Today
TEXANS (-4 1/2) over Bengals: Do you trust Houston, which, after getting clubbed in New England after a sizzling start, now stumbles into this, off two losses? Or the Bengals(given their mediocre modern history), whose defense surged in a 7-1 second half — and are finally showing results of improved scouting/personnel evaluation by a management which has belatedly seen the light?
The Bengals are winless in modern playoff games on the road (0-5), as befits a franchise with a decades-long history of road trouble against top teams. But they’ve put together two consecutive postseason campaigns. The key is whether Houston can flip the switch and establish the early tempo with Arian Foster, thus setting up the deep-passing game for Matt Schaub, who has displayed signs of confidence issues behind an iffy offensive line. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips needs to do more than simply defending A. J. Green man-to-man.
Can the Bengals turn the tables for last year’s no-show at this site? Shakily endorse Gary Kubiak’s crew, since the Vikings were in great tech spot against ’em, and the Texans clearly weren’t prioritizing seeding considerations, last weekend … but it’s anything but a lock.
Texans, 31-21
PACKERS (-7 1/2) over Vikings: Happily embraced the improved Vikings in the season’s fourth quarter, as they found themselves in one super situation after another — resulting in the last four wins which got them here. But not tonight, as last week’s slugfest loss in Minnesota left the Packers in multiple positive situations, including obvious instant revenge.
Marriage has agreed with Christian Ponder, and Adrian Peterson is one of the wonders of the world, but while a cold night at Lambeau Field is not an unalloyed advantage for the home side (considering Aaron Rodgers’ superb indoor record), at least Rodgers won’t have to shake off any accumulation of rust.
With a plethora of healthier receivers and the likely return of Charles Woodson in the secondary, the Packers look ready to erase bad memories of Eli Manning and Michael Vick in Lambeau, though this lay price isn’t cheap.
Packers, 27-13.
LAST WEEK: 8-8.
SEASON RECORD: 118-118-4.
Follow Richard Witt on Twitter: @Rich_Witt1