ThaShark316
#28
The Run, Part I of IV
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The Houston Texans are hosting the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday to begin the NFL playoffs for the second straight year.
This time, Matt Schaub will be in the spotlight.
Schaub will make his first postseason start as the stumbling Texans try to eliminate Cincinnati in the wild-card round, a year after they did so with a third-string quarterback.
Houston's first playoff game in franchise history was a 31-10 victory over Cincinnati last year to open wild-card weekend. T.J. Yates was the Texans' quarterback since Schaub was lost for the season after 10 games due to a foot injury and former backup Matt Leinart also was sidelined.
"It is exciting," Schaub said. "It's an exciting time of year to be a part of this to get ready to play in a playoff game, especially here at home in front of our home fans."
How excited the third-seeded Texans (12-4) truly are for Saturday is debatable. Houston lost its final two regular-season games when a victory in either would have given it a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
"We didn't handle the end of the season the way we wanted to handle it, but that doesn't mean that we can't handle these playoffs the way we want to handle it," coach Gary Kubiak said. "We understand how we have to play."
Schaub had 21 touchdown passes to nine interceptions during the Texans' 11-1 start, but had one TD and three picks over their 1-3 finish.
"I've just got to play a little more consistent," said Schaub, who has not thrown a pass in a playoff game in nine NFL seasons. "I definitely know when things aren't going well to look at myself first because I'm the one that's putting everyone in position and trying to make the plays."
Andy Dalton, meanwhile, has guided Cincinnati (10-6) to its first consecutive playoff berths since 1981-82. He's looking to make amends after he threw three interceptions and was sacked four times while finishing with the second-worst passer rating of his career at 51.4 in last year's defeat.



MORE PICKS: http://www.nfl.com/playoffs/story/0...nd-analysts-picks-for-first-round-of-playoffs
What I want to see:
Let's get some toss plays going with Arian and Tate
I think Cincy's front is badass. That said, I want to see the Texans get their front seven moving around. They might be a little susceptible to play action, so making them move around with the RUN might do more good for the offense.
Better safety play, especially on deep balls
Between Manning, GQ and Demps; the Texans have been getting burned at times on deep balls. With one of the best deep ball receivers coming to town, that needs to be fixed. You, me, and everyone else knows that Dalton will go up top. It's up to the Texans to cover well so Dalton has to go underneath or take sacks.
Schaub and OL...get it together
Matt cannot get beat up in this one. I can't stress enough how he also needs to remain confident, don't make silly mistakes, and also, don't make any "gotta get rid of it" throws when he has time. Gotta have the OL on their best behavior.
Limit the penalties
Something that has plagued us for weeks now. Too many penalties, especially on offense. That said, Barwin...BE STILL, sir.
Bonus: BE LOUD!
Let's get hyped for this one! It's the playoffs. I know some folks aren't hyped at all, but let's get that way if you aren't. Where ever you are watching the game, be LOUD!!!
IT'S PLAYOFF TIME!!!!!!!!! Let's get this **** going, fam. What happened in the Regular Season, good or bad, is over and done with. There isn't a thing you can do about spilled milk. Saturday is a day where we start to right this ship and get back to Texans football. Nothing, of course, has changed: 1-0 is the goal and battle cry this week. This is our building, so it's time to the rattle the cages of the Bengals, send them home for the Winter, and move on to the next round. We're in the dance, folks...so let's put our dancing shoes on! LET'S MUTHA****IN' GO, TEXANS!!!!