Can Houston Upset Ravens In Baltimore?
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- Category: Sports
2011-2012 AFC Divisional Preview
The Houston Texans have always been the other team in Texas, sitting behind the historic and iconic Dallas Cowboys franchise. Coming into the league as an expansion team over a decade ago, the Houston Texans have slowly put together quality seasons over the past few years. The only problem was that they shared a division with an Indianapolis Colts team that was led by four-time league MVP Peyton Manning. Already predicted to contend for the division by many sports analysts, the Houston Texans caught a huge break when Manning was forced to sit out the entire season due to an ailing neck injury that resulted in the Colts going from a 10-win team to a 2-win team, searching the lottery draft for answers.
The Houston Texans opened the season with guns blazing, appearing to many to be one of the elite teams in the league. After securing the AFC South and the team's first ever playoff birth, the Texans got hit with the injury bug, losing both their first and second string quarterbacks. The injuries combined with a lack of intensity down the stretch resulted in the Texans losing their final three games prior to the post-season. Although the Texans struggled in their final games before the start of playoffs, the team from Houston successfully dismantled the Bengals in route to the franchise's first ever playoff victory. Now, with the Houston Texans ready to visit the AFC North champion Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round of the playoffs, the sports writers at GPS Tracker Shop will make their prediction on which team will move forward to the AFC championship game.
Houston, We Have A Problem
Winning any game in the postseason is impressive, but truth be told the Houston win over the Bengals was sort of expected. Yes, the Texans were playing with a third-string quarterback, but the calling card of Houston's success all season was defense and a powerful running game. Therefore, the quarterback for Houston simply needed to manage the game, avoid turnovers and occasionally throw the ball up to arguably the best wide receiver in the league in Andre Johnson. Unfortunately, the game plan will likely not be effective in Baltimore against a team that prides itself on stopping the run and putting heavy pressure on the opposing team's quarterback. "If Houston is going to follow up their wild-card win with an even more impressive playoff road win in Baltimore they are going to need outstanding play from Houston's quarterback", explained a GPS Tracker Shop NFL sports writer. "The third-string quarterback for the Texans is going to be required to play like a veteran first-string quarterback if Houston hopes to have any chance of advancing to the AFC championship where they will likely face the New England Patriots."
Houston At Baltimore Prediction
All of the past playoff failures by the Baltimore Ravens will only help Joe Flacco finally take the next step toward becoming an elite quarterback, and a strong performance this weekend against the Texans will only help his confidence. Expect the Ravens defense to shut down the run attack of the Texans, forcing Houston to throw the ball much more than they would prefer to do so. With a strong pass rush led by Ray Lewis and a opportunistic secondary led by Ed Reed, the Ravens will push forward with relative ease into the AFC championship title game.
Houston 12 Baltimore 31