NFL Playoff Predictions: Ravens Will Outlast Texans in Intense Defensive Battle

This NFL season has been dominated by eye-popping offensive numbers, but football purists will rejoice with Sunday's defensive battle between the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans.

While Sunday's other matchup is headlined by Aaron Rodgers and Eli Manning, the defenses will take center stage in Baltimore.

The Texans have one of the stingiest defenses in the NFL, holding opponents to just 189.7 passing yards per game (third in NFL) and 96 rushing yards per game (fourth in NFL).

They only allowed 17.4 points per game during the regular season and they stepped up in the first round of the playoffs, holding Cincinnati to 10.

As good as the Texans D has been, however, the Ravens have been even better. Baltimore finished the regular season ranked third in opponents' points (16.6 per game), second in opponents' rushing yards (92.6 per game) and fourth in opponents' passing yards (196.3 per game).

They have frustrated elite offenses all season long and should have no trouble wreaking havoc on Houston's rookie quarterback, T.J. Yates.

Yates was decent in the first round against Cincinnati, completing 11-of-20 for 159 yards and a touchdown. But while he played well, he isn't capable of leading the team if Arian Foster struggles.

Luckily for Houston, Foster was excellent against the Bengals, racking up 153 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. It was his third straight 100-yard game and eighth on the season

However, don't expect similar success from him against Baltimore's vicious D.

In their first matchup this season, the Ravens suffocated Foster, holding him to just 49 yards on 15 carries.

That was back in October, when the Texans still had Matt Schaub at quarterback. Now that Yates is starting, the Ravens will be even more focused on stopping Foster.

Baltimore will have their own issues offensively, as the Texans can slow Ray Rice, and Joe Flacco scares the hell out of me with his decision making.

But in a close game, with the bright lights of the postseason shining down, I still trust Flacco more than Yates.

It wont be pretty, but the Ravens will eventually prevail.

Prediction: Ravens 16, Texans 13