Texans confident vs. Ravens
HOUSTON — Someone asked ever-calm Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson what he expected for Sunday’s divisional-round showdown at the second-seeded 12-4 Baltimore Ravens after Houston’s playoff breakthrough Saturday. “Win,” Johnson replied. Now the Texans know what it takes. If they tote Saturday’s punishing rushing attack and takeaway defense that ran the Cincinnati Bengals from the postseason in a 31-10 wildcard demolition, they will be a handful for the Ravens.
Houston rides a wave of confidence into Baltimore.
“Wade Phillips did a great job of taking a defense that was last in the league and lifting it to top 10 in every category,” said wide receiver Derrick Mason, the former Raven who spent seven games with the Texans this season. “The Texans have two very good running backs in Arian Foster and Ben Tate who complement each other and are as good running inside as outside.
“If the Texans can continue that, it’ll be very tough to beat them.”
They’ve hung with the Ravens twice in the last two seasons, only to lose late. Last season, the Texans lost 34-28 in overtime Dec. 13 on a Josh Wilson 12-yard interception return for a touchdown.
They fell 29-14 in Week 6 this season at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium.
“We feel we could have played a whole lot better against them than we did,” defensive coordinator Phillips said. “These games don’t come along that often. We’re going to keep it going here.”
Now it’s a matter of believing they can finish the way they did in outrushing the Bengals 188 yards to 76 and scoring 14 points off three interceptions of rookie quarterback Andy Dalton.
The Ravens haven’t lost in 10 games at home but play a similar punishing style, relying on running back Ray Rice and a stifling, thirdranked scoring defense.
“It’s two old school teams,” Texans safety Danieal Manning said. “It’ll be a hard-hitting game that’s going down to the wire. You have to be able to make big plays in playoff games.”
For the Texans to advance to the AFC Championship Game, the formula is simple. “If we can play mistakefree like we did against Cincinnati and we can run the ball, I like our chances,” right tackle Eric Winston said. “We have to be more consistent running.”
Foster was held to 49 yards on 15 carries last time. Now he’s coming off an inspired, 153-yard, two-touchdown effort.
The biggest difference will be rookie quarterback T.J. Yates. The Ravens sacked injured starter Matt Schaub four times.
“The Ravens will be a real challenge for the Texans,” ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer said. “Baltimore’s defense has a way of forcing you to beat them with your quarterback.”
They learn Sunday if Yates is up to it.