NFL Week 8: Houston Texans vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Superstar receivers Andre Johnson and Chad Ocho Cinco headline this AFC matchup

Texans vs. Bengals Overview:

The first five weeks of the 2008 NFL season were rough on fans with Houston Texans tickets, but they have been rewarded for their loyalty as their team has won two-straight games. Against the hapless Detroit Lions, the Houston Texans looked like the team they had the potential to be. The Cincinnati Bengals’ road so far in the season has not been filled with roadblocks but with sinkholes that reach the center of the earth. The Cincinnati Bengals are in the hunt for their first win while the Houston Texans look to continue the winning momentum.

Houston Texans Offense:

Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson is the best athlete at the position in the NFL and has been the biggest weapon in the arsenal of the team. TE Owen Daniels is another key pass catcher for the Houston Texans, and his presence in the flats helps Andre Johnson get open. RB Steve Slaton has been the surprise of the 2008 NFL season and has Pro Bowl potential. With Andre Johnson, Steve Slaton, and Owen Daniels producing huge numbers and an improving offensive line protecting him, Houston Texans QB Matt Schaub is living up to his billing.

Houston Texans Defense:

The most famous Houston Texans player, Mario Williams, is also the leader of the defense. Able to command double teams and a running back chip-block on every play, Mario Williams always makes an impact, whether he logs a sack or not. MLB DeMeco Ryans is able to make plays because of Mario Williams’ disruptive presence. The Houston Texans secondary had been awful for most of the season, but the return of CB Dunta Robinson from a career-threatening injury has provided a spark to the young unit. OLB Zach Diles and DE Tim Bulman are rising young stars.

Cincinnati Bengals Offense:

Cincinnati Bengals WR Chad Ocho Cinco (formerly Chad Johnson) grabs the headlines and the sound bites but has not been the most productive offensive player on the team. WR T. J. Houshmandzadeh has carried the Cincinnati Bengals on his back and may be done playing second fiddle to Chad Ocho Cinco. The injury to QB Carson Palmer has forced Ryan Fitzpatrick to step into the starting role, and he has struggled against the pass rush. The Cincinnati Bengals offensive line has great tackles, but their poor guard play has limited the running backs.

Cincinnati Bengals Defense:

A pair of great young CBs in Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph is a great building block for the Cincinnati Bengals to have. With Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph blanketing receivers down field, the Cincinnati Bengals are able to bring pressure on the blitz. Safeties Marvin White and Chinedum Ndukwe are another duo of impressive young DBs. The loss of outstanding OLB Keith Rivers to injury is a blow to the subpar front seven of the Cincinnati Bengals and hurts the young secondary. DE Frostee Rucker and MLB Dhani Jones have emerged as a surprise force this season.

Houston Texans Keys to Victory:

The Houston Texans ripped apart the terrible Detroit Lions secondary thanks to Andre Johnson being uncoverable by the lackluster secondary. With the excellent DBs of the Cincinnati Bengals, Matt Schaub will have a tougher time finding Andre Johnson open. To help open things up the Houston Texans will try and feed the weak front seven of the Cincinnati Bengals a big helping of Steve Slaton. With Keith Rivers being out with a broken jaw, Steve Slaton has the potential for a career day. Fans with Houston Texans tickets could be given a scoring bonanza on Sunday.

With Ryan Fitzpatrick behind center, the Houston Texans can focus on keeping the Cincinnati Bengals running game shutdown. The Houston Texans secondary is not a great unit, but in all honesty Ryan Fitzpatrick is not a great quarterback. With Mario Williams providing plenty of pressure, the Houston Texans should get a strong pass rush up the middle with DT Amobi Okoye. Blitzing OLB Zach Diles off the edge will force Ryan Fitzpatrick to make bad throws. CB Dunta Robinson needs a big game to get back into rhythm after returning from injury.

Cincinnati Bengals Keys to Victory:

The Cincinnati Bengals need to establish the running game with RBs Cedric Benson and Chris Perry to offset an aggressive Mario Williams. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is adjusting to being a starter and needs to be protected. The Cincinnati Bengals have the weapons at WR in Chad Ocho Cinco and T. J. Houshmandzadeh to burn the Houston Texans. An established running game and a protected Ryan Fitzpatrick could really make the Cincinnati Bengals a dangerous team and makes them more than capable of scorching the Houston Texans defense.

The high-flying antics of Andre Johnson may sell Houston Texans tickets, but the heart of their offense is RB Steve Slaton. The Cincinnati Bengals must stop the versatile RB from being a force in the run and screen games. Thanks to the talent of Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph, the Cincinnati Bengals can double Andre Johnson and leave the other corner in an island against the lesser receivers. Houston Texans QB Matt Schaub has given away a lot of turnovers, and pressure can make him panic. DEs Antwaan Odom and Frostee Rucker need big games.

Texans vs. Bengals Outlook:

The past two games have given fans with Houston Texans tickets hope in their young franchise. The Houston Texans have great pieces on defense, offense, and special teams, and putting these pieces together is the real trick. The Cincinnati Bengals also have superstar talent at some positions and poor talent at others. Getting on the same page has been the biggest hurdle for the Cincinnati Bengals, and their talent is much greater than their 0-7 record indicates.

The Houston Texans (2-4) and the Cincinnati Bengals (0-7) are at the bottom of two elite divisions in the AFC South and AFC North. Both of these teams’ records would be a lot closer to .500 if they played in different divisions. Fans with Houston Texans tickets can look forward to this game however, as the Houston Texans seem to have it all together and look to continue their winning streak. The Houston Texans have the advantage, but the dazzling duo of wide receivers for the Cincinnati Bengals cannot be counted out.