Jan 5 ? Two potent defenses will test a pair of rookie quarterbacks when the Houston Texans host the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday to launch the National Football League playoffs on wild card weekend.
The AFC South champion Texans (10-6) ranked fourth best in points allowed and the Bengals (9-7) ninth, posing daunting challenges for Houston's T.J. Yates and Cincinnati's Andy Dalton in the first NFL playoff duel ever between rookie QBs.
Yates, who began the season as the third-string signal caller, was forced into action after injuries to Texans starter Matt Schaub and back-up Matt Leinart, playing in the last six games of the season as Houston reached its first postseason.
Dalton, a second-round draft pick in 2011 by the Bengals, became the starter when incumbent Carson Palmer declared before the season he was not returning and demanded a trade.
Starting all 16 games for Cincinnati, Dalton teamed up with first-round draft pick A.J. Green to become the first rookie quarterback and receiver duo to pass for more than 3,000 yards and have over 1,000 yards receiving. Dalton made 20 touchdown throws and 13 interceptions.
Houston will have to recover from a season-ending skid that saw them lose their last three games.
Both young quarterbacks had to overcome physical setbacks in the run-up to Saturday's unique playoff clash.
Yates was recovering from an injury to his non-throwing arm, while Dalton, who grew up in the Houston suburbs, was hospitalised Wednesday night with severe flu symptoms. Both were expected to return to practice and be ready for the game.
GROUND ATTACK
With Yates at the helm, the injury-hit Texans have relied more on their ground attack, which ranks second in the league with backs Arian Foster and Ben Tate combining for 2,166 yards and 14 touchdowns.
"There are still things that we need to do well for us to have the best chance to win," conceded Houston coach Gary Kubiak. "That formula for us with a young quarterback's been key with running the ball, playing good defense.
"The thing that's impressive for us is when T.J. makes mistakes, they don't happen again. He corrects things and moves on. He's a young buck playing in a playoff game. I know it's a big, big deal for him. He'll be ready to do his part."
Yates's best game came last month against the Bengals, when Houston overcame a 16-3 halftime deficit to win 20-19. The fifth-round draft pick hit on 26-of-44 passes for 300 yards.
The Texans, whose defense was revitalized this season by new coordinator Wade Phillips despite the loss of standout linebacker Mario Williams, have forced 27 turnovers on defense, five more than the Bengals.
Cincinnati has had trouble beating the better teams in the league, but the Bengals believe they have the kind of high-energy defense that can rise to the occasion.
"We are good," said safety Chris Crocker. "We just have to be consistent. We're good. If we play consistently, it would be very hard for the other team to beat us."
Veteran Houston linebacker Brian Cushing said the Texans were determined to overcome injuries and take advantage of the fall of perennial division favorites Indianapolis Colts after the season-long injury to their quarterback Peyton Manning.
"I think we've just been resilient," Cushing said. "I think a lot of guys around here are sick of going home in January and not making the playoffs, and it was time for us to step up."
(Writing by Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Rex Gowar)
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