NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: T.J. Yates Will Struggle in First Road Playoff Game

T.J. Yates has been a pleasant surprise this year for the Houston Texans, but his postseason ride will be short-lived because winning on the road in the NFL Playoffs is extremely difficult.

Houston will be able to stick with the Baltimore Ravens for a great portion of the game, but Yates will struggle in a loss in his road playoff debut.

Winning on the road in the NFL is one of the toughest things to do in all of sports. Sure there are teams that get hot like the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers but it’s much easier to win playoff games when you play in front of your fans.

Take this year as a perfect example: Every winner in the 2012 NFL Postseason has been the home team.

The atmosphere of the crowd is turned up to another notch, the intensity and passion is raised to another level and every mistake is scrutinized heavily because it could cost you a trip home.

Will Yates be able to handle the pressure? Will the Texans be able to handle it during their first road playoff game?

I’m not so sure they can. They are definitely going to need to prove it first.

Of course the game plan will be to give the ball to Arian Foster as many times possible, but the Ravens defense is No. 2 against the rush. If they are going to be hindered at all it will be through the air, but that’s also going to be a struggle because they are No. 4 in the NFL against the pass.

So what do you do? 

Yates has the arm, has the size and seems to have a great mindset, but he will be going up against a team that knows they have the best chance to make the Super Bowl this season. 

I’m not suggesting that this game has blowout written all over it because I don’t see it, but I do think the Ravens will win. Their game plan will be to contain Foster which will allow Yates the opportunity to make throws down the field.

He has a great opportunity to succeed against the Ravens’ pass defense, but I don’t see it happening. People tend to struggle in the playoffs especially on the road.

It’s been a great run for Yates and the Texans in their first playoff trip but all good things have to come to an end. 

NFL Divisional Round Schedule

Sunday, Jan. 15 at 1:00 p.m. EDT on CBS: Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens

Sunday, Jan. 15 at 4:30 p.m. EDT on FOX: New York Giants at Green Bay Packers