Houston Texans

Texans-Bengals Capsule

Published Sep. 14, 2017 10:58 p.m. ET

HOUSTON (0-1) at CINCINNATI (0-1)

Thursday, 8:25 p.m. EDT, NFL Network

OPENING LINE - Bengals by 3

RECORD VS. SPREAD - Houston 0-1, Cincinnati 0-1

SERIES RECORD - Texans lead 7-4

LAST MEETING - Texans beat Bengals 12-10, Dec. 24, 2016

LAST WEEK - Texans lost to Jaguars 29-7; Bengals lost to Ravens 20-0

AP PRO32 RANKING - Texans No. 24, Bengals No. 27

TEXANS OFFENSE - OVERALL (30), RUSH (13), PASS (30)

TEXANS DEFENSE - OVERALL (12), RUSH (27), PASS (3)

BENGALS OFFENSE - OVERALL (27), RUSH (17), PASS (26)

BENGALS DEFENSE - OVERALL (11), RUSH (28), PASS (2)

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Texans' series edge includes playoff wins in 2011 and 2012. Texans won last game at Paul Brown Stadium, 10-6 in 2015, ending Cincinnati's 8-0 start. ... Houston's last 0-2 start was 2015. Bengals went 0-2 in 2008. ... Tom Savage started Texans opener, went 7 of 13 for 62 yards, lost two fumbles and was replaced at halftime. Rookie Deshaun Watson was 12 of 23 for 102 yards with TD, INT and fumble. Bengals expect first-round pick to start Thursday. He's ninth QB to play for Houston in past five seasons. ... Texans allowed 10 sacks vs. Jaguars without LT Duane Brown, who is holding out. C Nick Martin played first game after missing rookie season with injury. ... Five Texans missed practice during week with concussions: TE C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE Stephen Anderson, TE Ryan Griffin, LB Brian Cushing, WR Bruce Ellington. Cushing also has been suspended for 10 games for violating NFL performance enhancers policy. ... Bengals' Andy Dalton tied career high with four INTs and lost fumble in loss to Ravens, first time Bengals were blanked in home opener. His 28.4 passer rating was second worst in career. ... Dalton, from Houston suburb of Katy, is 1-5 career vs. Texans (0-2 postseason) with three TDs, seven INTs. ... Dalton had longest completion of career in Houston last season, 86-yard TD to Brandon LaFell. ... Bengals have been blanked in back-to-back games only once, during 2000 season. Coach Bruce Coslet resigned after second shutout. Two members of 2000 team - C Rich Braham and LB Takeo Spikes - among former Bengals stars to be honored at halftime Thursday. ... Fantasy Tip: Some of J.J. Watt's biggest games were vs. Bengals. Limited to one tackle and one QB hit in opener, he'll be determined to make his mark vs Bengals' inexperienced line, which gave up five sacks vs. Ravens. But Watt also has injured finger.

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