Houston and Cincinnati - Just Happy To Be Here

The first playoff weekend is normally a glorious time for NFL fans.  We are treated to two playoff games on Saturday and two more on Sunday.  I can't get as excited this year, for the AFC has given us an opening game between two mediocre teams.  Pardon me if I can't muster up any excitement for the Houston Texans and the Cincinnati Bengals, or as I like to call it, the "Just Happy To Be Here" Bowl.  The timing of this game should not be lost on NFL fans.  The loser of this game will be put out their misery early, while the winner will have extra time to prepare for the 2nd round match-up.  They will surely need it.  

The Bengals roared off to a 6-2 start, but faded down the stretch.  Their schedule stiffened in the second half of the season, and they stumbled to a 9-7 finish.  The Bengals are the embodiment of mediocrity.  They had a 1-6 record against teams that finished with a winning record, including an 0-4 record against division rivals Baltimore and Pittsburgh.  The Bengals benefited from a 7-0 record against teams currently under .500, and they split their 2 games against 8-8 teams.  

The Houston Texans got off to a hot start, and they continued to win after starting QB Matt Schaub suffered a season-ending injury.  Matt Leinart made a brief cameo before getting injured himself, and the Texans were forced to start rookie T.J. Yates.  The Texans won Yates' first two starts and appeared to be heading toward a first round bye, but the bottom fell out.  In their final three games, Houston lost to NFL powerhouses Carolina, Indianapolis, and Tennessee.  Oh, and they might be down to their fourth QB of the season - Jake Delhomme.

After the conclusion of the Texans/Bengals game, the upstart and exciting Detroit Lions will face off against the offensive juggernaut known as the New Orleans Saints.  It's a shame that one of these teams has to lose in week 1 while either Houston or Cincinnati will advance to the second round of the playoffs.