NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: Why the Houston Texans Have the Hardest Path to Indy

For starters, it's not easy to last as a playoff contender throughout the entire NFL regular season. On top of that, it's only harder to compete when you have numerous injuries to key players.

Enhancing the situation even more for the Houston Texans, try entering the postseason on a three-game losing streak and playing a team (Cincinnati) that you barely defeated in the regular season.

Heading into the franchise's first playoff game, the Texans had overcome so much that it seemed impossible to last in the postseason. Fortunately, receiver Andre Johnson got healthy, but they were still without Matt Schaub and Mario Williams.

Well, to make a long story short, Houston dominated the second half against the Bengals and won 31-10. Led by running back Arian Foster and arguably the NFL's best defense, the Texans have a supreme amount of confidence heading into their divisional game against Baltimore.

A place where they had lost earlier this season, the Ravens went 8-0 at home and defeated Houston 29-14 back in Week 6.

The Ravens are practically a duplicate team as they have a top-five defense and excellent rushing attack courtesy of Ray Rice. To win this game, Foster must slam the trenches hard between the tackles and Johnson needs to beat double coverage a few times for T.J. Yates to connect down field.

There's not much concern that Houston's defense will come to play, the question is outplaying the Ravens as the better defense will dictate the winner.

Provided that Houston does pull off the upset, they will then likely have to travel to New England and play the No. 1-seeded Patriots. With one of the NFL's most effective passing games, Tom Brady is arguably the biggest challenge for Houston this season (debatable with Drew Brees).

And although the Patriots have a weaker defense than the Ravens, they're very opportunistic in picking off 23 passes (ranked No. 2) and recovering 11 fumbles (tied at rank No. 7).

So, Yates will have to have another flawless game when given the green light and Foster would have to have another dominating performance. The biggest question of that game is Houston shutting down Brady.

With one of the league's best offensive lines and receiving targets, it's a mismatch for any defense to face Rob Gronkowski and Wes Welker. All this being said, having to play at Baltimore this week and then most likely New England thereafter is the most difficult route.

The reason why the Houston Texans have the hardest path is because of their injuries and inexperience. Combine everything together and the odds are significantly against them, both tangible and intangible.

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