Houston Texans outclass Cincinnati Bengals in all departments to claim first playoff win 31-10 –NFL
A timely all round performance by the Houston Texans in front of a more than 70,000 strong crowd at the Reliant Stadium, in Houston, Texas, United States, helped them claim their first ever playoff win over their American Football Conference (AFC) North
visitors, the Cincinnati Bengals, with a clearer and wider margin for a final score of 31-10, on Saturday, January 07, 2012.
This performance was certainly beyond expectations from the Texans, despite the fact that their regular star performers, such as quarterback (QB), Matt Schaub, and Matt Leinart, were out with respective injuries and the team was totally dependent on the
rookies, such as J.J. Watt and T.J.Yates.
The final 40 yards touchdown score from their wider receiver, Andre Johnson, was last of the Houston Texans' attacks on the Bengals' goal-line, that secured them a thumbing victory over their opposition.
Andre Johnson had been perfect in terms of fitness in the last few games of the regular season of the National Football League (NFL) but the past weekend, he seemed to have overcome all sorts of problems to help his side come out victorious in a must win
situation, in their first ever second round of the postseason.
"This is something not just for me, but for the whole organization," the Texans star receiver said. "It's a very special feeling. That's probably the most I've smiled in a long time."
A better performance came from the Texans’ rookie QB, T.J. Yates, J.J.Watt and running back, Arian Foster, with two touchdowns and total 153 yards.
Yates has been promoted from the fifth pick draft position to the number one position along with given the starting role at the place of Texans’ regular QBs as he was seen up to his potential during the past weekend.
He could not perform as impressively in his last three games of the regular season, but managed to impress overall.
Overall, all departments of the team, especially offense and defense, were back in full form, and made a co-ordinated effort to outclass their opponents in all spheres of the game.
Coach, Gary Kubiak, conceded that they had been lacking the charisma during the regular season.
"We got back to our type of football," Kubiak said, "and that was the key. I'm just very proud of all the guys, and the job they did. Hopefully, there are some more to come."
The Texans also took advantage of four turnovers and mistakes made by the Bengals, which were coming at regular intervals.
Bengals’ coach, Mervin Lewis, apparently did not have an answer for these errors.
"We have to get beyond this," Lewis said. "We play in a very difficult division. We have to win games in the division, that is important and it sets up opportunities like this, all the time."
It was for the first time in the franchise's history that the Texans have reached the playoffs, after finishing at the top of the AFC south and claiming the divisional title.
Now they face the Baltimore Ravens in the next round of the playoff phase.
The game is almost a rematch of a regular season game, which was lost by them. They will be heading to Baltimore for the game with high expectations.
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