SATURDAY (4PM): cin @ HOU

GAME CHART
10-6 (6-2 away)	cin		@		HOU		12-4 (6-2 home)
avg DEF ppg		20.0		26.0		avg OFF ppg
avg OFF ppg		24.4		20.7		avg DEF ppg
pass DEF rank		7th		11th		pass OFF rank
rush DEF rank		12th		8th		rush OFF rank
pass OFF rank		17th		16th		pass DEF rank
rush OFF rank		18th		7th		rush DEF rank
defensive formation		4-3		3-4		defensive formation
none		key injuries				none
FORECAST
N/A
STAT ALERT
-          HOU has lost 3 of their last 4 games -          CIN allowed the 7th most sacks in the NFL Regular Season -          CIN has won 7 of their last 8 games -          CIN defence 5th in NFL in average Yards Per Play allowed (4.9)
ANALYST INSIGHT
I expect HOU DE J.J. Watt to have a big game at home against the Bengals offensive line…If, by some miracle, the Bengals are able to block HOU DE Watt, establish a strong rushing attack and make big plays downfield to A.J. Green, they'll have a chance to pull off the upset – J. REED The Bengals are better in the secondary, and that will help them contain Texans star wideout Andre Johnson. CIN WR A.J. Green was quiet in his first playoff game last year, but this time the Texans' vulnerable secondary will have its hands full with Green's speed. This should be a tight game. Look for Cincinnati to win ugly on a late field goal – V. IYER The Texans won this game by a 31-10 count a year ago with QB T.J. Yates subbing for an injured Matt Schaub. A similar result would not surprise here – R. THE HANDLE
FINAL PREDICTION
HOU		SU		vs SPR		CIN (+4.5)
A Wild Card rematch of a season prior, the Bengals will focus heavily on the pass attack in a bid to upset HOU on their own field in this Wild Card pairing. The Texans have been mired in a funk of late having lost 3 of their last 4 outings due large in part to their secondary failing them in key moments of ball games. The stout CIN defence, particularly versus the pass, should stymie the Texans offense throughout this matchup lending to many opportunities for this overachieving Bengals squad to make a game of this affair. On the flip side, Nasty ‘Nati’s rush offence will be hindered by a strong HOU front four, Defensive Player of the Year candidate DE J.J. Watt sure to be leading the charge. If anything is to be taken from the last time these two met in a playoff matchup it's that the rush attack will be key to the Bengals success in this spot. With HOU having limited CIN Pro Bowl wideout A.J. Green to 5 catches for a paltry 47 yards last playoff game, this is something that won’t come their way easily.

	Pro*Line #	avg @road	prediction	QB	prediction	avg @home	Pro*Line #
Dalton	20.5	21.5	OVER			23.3	21.5	Schaub
	Pro*Line #	avg @road	prediction	RB	prediction	avg @home	Pro*Line #
Green-Ellis	69.5	76.5	UNDER			84.1	94.5	Foster
	Pro*Line #	avg @road	prediction	WR	prediction	avg @home	Pro*Line #
Green	6.5	7.3	OVER		UNDER	8.5	7.5	Johnson

avg sacks		prediction	SACKS (PRO*LINE #)	prediction	avg sacks
2.9		UNDER	5.5	UNDER	1.7
season total		prediction	FUMBLES (PRO*LINE #)	prediction	season total
10			1.5		4
season total 40+		prediction	LONG PASS (PRO*LINE #)	prediction	season total 40+
14		OVER	46.5	OVER	8
season total 20+		prediction	LONG RUSH (PRO*LINE #)	prediction	season total 20+
13		OVER	25.5	OVER	15
season total 50+	season total 40-49	prediction	LONG FGM (PRO*LINE #)	prediction	season total 40-49	season total 50+
2-4	9-12	OVER	45.5	OVER	7-9	4-9
avg yds PTR		prediction	LONG PTR (PRO*LINE #)	prediction	avg yds PTR
7.8			16.5		10.1
avg half		prediction	1ST HALF (PRO*LINE #)	prediction	avg half
12.2			21.5		13.0
avg half		prediction	2ND HALF (PRO*LINE #)	prediction	avg half
12.2			21.5		13.0