History repeats itself once again this year. For the second year-in-a-row, the playoffs will kickoff with a match-up between the Houston Texans (12-4) and Cincinnati Bengals (10-6). Just like last year, the game will be the first of wild card Saturday, getting things rolling in Houston at 4 p.m. EST.
The game will be broadcasted by NBC and the live score provided by ESPN.
Houston may have defeated Cincinnati 31-10 in last year's wild card game at Reliant Stadium, but that doesn't mean the Texans expect this year play out the same way.
"I think it will be the biggest challenge we've faced in the last four weeks," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said, according to CBS. "They're a lot different this year."
Different is an understatement. The Bengals have the No. 2 defensive attack in the NFL this season, recording bone-crunching 51 sacks, including 12.5 from Pro Bowl defensive tackle Geno Atkins, who also forced four fumbles and had 53 tackles on the season.
Cincinnati also looks to be on the upswing after a starting the season in a lurch. The Bengals began the year with a clumsy 3-5 record, but finished out the end of the season like a new team going 7-1 in the final eight games, and giving up less than 20 points a game in all but one match-up in that period.
The Bengals will need that defense to shut down Pro Bowl QB Matt Schaub who pushed past the 4,000 yard mark for the third time in his career this year, and earned a 90.7 passer rating. Not to mention Schaub's stout defensive line featuring Pro Bowlers like LT Duane Brown, LG Wade Smith and C Chris Myers.
While the Texans have won the last four meetings between the two teams, Houston has struggled in the final stretch of the season, losing three of its last four games. A hungry Cincinnati could easily surprise a beleaguered Texans offense into some tricky situations, a scenario Schaub seemed to recently acknowledge in an interview.
"They do bring a bunch of pressure," Schaub said, according to CBS Houston. "So, it's all about recognition and where they're bringing it from. They can at times just bring their front four and create a lot of problems for you."
He added: "I've just got to play a little more consistent," Schaub said. "I definitely know when things aren't going well to look at myself first because I'm the one that's putting everyone in position and trying to make the plays. I've got to play better. Our whole team, everyone across the board has got to pick their game up, especially this time of year, but I definitely do."
Of course, the Texans have their own defensive weapons. NFL sack leader, team MVP and Defensive Player of the Year candidate DE J.J. Watt led the Texans' seventh-ranked defense with 20.5 sacks, 107 tackles, 39 tackles for loss, 42 quarterback hits, 16 passes defense and four forced fumbles in 2012.
Not to mention to Texans' commanding offense. Houston boasts six Pro Bowl players including the AFC's leading receiver, WR Andre Johnson, who caught 112 passes for a career-high 1,598 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Texans this year. The team's RB Arian Foster also led the NFL in touchdowns for the second time in three years with 17 trips to the end zone and ranked second in the AFC with 1,424 yards rushing.
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