yards. The head-scratching part is, Green only had one reception in the second half.

Tight end Jermaine Gresham was only targeted six times and finished with five receptions for 46 yards. A tight end is the most important position on the field for a rookie quarterback facing one of the elite pass rushes in the NFL.

The Bengals threw the ball 42 times and only rushed the ball 19 times. The abandonment of the running game early on makes no sense on the road with a rookie quarterback, no matter how impressive he has played all season.

Saturday in Houston may have already ended the Gruden era in Saturday, as Gruden will likely move on to greener pastures. It’s unfortunate that it couldn’t have ended on a more positive note.

1. Marvin Lewis

Marvin Lewis is partially responsible for the amazing turnaround the Bengals experienced this year. He is also infamous for making horrible challenges and in-game decisions. Lewis wasted both challenges in the first half against Houston.

Lewis lost his first challenge when he and his cohorts in the booth upstairs thought Cedric Benson crossed the first-down marker. What they failed to see on the replay was Benson’s elbow coming down before he crossed the line.

Lewis lost his final challenge in the second quarter on a pass that was clearly a reception by Texans tight end Owen Daniels.

Lewis’ explanation wasn’t good enough, either:

“The only thing it really would have cost us, which didn’t matter, was the timeouts before halftime.”

With another postseason loss, Lewis’ record now stands at 69-74-1 in the regular season and 0-3 in the postseason. He will return as head coach next year, but one has to wonder how much longer Cincinnati will put up with his decisions.

Lewis will be surrounded with some of the best young talent in the NFL next year, but hoping Lewis will progress as a coach after nine seasons is doubtful.