Bengals Host Texans in Defensive Showdown
Thursday Night Football kicks off Week 2 of the NFL regular season when the Houston Texans visit the Cincinnati Bengals in an AFC showdown. The current line has Cincinnati favored by 4 points with the over/under point total on 38.5.
Entering this game, Houston is 0-1 straight up and against the spread, while Cincinnati is 0-1 SU and ATS as well. Houston is expected to battle for first place in the AFC South, while Cincinnati is expected to finish second or third in the AFC North.
Houston and Cincinnati both started their regular seasons with losses at home, as the Texans lost to Jacksonville 29-7, and the Bengals were kept off the scoreboard by Baltimore 20-0.
Both teams must bounce back following poor performances but have a short week to turn things around. Last season, the Texans defeated the Bengals 12-10 at home.
Tom Savage started the first game of the season against Jacksonville but in the first half alone was sacked six times and fumbled twice, one of which was returned for a Jaguars touchdown.
In the second half, Deshaun Watson came in and passed for 102 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The Texans offensive line allowed 10 sacks by the Jaguars.
The Houston defense allowed 155 yards on the ground and did not have a quarterback sack.
Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton last season had 4,205 yards passing and 18 touchdowns, but against a tough Ravens defense threw four interceptions and committed one fumble. Cincinnati could only rush for 77 yards against a tough Baltimore front seven.
The Bengals defense held Baltimore to just 268 yards of total offense, but 157 yards were on the ground. Starting linebacker Vincent Rey was the leading tackler with 11 for the game for Cincinnati.
Cincinnati did not play well at all in Week 1, but did not have top defenders Vontez Burfict or Adam Jones because both were suspended. Jones returns, but Burfict will miss another week.
Houston’s J.J. Watt will play with a dislocated finger which could make it difficult for him to tackle.
Houston is 0-7 ATS in its last 7 games played on Thursday.
Cincinnati is 6-1-1 ATS in its last 8 games played in Week 2.
Prediction: The Bengals defense will shut down the Texans offense and will scored enough to cover in this defensive struggle.
