PRIMER: Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans

Game: Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) at Houston Texans (12-4)
Time: 4:25 PM (ET)
Location: Reliant Stadium
Series Leader: Series tied, 3-3
Streak: Texans have won the past three
Coaches vs. Opponent: Lewis: 2-4. Kubiak: 4-0
Broadcast: NBC (4:30 PM ET): Dan Hicks, Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan (Field reporter). Dial Global Radio: Tom McCarthy, Tony Boselli, Steve Tasker (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 88 (DGR), 92 (Cincinnati), 86 (Houston). XM: 88 (DGR), 225 (Cincinnati), 226 (Houston).
SB Nation: Battle Red Blog
NFL.com: Game Center
Weather: 53 degrees and party cloudy [Weather Underground]
Uniform: White

CINCINNATI BENGALS

• Club has reached the postseason for the fourth time under head coach Marvin Lewis (2005, 2009, 2011-2012).
• Cincinnati has reached the postseason in consecutive seasons for first time since 1981-82.
• Bengals aiming to record their first postseason win since January 6, 1991 against the Houston Oilers (Wild Card).
• Bengals went 6-2 on the road this season.
• Quarterback Andy Dalton, native of Katy, Texas, is 19-13 (.594) as starter, highest all-time win percentage by Bengals quarterback (min. 20 starts).
• Dalton posted career-bests in passing yards (3,669) and touchdowns (27) this season.
• The second-year quarterback generated a 95.1 fourth quarter rating in 2012.
• Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis generated a career-high 1,094 yards rushing in 2012. Has rushed for 183 yards on 47 carries in 4 career postseason games (all with NE)
• Wide receiver A.J. Green (1,350) is the second player in Bengals history to reach 1,300 receiving yards in season Chad Johnson.
• Green’s 97 receptions in 2012 tied for fourth-most in single season by a Bengals player.
• Green (162) has second-most receptions in first two seasons of a career in NFL history, trailing only Marques Colston (168).
• In two career games against Houston, Green has generated ten receptions for 106 yards receiving.
• Green is the first wide receiver selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons in the league since Randy Moss (1998-99).
• Wide receiver Andrew Hawkins posted career-highs in receptions (51), receiving yards (533) and touchdowns (4) this season.
• Rookie wide receiver Marvin Jones posted his first career touchdown catch last week
• Tight end Jermaine Gresham (64) posted second-most receptions by a tight end in franchise history in 2012 (Dan Ross , 71 in 1981)
• Bengals defense ranked third in NFL with franchise-best 51 sacks this season
• Defense allowed third-fewest yards per game (319.7) in AFC in 2012.
• Defensive tackle Geno Atkins (12.5) and defensive end Michael Johnson (11.5) ranked No. 2 and 3, respectively, for most sacks by Bengal in season since 1982 (Eddie Edwards, 13 in 1983).
• Atkins has a quarterback sack in only postseason appearance.
• Since 2010, Atkins leads NFL defensive tackles with 23 sacks
• Rookie linebacker Vontaze Burfict posted team-high 127 tackles
• Linebacker Rey Maualuga had career-high 122 tackles in 2012.
• Cornerback Terence Newman has played in five career postseason games (all with Dallas)
• PR-CB Adam Jones (with Titans) has two career PR-TDs against Texans (52, 53)
• Club had 2 players selected to 2013 Pro Bowl (DT Atkins, WR Green).

HOUSTON TEXANS

• Texans generated the most wins in a single-season in franchise history (12).
• Captured AFC South title for second consecutive season.
• Posted 6-0 record at home against the AFC this season.
• Including the postseason, Houston aims to record their fifth consecutive win against the Bengals
• Quarterback Matt Schaub will make his first postseason start.
• Schaub (4,008) reached 4,000 passing yards for the third time in his career (4,770 in 2009; 4,370 in 2010).
• In two career regular season starts against the Bengals, Schaub is 2-0, completing 52 of 68 passes (76.5 pct.) for 672 yards with seven touchdowns against one interception and a 135.2 passer rating.
• At home in 2012, Schaub had 13 touchdowns and four interceptions for a passer rating of 101.7.
• Running back Arian Foster has rushed for 100-plus yards in each of his two career postseason games (153, 132).
• Against the Bengals in the Wild Card round last season, Foster rushed for 153 yards on 24 carries (6.4 avg.) with two touchdowns.
• Foster posted an NFL-best 17 touchdowns (15 rush, 2 receiving) in 2012.
• Since 2010, Foster leads the NFL in total touchdowns (47).
• Registered seven games with 100-plus yards rushing in 2010 and the Texans are 7-0 in such games
• Wide receiver Andre Johnson (1,598) joined Hall of Famer Jerry Rice (4) and Marvin Harrison (3) as only players in NFL history to register at least three seasons with 1,500 receiving yards.
• Johnson is averaging 122.7 receiving yards per game in the past three against Cincinnati (including the playoffs).
• Johnson posted five receptions for 90 yards (18 avg.) with a touchdown in playoff game against Cincinnati.
• Johnson has totaled 13 catches for 201 yards (15.5 avg.) with a touchdown in two career postseason games.
• Wide receiver Kevin Walter spent three seasons with the Bengals (2003-05)
• Tight end Owen Daniels generated a career-best six touchdowns in 2012
• Defensive end J.J. Watt had NFL-best 20.5 sacks in 2012, tied for sixth-most since sacks became official stat in 1982.
• Watt posted 16 passes defensed in 2012, most among defensive linemen in the NFL.
• Watt has 3.5 sacks in two career postseason games and a 29-yard interception-return for a touchdown in the wild card game against Cincinnati last season.
• Linebacker Brooks Reed has 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble in two career playoff games.
• Linebacker Whitney Mercilus is tied for first among AFC rookies with six sacks
• Defensive end Antonio Smith has three sacks, a forced fumble and recovery in six career postseason games
• Cornerback Jonathan Joseph was selected in the first round (No. 24) by Cincinnati during the 2006 NFL Draft and spent five seasons in Cincinnati
• Safety Daniel Manning and Joseph each posted interceptions during last year's wild card game against Cincinnati.
• Safety Glover Quin posted team-high 84 tackles
• Club had AFC-best and franchise-record 8 players selected to 2013 Pro Bowl (OT Duane Foster, RB Arian Foster, WR Andre Johnson, CB Johnathan Joseph, C Chris Myers, QB Matt Schaub, G Wade Smith, DE J.J. Watt.

TEAM RANKINGS