Houston Texans target win versus Minnesota Vikings to get home advantage in playoffs – NFL Preview
The Houston Texans are through to the playoffs and have won the American Football Conference (AFC) South division but they are targeting a win versus the visiting Minnesota Vikings this Sunday (Dec. 23) to have a benefit of the home-field advantage in the
second round.
Coach Gary Kubiak has backed the team to attempt to walk past the Vikings in their second straight home-game on the weekend, saying the home-field advantage will be a great help for their progression in the second round.
Gary said:
"It'd be huge for this team because playing at home in this league and having the benefit of your crowd and getting off on cadence and all those types of things, it's a big, big factor in success in this league.”
He added:
"We worked hard to get to the playoffs. We worked hard to win a division and now we got to continue that same effort to try to find a way to possibly be a one seed in this playoff hunt."
Kubiak still rues the New England Patriots' defeat a week earlier. He said they could have put some points on the board.
It nevertheless was a good opportunity for them to consolidate their strength just before start of the season. They went on to regain their lost touch next week and thrashed the Colts easily.
For the Vikings, who still hold an outright chance for a playoff berth, the game of running back Adrian Peterson and quarterback Christian Ponder will be crucial. Peterson is targeting the league’s record of being the only player averaging above 100 yards
per game.
He is crucial part of the visitors with offence leader QB Ponder whose per pass attempt average is 5.95. Both of them however will probably be aware that the Texans have been led by defensive coordinator Wade Phillips to be one of the best defences in the
league.
It is second straight time in last two years that Wade has led the Texans to the playoffs and AFC South title win. He had the honours during his very first year with the Texans as a DC. He has consistently been developing the defensive line of the team to
be invincible most of the time since then.
The role of the team’s offensive trio will be crucial to their chances to beat the Vikings. Running back Arian Foster and Quarterback Matt Schaub are at the forefront of the team’s offence, and should lead them to still a crucial victory. Wide receiver Andre
Johnson's game stands equally crucial.
Both – the team officials and players – have vowed not to compromise on their preparations for the game and that they will target a victory, irrespective of the fact what position they stand at present. Overall, they hold a better chance over the visitors
to do that.
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