NFL Playoffs: Why the Houston Texans Have a Chance Against the Baltimore Ravens

Apparently the Houston Texans do not have a chance against the Baltimore Ravens this week in the divisional round. And according to many sports analysts, the Ravens have an easy win against the Texans this Sunday.

That is not true.

Here's why the Houston Texans have a chance. A very good chance.

Andre Johnson and the rushing attack

When the Texans lost in Baltimore in Week 6, they were without their franchise's all-time best player. The Ravens were able to stack the box and stop the run without having to worry about a scoring threat from the outside. The Texans are dependent on their running game, and the Ravens were able to shut it down, holding Arian Foster to just 49 yards. 

Andre Johnson will open up the running game.

The Ravens were able to stack the box in Week 6 because their cornerbacks did not need help on the outside against Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones. If the Ravens leave their corners in one-on-one coverage with Johnson, one of the NFL's best wide receivers, he will get open and he will score. Therefore, the Ravens will have to commit their safeties to defending the pass. 

Then, if the Texans offensive line continues to play the way it has been playing against the tough defensive front of the Ravens, the Texans will pound the ball. The key to the Texans' offense is the rushing game, especially with T.J. Yates at quarterback, and if they can succeed against a non-stacked box, their offense will be very efficient. If the Ravens decide to stack the box with their safeties, expect to hear Johnson's name called. A lot.

The return of Andre Johnson will open up both the passing game and the running game.

The rookie trio

When the Texans played the Ravens in the regular season, it was their first game playing without their best defensive player, Mario Williams. Rookie Brooks Reed was the next man up, and he looked confused in his first ever NFL start. 

After that game, Brooks appeared to settle in and he became one of the Texans' most consistent pass-rushers, totaling seven sacks since that Week 6 matchup. The new-and-improved Reed, along with Connor Barwin, should constantly pressure Joe Flacco. 

Next up, J.J. Watt. If you haven't seen his amazing interception against the Bengals in the first week of the NFL playoffs, check out the video.  

Watt described the incredible play: “I came around and I really was trying to put my hands up, get in the way of the passing lane and it happened to kind of stick. I realized I had the ball so I was running to the end zone just trying not to fall down. That was it."

The very next defensive drive, the exhausted Watt returned to the field after receiving oxygen on the bench to sack Dalton to send the game into halftime. Watt has been incredible for the Texans this year, and he has a boatload of momentum heading into this Sunday's game.

T.J. Yates has been another rookie success story for the Texans. After Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart went down with season-ending injuries, Yates, the third-string quarterback, was thrust into the starting role. In his first start as an NFL quarterback, Yates upset the playoff-caliber Falcons. The next week, Yates secured the Texans' first postseason appearance after leading an 80-yard, last-minute touchdown drive against the Bengals. 

Yates limped into the playoffs, losing his last three games, mainly due to conservative play because of the absence of Andre Johnson. 

However, Yates appeared to back to normal form last week in the Wild Card Round. He did not turn the ball over once and he threw a perfect 40-yard strike to Johnson. If Yates does not turn the ball over against the Ravens, a daunting task for a rookie quarterback, he will put his team in a very winnable situation. 

Yates is calm, collected individual. He has been called boring. These traits will be huge in M&T Bank Stadium, where the home crowd will be deafening.

The trio of rookies can lead the Texans to a huge playoff upset versus the Baltimore Ravens.

The Texans have more than a chance.