Defense leads Texans to First Playoff Win

Brian Cushing After a Tackle on Saturday

It had been 17 years, 11 months, and 22 days since the City of Houston hosted an AFC Playoff Game before yesterday's Wild Card Game against the Cincinnati Bengals.  The Houston faithful experienced the miseries of the Oilers' move to Tennessee and the tough years that came with an expansion team.  As the 2011 season began, Gary Kubiak's job was on the line after only one winning season and no playoff appearances through his first five seasons as the Texans' head coach.  2011 would be the year for the Texans as the division bully, Indianapolis Colts, were without their star Quarterback Peyton Manning for the season.  The Texans took advantage and stormed to their first division crown, but a plague of injuries would hit the team.  The team survived injuries to their first and second string quarterbacks, as well as star Wide Receiver Andre Johnson, Running Back Arian Foster, and LB Mario Williams.  Even with the injuries, the Texans found confidence in 3rd String Quarterback T.J. Yates, who won 3 of 6 to finish out the season.

As the playoffs began, the Texans were facing their toughest task in franchise history-to win a playoff game.  Texans' tailgaters began at dawn on Saturday to prepare for the upcoming playoff game against the Bengals.  The overcapacity crowd of 71,725 gave the Texans a clear home-field advantage throughout the game, but it wasn't the Texans who struck first.  A 5 play, 74 yard drive by the Bengals set up a 1 yard TD run by Cedric Benson midway through the first quarter.  The Texans responded with a 6 play, 80 yard drive and an Arian Foster 8 yard TD run to tie up the score.  The Bengals continued to wear down the Texans' defense, but their offense was beginning to fade.  Cincinnati missed a field goal, made a field goal, and threw a pick 6 over their next three possessions.  The Texans finally were ahead in the ballgame after playing from behind for most of the first half.

The Texans' defense finally found the weaknesses in Quarterback Andy Dalton's game.  Dalton struggled the rest of the game, throwing two more interceptions and being sacked numerous times.  The Texans' offense took advantage and extended their lead to 21 with two more touchdowns before the game was over.  As the clock hit zero, Houstonians celebrated as if the Texans had won the Super Bowl.  Fireworks were set off across the Greater Houston area and sports bars were filled with screaming fans.  The Texans' playoff victory is one of the greatest moments in the history of Houston Sports, but the team needs to focus on another tough playoff game, this time in Baltimore next Sunday afternoon.