The Texans defeated the Bengals 20-19 just 4 wks ago to win the AFC South. CIN had a 16-3 lead at the end of the 1H being held to 3 FG's on 3 trips inside the HOU31. The Texans crushed them in the 2H with 16-6 FD and 202-81 yd edges with Yates leading an 80/13pl yd drive for the GW TD. HOU is 5-3 at home TY with a +103 yd margin (-2 TO's) for a 22-6 avg score. CIN finished 5-3 on the road TY for a -16 yd difference (+2 TO's) for a 24-21 avg score. The AFC North/South squared off TY with CIN going 5-4 vs common foes for a +14 ypg margin (+2 TO's) with a 23-22 avg scoring deficit. HOU was +85 ypg on avg (+5 TO's) for a 24-15 avg score going 6-3 in those. While this is HOU's 1st playoff game ever CIN doesn't have much of an edge as they haven't won a playoff game since Jan 1991. Reliant Stadium will be incredibly loud here and Dalton's only other dome game was vs STL. Despite resting key players LW (& Yates leaving early) HOU put in a good game vs TEN and got their confidence back. Yates is expected to start vs a team HOU beat on the road. CIN has promise for 2012 but the Texans are deeper on both sides of the ball with a big intangible edge and are my pick to win it.

NO beat the Lions 31-17 on SNF just 5 weeks ago as Brees hit for 342 yds (72%) with 3 TD's and a 9.5 ypa vs a Lions defense short 3 starters (DT Suh, FS Delmas, CB Houston). The Saints went into the half with a 304-184 yd edge with a 24-7 lead and held DET to 0-6 on 3rd downs on in the 2H. Stafford had 408 yds passing (70%) with a 1-1 ratio but DET was still playing undisciplined ball and was hit with 11 penalties. Common foes are plentiful with the NFC North and South squaring off TY with NO being +106 ypg (-6 TO's) with a 33-22 avg score for a 7-2 mark. DET went 5-4 vs the same foes with a +37 yd difference (-2 TO's) for a 28-27 score deficit. This is DET's 3rd road game in 4 wks and 1st playoff game since 1999 for a franchise that hasn't won a postseason game since Jan 1992. DET went 5-3 on the road TY with a +34 yd mark (-2 TO's) and a 29-28 avg score. Incl playoffs since 2008, NO has been lethal at home vs a non-div foe with a 19-3 mark winning 8 straight by a 37-17 avg score with a +169 yd differential. After the CAR game WR Colston noted "mentally and emotionally, we're as prepared as a team can be." DET has to be commended for making the playoffs but getting shredded by Matt Flynn LW has to be a big concern for a defense which now faces the record-setting Brees. NO has better depth, a huge crowd edge and much more experience in this situation. Who dat say gonna beat dem Saints? Not the Lions!