The Houston Texans won their first ever National Football League (NFL) playoff game with a 31-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday earning them a divisional round clash with the Baltimore Ravens.

Houston running back Arian Foster was once again the difference-maker scoring two touchdowns and rushing for 153 yards as Houston delighted a record crowd of 71,725 at Reliant Stadium.

The Texans were playing in their first playoff game since joining the NFL in 2002 and the city of Houston was enjoying post-season football for the first time since the old Oilers franchise lost in January 1994.

A pair of rookie quarterbacks started a playoff game for the first time and T.J. Yates, Houston’s third stringer at the start of the season, had the better day with a solid 159 yards and no interceptions.

Cincinnati’s Andy Dalton had a tougher time, throwing for 257 yards but giving up three interceptions as he came under pressure against a forceful Texans defense.

The Texans, who lost starting quarterback Matt Schaub and back-up Matt Leinart to injury this season, kept to the formula which helped them to the AFC South divisional title – running the ball effectively, hitting receiver Andre Johnson with some big plays and making sure that Yates kept it safe and simple.

But it was the Bengals who made the first breakthrough on Saturday as a 52-yard penalty for defensive pass interference on A.J. Green helped Cincinnati towards a one-yard touchdown run from Cedric Benson midway through the first quarter.

Foster burst through for an eight-yard touchdown run to level it at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.

The Bengals got back in front with a 37-yard Mike Nugent field goal after he had earlier missed from 50 yards.

Houston responded with a field goal of their own before the turning point in the game came when rookie J.J. Watt pulled off a magnificent catch at close-range to intercept a Dalton pass and then dash the 29 yards for the score.

“That was a huge play that gave us a lot of momentum going into the second half,” said Texans head coach Gary Kubiak. source: www.reuters.com/article

Clinging to a 34-28 lead with the ball on their own 28 and just over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Patriots coach Bill Belichick opted for a fourth-down play instead of a punt but came up short, turning the ball over to the Colts.

Peyton Manning immediately made the Patriots pay for their miscalculation by firing his fourth touchdown pass of the game, hitting Reggie Wayne with a one-yard strike to send a record crowd at the Lucas Oil Stadium into a frenzy.

It was the 18th straight regular season win for the Colts (9-0), who remain on course for the Patriots record of 21 consecutive victories as well as joining New England as the only teams to complete a 16-game regular season unbeaten.

The Patriots spectacular fourth quarter collapse took the shine off a brilliant performance from New England quarterback Tom Brady, who completed 29-of-42 attempts for 375 yards and three touchdowns.

The game produced the type of offensive fireworks expected from a pair of quarterbacks that have spent their careers at the helm of the NFL’s most dominant franchises and walked away with the most valuable player honors the last two seasons.

The teams combined for nearly 900 yards in total offense in a riveting battle that delivered on all the advance hype.

Vick, now a seldom-used backup quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, pleaded guilty in August 2007 to bankrolling a dog fighting ring and spent 18 months in jail.

Until Vick’s reinstatement earlier this season, the National Football League suspended him indefinitely without pay and initiated a grievance procedure allowing the Falcons to recover some of the bonus money he was paid.

In 2004, Vick signed a mammoth contract through 2014 that called for bonuses of $22.5 million based on him making the team’s 2005 roster and another $7 million for 2006.

more…… source: http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/

The Steelers returned to action after a bye week and limited the Broncos to just 27 rushing yards in winning a fifth consecutive game, as the Super Bowl champions continue to look more like the team that powered to the NFL title in February.

“Anyone who watches us play knows that we don’t blink no matter what happens. There is always more football to be played,” Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall told reporters after his team continued its resurgence from a 1-2 start to the year.

The victory moved Pittsburgh (6-2) into a tie with the Cincinnati Bengals at the top of the AFC North and in position to challenge for a third straight division title.

Roethlisberger hooked up with Hines Ward for a three-yard touchdown pass with 9:09 left in the third quarter to give his team a 14-10 lead and finished off the Broncos with a 25-yard effort to Mike Wallace with seven minutes remaining.

more… http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews

The victory was the 17th consecutive regular season triumph for the Colts, who have started the current season 8-0.

“It was a huge win,” Colts quarterback Peyton Manning told reporters after completing 34 of 50 passes for 318 yards and one touchdown, a seven-yard toss to Joseph Addai in the first quarter.

“We had a great effort hanging in there,” Manning said. “Everything wasn’t perfect, but we did a great job fighting, and we came away with a big win.”

New Orleans, the NFL’s only other unbeaten team, also improved to 8-0 on Sunday when the Saints overcame a 14-0 deficit to defeat the Carolina Panthers 30-20.

Indianapolis tight end Dallas Clark sparked the Colts’ win, catching a career-high 14 passes for 114 yards.

“No matter who is guarding him, we think he’s tough to cover,” said Manning.

Houston (5-4) held a 17-13 lead over their AFC South rivals early in the fourth quarter but Indianapolis rallied to go ahead 20-17 on Addai’s two-yard run with 7:11 to play.

more…. resource: http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSTRE5A71YS20091109