LITTLE ROCK — 3:30 p.m. Central today, NBC LINE - Texans by 4 1/2 LAST MEETING Houston beat Cincinnati 31-10 Jan. 7.
LAST WEEK Cincinnati beat Baltimore 23-17. Houston lost to Indianapolis 28-16.
RANKINGS Bengals: offense (22), defense (6); Texans: offense (7), defense (7) NOTES Houston is looking for fifth consecutive victory against Bengals. Texans (12-4) have most victories in franchise history. Houston was 6-0 at home against AFC teams this season. Houston QB Matt Schaub will make his first career postseason start today after missing last year’s playoffs with injured foot. Schaub has thrown for more than 4,000 yards for third time in career. Schaub is 2-0 with 672 yards passing, 7 touchdowns and 1 interception in 2 career starts against Bengals. Texans DE J.J. Watt leads NFL with 20 1/2 sacks, tied for sixth most since sacks became official statistic in 1982. Watt’s 16 passes defended are most among defensive linemen. Houston WR Andre Johnson has career-high 1,598 yards receiving. He joins Jerry Rice and Marvin Harrison as only players in NFL history with at least 3 seasons with 1,500 yards receiving. ... Cincinnati has reached playoffs in 2 consecutive seasons for first time since 1981-82, and is looking for first playoff victory since Jan. 6, 1991, against Houston Oilers. Bengals QB Andy Dalton is 19-13 as starter, highest winning percentage by Cincinnati quarterback with minimum of 20 starts in franchise history. Dalton’s 3,669 yards passing and 27 touchdown passes were both career highs. Cincinnati WR A.J. Green has 1,350 yards receiving to become second player in franchise history to reach 1,300 yards receiving in a season. Green’s 162 receptions in first two seasons are second most to start career in NFL history behind Marques Colston’s 168.
Sports, Pages 21 on 01/05/2013