Bengals Flawed Gameplan Involved Everyone But A.J. Green

The Cincinnati Bengals offense struggled badly on Saturday, especially in the first half when A.J. Green didn't see a single pass.

Revisiting Bengals Five Keys Against The Texans

We offered a five keys breakdown during our All You Need To Know posting. We take a look at how that worked out.

Houston Texans Bounce Cincinnati Bengals Out Of The Postseason (Again)

The season is over. There is no tomorrow, no next week, no next game. There won't be a chance for the Bengals to redeem themselves, a forget this game, until early September.

Bengals Scratch Together Decent Drive; Climb Within One Possession

The Bengals have pieced together a solid offensive drive with a combination of clutch plays and penalties to attempt to climb back into the game. The entire day hasn't been pretty and the drive to begin the fourth quarter was an example of the same, clawing for every yard that they attained. The entire day hasn't been pretty but the game is within one possession for either team to take control.

After a couple of nice runs by BenJarvus Green-Ellis and some short passes to Andrew Hawkins and A.J. Green, the Bengals got within one possession of the Houston Texans on a Josh Brown 47-yard field goal.

Though the Bengals' defense coming up huge after giving up some significant yardage, the current MVP of the day should be pointed towards Josh Brown and his two huge field goals. The latest was a long one and has helped to prove why the team decided to IR Mike Nugent in favor of Brown.

Texans still lead 19-13 in the fourth quarter.

A.J. Green Shows Up And Bengals Offense Finally Scores

The Bengals finally remembered that A.J. Green is on the team and they decided that they should get him involved. Subsequently, they scored their first offensive points.

Texans Take 16-7 Lead For The Ineffective Offense To Rebound (Right)

Second half adjustments. A concept that offensive coordinator and head coaching candidate vastly failed to recognize on Saturday. Leading an offense that failed to generate 60 yards of total offense in the first half, Andy Dalton and company remotely failed to establish anything recognizable to competency.

After their fifth punt of the afternoon on six possessions (with one of those being a knee to end the first half), the Houston Texans charged downfield with a 51-yard touchdown drive, giving the Texans a 16-7 lead.

And honestly, it's not going to be pretty. The defense has been on the field for 26:13 of a possible 34:29 and the offense is awful. There's nothing else needing said at this point.

SECOND HALF OPEN THREAD: Bengals at Texans

The Bengals offense stinks. The defense is playing better, but as good as they have. This is the second half open thread.

Bengals Trail Texans 9-7 At Halftime In Houston

The Bengals offense has been non-existant throughout the majority of first half of the team's playoff game in Houston as part of the NFL's Wildcard weekend.

Texans March Downfield; Regain Lead On Graham Field Goal

The Bengals' defense has played well, but haven't brought they "A Game". After a Leon Hall pick six, the Texans responded well with another extended drive that ended in yet another field goal. Matt Schaub picked apart the Bengals defense with some nice runs by Arian Foster sprinkled into the mix.

Although the Texans offense keep marching, the Cincinnati defense has decided to flex its muscle when their backs are up against the wall. After three quality drives by Houston, the Bengals have forced three Shayne Graham field goals. Regardless of the Bengals defense holding strong when it needed to, the lack of a strong pass rush has to be alarming.

The Bengals offense will need to start towing the line after an absolutely horrible first half. The only highlights were two good runs by BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Houston currently leads Cincinnati, 9-7.

Bengals Lead 7-6 After Leon Hall Pick Six

The Bengals defense has looked better than their offense, but it hasn't been able to contain the Texans completely.

Bengals Nonexistent Passing Game Shows Up Early Against The Texans

We've known a secret for a while now.

The Cincinnati Bengals passing game isn't very good. During the first five called passes against the Houston Texans, Dalton has dropped back five times. The first was a bad drop by Jermaine Gresham on second down during Cincinnati's opening possession. Houston forced a third down incomplete on a nice play involving another attempted Gresham reception.

After Houston took a 3-0 lead and following BenJarvus Green-Ellis' 29-yard sprint off the right side, Dalton is forced to scramble on first down, followed by a Conner Barwin destroying a screen pass to Green-Ellis for a six-yard loss. The possession ends after J.J. Watt sacked Dalton for a nine-yard loss, forcing the Bengals to punt.

Dalton's stat line in the first quarter is one completion on three attempts for -6 yards passing.

Texans Take 3-0 Lead Despite Rey Maualuga's Best Efforts

For a moment the defensive O.K. Corral appeared to take shape when both defenses forced the opposing offenses into three and out situations. Kevin Huber punted the football 53 yards, which Cedric Peerman downed at the four-yard line.

Houston opened the drive with a series of plays that exposed Rey Maualuga in the middle as a coverage linebacker, while also taking advantage of Cincinnati's reactions on an end around that gained 16 yards. Eventually the 65-yard possession stalled on nine plays, forcing former Bengals place kicker Shayne Graham to convert a 48-yard field goal with around eight minutes remaining in the game.

The Texans offensive line are holding their own against Cincinnati's pass rush and Maualuga was heavily featured as a disaster.

OPEN THREAD: Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans

The Cincinnati Bengals open the 2012 playoff weekend for the NFL in a rematch against the Houston Texans.

Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans Inactive List: Chris Crocker Out

Bengals safety Chris Crocker is out against the Houston Texans. Here's the rest of the inactive list.

PREGAME OPEN THREAD: Bengals at Texans

It's time. The Bengals will hope to reset the culture of Cincinnati football with a win over the Texans on Saturday.

Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans: All You Need To Know

A collections of stories, previews and information heading into the wild card round between the Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans.