Texans Make Most Of Playoff Debut

Texans Make Most Of Playoff Debut.Team owner Bob McNair was tough nine-year-next-year espera'til frustration, and then vented rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals 31-10 on Saturday matched wildcard defeat.

After a decade of waiting, the AFC South champion Texas plan on extending their postseason stay as long as possible to meet face divisions on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens second planting.

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"I'm sure we can play with anybody," said the ninth year of receiver Andre Johnson, the veteran team with more time. "Maybe some people stop doubting us.

"This is something that this organization has been waiting for."

No one showed more patience than McNair, who buzzed around the locker room high-fiving anyone he could.

"This is our biggest achievement," said McNair. "I'm very proud of our team.

"Many people questioned many of our decisions. We are left with what we thought was right. I'm glad it was worth it for us."

Head coach Gary Kubiak, a Houston native who some thought could dismiss McNair disappear after 6-10 last season, called "A Special Day".

"I was sitting in my office all day before the game, thinking," Holy, the Texans are in a playoff game. '"

Limping into the postseason on a three-game losing streak, the Texans 11-6 followed the advice of the philosopher / Joel Dreessen tight by "pulling the rearview mirror.''


Behind the league without a doubt the best offensive line, which beat the Bengals for 188 yards, including 153 and two touchdowns by sliding runner Arian Foster.

And the defense, which pressured to hit the wall Dalton rookie interception are preparing, beyond-his-years 24-year-old, and three times.

Appropriate for a novice to do the best move in the first battle of rookie quarterbacks from the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Unless it was a rookie midfielder or passerby Texans TJ Dalton JJ Yates, but defensive Watt .

The 6-5, 288 pounds, former Central Michigan tight end was at the University of Wisconsin-foot at the defensive end leaped into the air while it is locked, Dalton called blank range in the second quarter pass from one hand and ran 29 yards into the end zone.

Reliant detonated in an explosion of noise and a flurry of big plays started.

Johnson followed with a 40-yard touchdown in the third quarter when cornerback Adam catch Jones in little action game and Johnson ran into the end zone before making a''"Lambeau leap into the end zone bleachers.

Then, Foster capped the party with a 42-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter when Chris left the safety of air stirring Crocker.

"Return of JJ interception was the opening game, a great turning point,’ said defensive coordinator Wade Phillips." He has done that many times in practice, was not really a surprise.''

Watt inclinations to collect the passes do not always have aroused so much joy. The day after 36-year-old veteran quarterback Jake Delhomme signed with the team a month ago after boot Matt Schaub and backup Matt Leinart was lost to injury, Watt was intercepted three times during a walk through.

"It was kind of madness in me,’ said Watt." He said, 'Hey, that's something I do. That's for me.'''

"I am a real fan of it in practice and in games it becomes second nature.''

Is that the fans commitment to each other that marked progress of the playoffs Saturday as special?

Phillips went from the press gallery Reliant three weeks after gallbladder removed and surgery on a kidney. Yates played a man well after suffering a dislocation that does not release the week before early in the loss to Tennessee.

And right guard Mike Brisiel against the Bengals started a month after fracturing his fibula.

"It was huge again, ‘Wade said linebacker Brian Cushing." He still is not 100%, but seeing him out there every day, you can see how much football means to him and wanted to play well for him.

"After the interception of JJ, you really have to Dalton. And we were able to pressure after that.''

In addition to Watt, two free-agent additions Houston that helped transform a league worst pass defense, cornerback Johnathan Joseph and safety Danieal Manning each intercepted Dalton.

The three interceptions matched the worst performance this season Dalton 31-24 loss to Baltimore on November 20.

"Andy is a key reason we are here today, ‘said rookie receiver AJ Green." There is a lot of quarterbacks in the playoffs the first year. I take my hat off to him.''

Dalton, who finished 24 of 42 for 257 yards, three years old the last time the Bengals won a playoff game.

Coach Marvin Lewis lost its playoff game in the third is as much during his nine-season tenure as coach of Cincinnati. However, Dalton plays young and green, the future looks bright for the 9-8 Bengals, who rebuilt on the fly after two-time Bowl Pro quarterback Carson Palmer calls an office given to mid-October.

"I think we have a bright future,’ said Dalton." We have plenty of young talent here and a lot of guys working hard and want to be good.

"We just have to put everything together.''

The Texans finally elated by what he did, rewarding patience from a decade of strong and loyal fans.

"For too long fans have been dying to make the playoffs and some claim like that,’ said right tackle Eric Winston." This has been a good football town so long.

"He has a championship itself. But I hope this confirms a bit nationally.''

They will receive a shot Sunday against the Ravens team that beat them twice in the past two seasons, including the week June 29 to 14 in Baltimore.

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Texans vs Bengals: NFL Playoffs Wait Ends For Andre Johnson As Andy Dalton, T.J. Yates Debut          

HOUSTON - Year after year, dying, Andre Johnson was asked about his goals for the season and his response does not change.

"I want to get this team to the playoffs," he said.

Now, after years of campaigning often terrible, Johnson and Texas have reached that goal. Cincinnati will face in Saturday's game franchise in the playoffs first.

This is the 10th season in Houston and Johnson has been there for everyone, but the year 1. That makes him the player with more time on the list and the only one that has been in Houston since Coach Gary Kubiak.

The receiver is the face of the franchise. When the Texans were at their worst, was one of the only recognizable names on the computer.

Johnson was long considered one of the best receivers in the NFL, and many wondered why he decided to stay with the Texans when they were never even close to reaching the postseason.

Some also wondered if this team once the playoffs. Johnson was not among them, but never thought it would take so long.

"I always thought positive about it," he said. "It was frustrating and sometimes I've had people ask me why I'm not going, why I stay? I just wanted to be part of something special. I wanted to be here when the Texans began play in the playoffs."

Johnson had chances to leave, but signed two contract extensions. The second will keep him with the team until 2016. Everyone in the organization is pleased to receive 30 years old, is finally getting the shot of the playoffs.

"Think how long it has endured here in Houston," said Kubiak, who was hired in 2006. "A lot of guys in this day and move over time, go somewhere else, they lose patience. André has never done that. It's been a stone around here."

Johnson has had a difficult time, dealing with injuries to both hamstrings. The seven games he has played this season are a career low. He finished with more than 1,200 yards receiving in each of the past three seasons, including a 1575 record in 2008, but had a run of 492 worst this season.

He played for the first time since December 04 last week against the Titans, but was limited to about 15 plays. Kubiak said he will return to full speed Saturday and expected to be key in the game.

"It went," said Johnson. "I did not get to play much this year, but to be back healthy and ready for the playoffs is very exciting. So I'm going to go out there and give everything I have."

Both quarterbacks in this game are not part of the history of Johnson. Houston T.J. Cincinnati Dalton Yates and Andy are novices, the first time two rookie quarterbacks have met in a playoff game.

Yates, the former third-string quarterback, was thrust into the job after the season ending injury to Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart.

"That makes it even more important for children who have been the work of this team, Andre Johnson who have been here forever and stuck with this organization and waited a moment like this," said Yates. "It makes you want to work harder for them just so you can make the most special moment for them."

Cincinnati made the playoffs last in 2009, but has been to the playoffs only three times in the past 21 years. Their last postseason victory came at the end of the 1990 season with a 41-14 victory over the Oilers.

Bengals offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth said the players do not talk much about how much time has passed since they advanced in the postseason.

"We have some guys who were about to be born when that happened," he said. "We have some young players on this team. I promise that some of them have no clue about it. Just focus on what we can do to make your best and win for our city and the Cincinnati Bengals."

Bengals receiver A.J. Green has had an exceptional first year. He became the first rookie receiver to make the Pro Bowl since Anquan Boldin in 2003. He finished the regular season with 65 receptions for 1.057 yards and seven touchdowns.

He also realizes how lucky he is to be in the playoffs, as Cincinnati cornerback Nate Clements has waited more than a decade in coming.

"Being my first year and was the first time in the playoffs, I have not experienced anything else," said Green. "Just talking to a guy like Nate, who has been in the league 11 years and this is your first time in the playoffs. That is crazy. So that's a good feeling."

As for Johnson and the Texans, who now have to find new goals after finally accomplishing this? It was not long for that.

"There is no greater goal than just making the playoffs," said Johnson. "You cannot be satisfied with it. The goal is to reach the Super Bowl."...

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