Key Matchups for Wildcard Weekend - Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans - everydaygorship's Blog

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everydaygorship's Blog

Key Matchups for Wildcard Weekend - Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans

Posted on January 4, 2013 at 06:45 PM.

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(CIN) QB - Andy Dalton Vs. (HOU) QB - Matt Schaub - Last year the Bengals lost to a Schaub-less Texans team led by rookie QB T.J. Yates, 31-10. Dalton threw 3 INT's and 0 TD's. I am confident the Bengals 2nd year QB will have a better performance this time around. Houston should feel confident after last years win, plus having a healthy Schaub who actually has thrown 2 INT's and 0 TD's in the past 2 weeks against Minnesota, and Indianapolis.
(HOU) LE - J.J. Watt Vs. (CIN) RT - Andre Smith - This is going to be the biggest game of Andre Smith's 3 year career. Having to keep up with Watt has proved to be a nightmare for OT's, and I'm sure this week will be no different. Smith has got to play his heart out if he wants to keep Dalton off the turf.
(CIN) DT - Geno Atkins Vs. (HOU) C - Chris Meyers/ G - Wade Smith - Geno Atkins is capable of becoming the best interior defensive lineman in the NFL. The zone blocking scheme of the Texans could help them contain Geno, but he is always looking to make a play in the backfield. They have to scheme towards getting at least a semi-double team Atkins way.
(CIN) WR - A.J. Green Vs. (HOU) DB - Johnathan Joseph - In last year's playoffs game Green caught 5 passes for 47 yards, not what you would expect from your #1 receiver. Joseph nabbed 1 INT helping his defense shut down the Bengals. QB Andy Dalton should not force it Green's way as he did last year. Green has only had 1 TD in 6 weeks, but the Bengals are 5-1 in that stretch.
(HOU) K - Shayne Graham Vs. (CIN) K - Josh Brown - I think this game could come down to a FG try as many playoffs games do. For the Bengals Josh Brown replaced Mike Nugent in week 13, Brown is 16 of 19 in his postseason career, and on the road in 2012 was 4 of 5 with a long of 52. For Houston K Shayne Graham has gone 3 of 5 in the postseason, and in 2012 at home has made 17 of 22 FG's.