Ravens vs. Texans Preview

Jan 13, 2012

Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans Preview

The Baltimore Ravens have never lost to Houston Texans. They are 5-0 in all of their meetings against the Texans. They meet again this Saturday at 1:00 PM ET at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore Maryland for an AFC divisional playoff game. The Ravens claimed their first AFC North title since 2006 largely in part to going 8-0 at home for the first time in Ravens history. The Ravens are looking to win their fourth straight playoff opener while the Texans are trying to keep alive their first playoff appearance. The Ravens pride themselves in taking care of business at home. They’ve won ten in a row here in Baltimore while only giving up an average of 15 points a game. The Texans won their first ever playoff game last weekend with a 31-10 shellacking of the Bengals.

What the Ravens need to do to win: The Ravens need to get pressure on rookie quarterback T.J. Yates. Yates is surrounded by weapons such as All-Pro’s Andre Johnson and Arian Foster and they need to pressure him from the start and rattle the rookie quarterback. Both teams run the ball very effectively so the Ravens need to shut down Foster from the start and not allow him to beat them with his playmaking ability. The Ravens also need quarterback Joe Flacco to play a mistake free game. Flacco threw for 305 yards in the Ravens victory over the Texans earlier in the season and they will need a repeat performance to get out of Baltimore with a victory. This is a matchup of top five defenses and turnovers by Flacco could be the difference between a victory and a loss. Lastly Ray Rice is going to have to step up and have a big game so that the Ravens don’t have to rely on Flacco’s arm to put points on the board.

What the Texans need to do to win: There are three things that the Houston Texans need to do to escape Baltimore with a victory. They need Arian Foster to have a huge game, with a rookie quarterback in a hostile playoff atmosphere, they can’t expect too much heroics from Yates. Secondly they need to play mistake free football. Getting the momentum back after a turnover while on the road in the playoffs is next to impossible in the NFL so the Texans simply can’t turn the ball over. Baltimore is loaded with playmakers all over their defense so the Texans have their hands full. Lastly Andre Johnson has to have a big game. He didn’t play in their first meeting earlier this season but he will be ready to go on Saturday. Johnson is a big, explosive wide receiver who can put Yate’s cannon arm to use.

Prediction: All around these teams match up well against each other. They run the ball efficiently, don’t turn the ball over, and play outstanding defense. Look for the Ravens to crowd the line of scrimmage trying to get to Yates to early. Andre Johnson is the x-factor in this one, as there isn’t a corner on the Raven’s roster that can guard him. Look for the Texans to give the ball to Foster often and early. Texans 20, Ravens 17.

Written By: Stefan Linge