These two teams played each other in week 14 and the result was a last second, three point victory for the Texans. What worked in that game? Houston's Josh Freeman had a great game completing 22 passes and tossing for three touchdowns. Also for Houston, Jamaal Charles added 152 yards rushing including a 50 yard burst. The Texans defense picked off Brady twice and Houston also blocked a punt. How was this a close game? Despite a rare off game Cincinnati's Brady still managed to hit on two scoring throws to Jermichael Finley. Also, the always dangerous return man Devin Hester set the Bengals up for a short scoring drive with a 71 yard punt return.

That was one game, how did the teams play over the course of the season? For Houston Jamaal Charles was the main man on offense. When you have a running back who gains over 2000 yards that allows you to do two things. First, you can control the ball and second you keep the defense from keying on the pass. This allowed Freeman to take some shots even if some of those shots were off target. Freeman had three big targets: Calvin Johnson, Terrell Owens and Brent Celek. When the defense geared up to stop Charles' running that's when Freeman would expose them and drop a deep ball to one of his receivers.

Cincinnati's offense went about things the opposite way. Tom Brady led the offense by passing the ball. Jermichael Finley and Miles Austin were hard targets to cover as they were constant threats to take even a short pass and break it for a big gain. The running game was headed by Benjarvus Green-Ellis who ground out a workmanlike 1000 yard season. John Conner also chipped in with 500 more rushing yards but the Bengals mainly rode Brady's arm to the playoffs.

Both defenses were middle of the road statistically. Houston and Cincinnati each allowed 22 points per game. Houston was even in giveaways/takeaways while Cincinnati was +4. Each team only had 9 sacks on the season. The Texans defense was a little better controlling the opponents passing game but neither secondary was near the top in interceptions. The special teams edge would certainly go to the Bengals by virtue of having Devin Hester. Now for the keys to the game:

1. "Dance with who brung ya" . For Houston that means Jamaal Charles and for Cincinnati that would mean Tom Brady. The Bengals defense will be in for a long day of guessing when the ball will be faked to Charles and Freeman will go with the pass. Still you can't let Charles dictate the game. If Brady has his normal game the Bengals will be in good shape.
2. Can the other guys step up? Hard to call Calvin Johnson one of the other guys but in the Houston offense he isn't the driving force. Losing track of "Megatron", Celek and Terrell Owens can cost you six points in a hurry. Focus on Brady and the the Bengals running game might just sneak past you. Cincy did run for more that 1800 yards on the season.
3. The X-Factors. Devin Hester puts you in a bind. Do you kick away from him and give Brady a short field to work with, or kick to him and risk a quick six? Houston's Wes Welker. Quiet all season but if it becomes a ball control game Welker is the kind of receiver that can act as a running game using flat passes.

Teams offensive leaders:

PASSING	ATT.	COMP.	T.D.	INT.	RTG.
Josh Freeman - HOU.	555	276	17	12	70.1
Tom Brady - CIN.	471	264	35	15	88.3
RUSHING	ATT.	YDS.	AVG.	LONG	T.D.
Jamaal Charles - HOU.	348	2098	6.0	62	14
Benjarvus Green-Ellis - CIN.	234	1067	4.6	31	9
RECEIVING	REC.	YDS.	AVG.	LONG	T.D.
Brent Celek - HOU.	66	742	11.2	54	5
Jermichael Finley - CIN.	77	908	11.8	34	13