Football Newsday >Sports
Originally published: January 5, 2013 8:03 PM Updated: January 6, 2013 1:20 AM By RICHARD DEAN. Special to help Newsday
Photo credit: Getty From left, Houston Texans running back Chris Myers #55 remember immediately after Foster have scored a 1-yard hurrying touchdown from the third district of an AFC wild-card game resistant to the Cincinnati Bengals . (Jan. 5, 2013)
HOUSTON The Houston Texans had their events in 2012, starting 11-1. Then these people struggled lower your stretch, losing the means to clinch your first-round bye inside playoffs. On Saturday, many people regained their swagger.
Behind Shayne Graham , the actual Texans defeated the Cincinnati Bengals within a strong AFC wild-card rematch, 19-13, before a masses associated with 71,738 with Reliant Stadium. The Texans play from New England upcoming week.
Foster evolved into the very first battler throughout NFL track record to dash regarding a minimum of 100 yards throughout every one of their initial several playoff games.
"I'm excited about cures does today," said Texans quarterback Matt Schaub , that built an wrongdoing that, despite sputtering in debt zone, taken care of the basketball for almost 39 minutes. "To complete it in front of our residence crowd following the technique things have ended up the past month, to help perfect the ship along with formulate some sort of victory."
As fixing as Houston's offense was, its safeguard has been in the same way effective, allowing half a dozen points. The Texans restricted Cincinnati in order to 198 back yards as well as the Bengals were 0-for-9 upon third downs. Bengals receiver A.J. Green did not use a wedding celebration until 8:58 stayed from the finally quarter, when this individual ensnared a 45-yarder out of Andy Dalton .
"It's fun to become section of this defense," said Texans sheltering finish J.J. Watt, whom acquired a single tote right after recording a strong NFL-best 201/2 bags this period in addition to put in two complete deflections. "It's a playoff game win. That's troublesome to undertake on this league. But you'll find bigger items about our mind."
In past year's playoff win over this Bengals, Watt go back a good interception 29 yards for any score.
The Texans, who taken away the actual Bengals, 31-10, around last year's playoff game, encouraged practically the complete video game except for as soon as Schaub's go away created for James Casey appeared to be intercepted by simply Leon Hall . Hall go back the item 21 meters for a score in which bought your Bengals a 7-6 lead within the next quarter. But they will didn't create on their particular lead.
"I'm not only one to get moral victories," Hall said. "We lost. We have the best year. Obviously, many of us didn't have fun with well enough because some of our year will be over."
Cincinnati won eight involving its continue eight regular-season games.
Despite currently being outplayed the majority of the actual game, that Bengals have a new shot with victory late. On third-and-11 with the Houston 36-yard line, Green had two steps upon Johnathan Joseph even so the go away from Dalton seemed to be out regarding reach for Green in the end zone. Green experienced five receptions for 80 yards.
"The explanation we won is because noone about this basketball group actually panics," Texans discipline Gary Kubiak said. "They use a many class. They battled and they realize you'll find gonna often be highs as well as lows, and that is the reason these were qualified to stand up to this specific challenge."
Aside from the 29-yard first-quarter run from BenJarvus Green-Ellis , Cincinnati not been as successful offensively within the first half, becoming only four primary downs.
Although the particular Texans and Bengals are developing numerous divisions, they've attained about three situations during the past a couple of seasons, considering the Texans successful all three.
The Bengals haven't won a playoff video game since 1990, if they whip the Houston Oilers, 41-14, at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium.