NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: Baltimore Ravens Ready to Roll over Houston Texans

Houston, you have a problem.

Well, more than just a problem. More like a host of them heading into Sunday's rematch with the Baltimore Ravens on NFL divisional-round weekend.

The Houston Texans did plenty in their game against the Ravens in Baltimore earlier this season that would suggest at least a somewhat satisfactory result. They won the turnover battle, got pressure on Joe Flacco throughout the game and stuffed a number of Baltimore's drives into their territory throughout the game.

Yet, the Texans could do no better than a 29-14 result, one that would be more reflective of Baltimore's dominance had the Ravens not had to settle for five Billy Cundiff field goals.

Of course, Andre Johnson didn't play in that game, but neither did TJ Yates. Matt Schaub was still healthy back in Week 6 and posted a steady, if unspectacular, performance against Baltimore's relentless defense. Yates will be hard-pressed to stay upright with Haloti Ngata and Terrell Suggs bearing down on him, and if he does, he'll have to find a way to fit the ball in around and behind Baltimore's deep stable of defensive backs.

That is, if he doesn't first get picked off by Ed Reed.

Not all hope is lost for the Texans, though. They still have Arian Foster and Ben Tate to lean on in the ground game should Yates falter and, if anything, their defense has actually improved since that game, which was their first after losing star linebacker Mario Williams for the season. That can only mean bad things for Flacco and Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice...

Right?

Realistically, though, the fact that the Ravens won so handily despite playing so poorly last time around doesn't bode well at all for Houston. The return of left guard Ben Grubbs figures to boost the ground game while the extra week of rest should work wonders for a defense that, while clearly aged, can still dominate when given the opportunity.

Predicting winners in the NFL playoffs is often a dangerous crapshoot, but if there's a sure thing in this year's field, then a Ravens win is it.

Sunday Divisional Round Playoff Schedule

Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens—1:00 p.m. ET on CBS

New York Giants at Green Bay Packers—4:30 p.m. ET on FOX

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