Foot Injury - Card Playoff Preview - Nfl - Texans Afc Wild

NFL playoffs 2013:

An analytical first look at Saturday's NFL wild-card playoff matchup (4:30 p.m. ET, NBC) between the Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) and Houston Texans (12-4):

Story lines

The Bengals have won eight of nine games to surge into this playoff rematch. The Texans, meanwhile, lost three of their final four games to squander the AFC's No. 1 seed and settle for a first-round home date. That gives a more experienced Cincinnati team a better chance to avenge last year's 31-10 playoff loss at Houston. This also marks the first playoff opportunity for Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, who missed last year's game with a foot injury . Schaub needs to shake off a cold December for Houston to make to make a run.

Bengals player to watch

A.J. Green. The Texans' defense shut down Green in last year's matchup, as he was held to only five catches for 47 yards. Top cornerback Johnathan Joseph and the rest of Houston's secondary, however, have struggled in giving up big pass plays to speedy receivers in recent weeks. Andy Dalton will target Green often downfield and test that group, which can't afford to let Green run behind the safeties.

Texans player to watch

J.J. Watt. His coming-out party started in January against the Bengals, when his 29-yard interception return for a touchdown before halftime gave the Texans a 17-10 lead they never relinquished. The Bengals have had some interior pass protection issues in front of Dalton, and need to invest extra blocking resources to keep Watt from getting in his face.

Matchup to watch

Bengals' defensive line vs. Texans' offensive line. Cincinnati, led by tackle Geno Atkins' 12 1/2 sacks, finished second in the NFL with 51, one behind Denver. But Mike Zimmer's pressure defense also has a pass-rushing end in Michael Johnson (11 1/2 sacks).

The Bengals' push from the right side sets up a great battle with Texans left tackle Duane Brown and left guard Wade Smith, both Pro Bowl selections. Brown's job will be to handle Johnson one-on-one in pass protection, but expect Smith to get plenty of help from Pro Bowl center Chris Myers to help contain the relentless Atkins. The Texans' trio will have the edge when run blocking for Arian Foster.

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