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Wild Card Primer: Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) At Houston Texans (10-6)

By Josh Kirkendall
CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 11: Manny Lawson #99 of the Cincinnati Bengals takes the field for the game against the Houston Texans at Paul Brown Stadium on December 11, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 11: Manny Lawson #99 of the Cincinnati Bengals takes the field for the game against the Houston Texans at Paul Brown Stadium on December 11, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Game: Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) At Houston Texans (10-6)
Series Leader: Series tied at three
Streak: Texans have won three straight
Coaches vs. Opponent: Lewis: 2-3. Kubiak: 3-0
Coaches in the Playoffs: Lewis: 0-2. Kubiak: 0-0
Broadcast: NBC (4:30 PM ET): Tom Hammond, Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan (Field reporter). Westwood One Radio: Howard David, Tony Boselli, Mark Malone (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 88 (WW1), 92 (Cin.), 86 (Hou.). XM: 88 (WW1), 225 (Cin.), 226 (Hou.).
SB Nation: Battle Red Blog | SB Nation Game Coverage
NFL.com: Game Center
Weather: Partly cloudy with a high of 38 degrees [Weather Underground]
Uniform: White

CINCINNATI BENGALS

  • The Cincinnati Bengals have reached the playoffs for the third time during Marvin Lewis' tenure ('05, '09, '11).
  • Bengals are looking to record their first postseason win since January 6, 1991 against the Houston Oilers (Wild Card).
  • Andy Dalton (20) tied Hall of Fame quarterback for fourth-most touchdowns thrown by a rookie (Peyton Manning, 26 in 1998; Charlie Conerly, 22 in 1948; Cam Newton, 21 in 2011).
  • Dalton (3,398) registered the fifth-most passing yards by a rookie in NFL history.
  • In his only meeting against the Houston Texans, Dalton posted a passer rating of 89.7.
  • Cedric Benson (1,067) has rushed for 1,000 yards or more for a third consecutive season.
  • Benson generated 169 yards rushing in his last playoff game on January 9, 2010 against the New York Jets.
  • In his last game against the Texans, Benson posted 91 yards rushing.
  • A.J. Green led all NFL rookies in receptions (65) and fell two receptions short of Cris Collinsworth's franchise record of 67 by a rookie.
  • Green's 1,057 yards receiving is the most by a rookie in franchise history.
  • In seven road games this year, Green is averaging 86.1 yards receiving per game with five touchdown receptions.
  • Dalton and Green are the first rookie combination in NFL history with 3,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards receiving.
  • Green is the first Bengals rookie to be selected to the Pro Bowl since Collinsworth in 1981.
  • Jerome Simpson has a touchdown reception in his only meeting against the Houston Texans.
  • Jermaine Gresham posted a career-high in receptions (56), yards receiving (596) and touchdown receptions (6).
  • Defense tied a season-best five quarterback sacks against the Houston Texans earlier this year.
  • Bengals ranked second in the AFC with 45 quarterback sacks (Baltimore, 48).
  • Defensive end Jonathan Fanene tied a career-high with six quarterback sacks.
  • Defensive end Carlos Dunlap has generated 14 quarterback sacks in two season with the Bengals.
  • Defensive tackle Geno Atkins posted a career-high eight quarterback sacks this season.
  • Linebacker Thomas Howard led the team with 94 tackles.
  • Safety Reggie Nelson generated an interception in previous meeting against Houston.
  • Adam Jones has two career punt returns for touchdown against the Texans.

HOUSTON TEXANS

  • Texans earned their first division title and playoff berth in franchise history this year.
  • Rookie quarterback T.J. Yates had a career-best 300 yards passing and two touchdowns during Houston's week 14 win over the Bengals.
  • Houston ranks second in the NFL with 153 yards rushing per game this season.
  • Running back Arian Foster averaged an NFL-best 141.6 yards from scrimmage in 2011.
  • Foster tied NFL-best seven 100-yard games in 2011 (Willis McGahee).
  • Foster averaged 113.2 yards rushing per game in six home games this season.
  • Foster and Ben Tate are the only running backs on the same team with over 900 yards rushing apiece in the same season.
  • Foster registered over 1,200 yards rushing and ten rushing touchdowns in consecutive seasons.
  • Ben Tate averaged 8.4 yards per carry in his only meeting against the Bengals.
  • Tate is averaging 100.4 yards rushing per game when posting 15 rushing attempts or more.
  • During his previous two games against the Cincinnati Bengals, wide receiver Andre Johnson has posted 19 receptions for 278 yards receiving.
  • Since coming into the league in 2003, Johnson ranks second during the regular season with 9,656 yards receiving.
  • Tight end Owen Daniels posted seven receptions for 100 yards receiving in his previous game against the Bengals.
  • Daniels has 299 regular season receptions, second-most in franchise history.
  • Tight end Joel Dreessen posted a career-best six touchdown receptions in 2011.
  • Texans defense allowed 285.7 yards per game in 2011, second fewest in the NFL.
  • Texans registered team record 44 quarterback sacks this season.
  • Linebacker Connor Barwin posted 11.5 quarterback sacks this season, third most in franchise history.
  • Linebacker Brian Cushing tied a career-best four sacks in 2011 and led the team with 114 tackles.

TEAM RANKINGS (FINAL REGULAR SEASON)

Offense Bengals Texans
Total 319.9 (20th) 372.1 (13th)
Scoring 21.5 (18th) 23.8 (10th)
Third Downs 36% (18th) 42% (8th)
Rushing 111.1 (19th) 153.0 (2nd)
Rushing TDs 10 (t-21st) 18 (t-3rd)
20-Yard Runs 6 (30th) 13 (t-11th)
Passing 208.8 (20th) 219.1 (19th)
Passing TDs 20 (t-18th) 21 (t-13th)
Sacks Allowed 25 (t-4th) 33 (t-12th)
20-yard Passes 51 (t-17th) 55 (t-15th)
Defense Bengals Texans
Total 316.2 (7th) 285.7 (2nd)
Scoring 20.2 (9th) 17.4 (4th)
3rd Downs Allowed 36% (12th) 36% (14th)
Rushing 104.7 (10th) 96.0 (4th)
Rushing TDs 14 (t-20th) 8 (t-3rd)
20-Yard Runs 10 (t-10th) 10 (t-10th)
Passing 211.6 (9th) 189.7 (3rd)
Passing TDs 21 (t-9th) 18 (t-6th)
Sacks 45 (5th) 44 (6th)
QB Rating 85.0 (17th) 69.0 (2nd)
20-Yard Passes Allowed 47 (11th) 45 (t-6th)
Interceptions 10 (t-26th) 17 (t-13th)
Special Teams Bengals Texans
Kickoff Return 22.8 (24th) 25.2 (7th)
Punt Return 11.5 (7th) 10.4 (t-14th)
Punting (Net) 39.2 (t-13th) 37.7 (24th)
Punts Inside the 20 24 (t-16th) 19 (t-27th)

CAREER AGAINST THE HOUSTON TEXANS

Andy Dalton

Date Cmp Att Yrds TD INT Rating
12.11.2011 16 28 189 1 0 89.7

Bruce Gradkowski

Date Cmp Att Yrds TD INT Rating
10.3.2010 24 39 278 2 2 78.8

Cedric Benson

Date Rushes Yards TDs
12.11.2011 21 91 0
10.26.2010 13 49 0
10.18.2009 16 44 1

Jerome Simpson

Date Rec Yards TDs
12.11.2011 2 38 1

A.J. Green

Date Rec Yards TDs
12.11.2011 5 59 0

Andre Caldwell

Date Rec Yards TDs
12.11.2011 2 10 0
10.18.2009 6 57 0

Jermaine Gresham

Date Rec Yards TDs
12.11.2011 3 45 0
10.26.2010 4 23 1

HOUSTON TEXANS AGAINST THE BENGALS

T.J. Yates

Date Cmp Att Yrds TD INT Rating
12.11.2011 26 44 300 2 1 85.4

Arian Foster

Date Rushes Yards TDs
12.11.2011 15 41 0

Ben Tate

Date Rushes Yards TDs
12.11.2011 8 67 0

Andre Johnson

Date Rec Yards TDs
10.18.2009 8 135 0
10.26.2008 11 143 0
10.2.2005 3 38 0
11.9.2003 3 30 0

Kevin Walter

Date Rec Yards TDs
12.11.2011 6 76 1
10.18.2009 3 29 0
10.26.2008 5 70 2

Owen Daniels

Date Rec Yards TDs
12.11.2011 7 100 0
10.18.2009 7 78 2
10.26.2008 3 21 0

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