Texans vs Ravens: Game Time, TV Channel Coverage, NFL AFC Divisional Playoffs

Hungry but not desperate. Fresh but not overconfident. Baltimore Ravens hunger to be back in the Super Bowl is their motivation as they face Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Playoffs 2012 at the M&T Bank Stadium. Known to have failures in the playoff in the past few years, the Ravens for the first time in five years will be hosting the game.

What’s the difference of the Ravens playing at their homefield? Baltimore Ravens haven’t that much success in the playoffs because of playing on the road most of the times. An opportunity to be back in the AFC Championship game but with a tough battle against the Texans. Playing at home provides the Ravens the necessary rest and preparation to be extensively dominant in this football game. With fresh legs and enough time to look at the opponents, Ravens have the edge.

The road to Super Bowl 46 starts today for the Ravens as they try to use the vaunted defense which can bring them to their dream. Ravens are known to have the capability of stopping the opponents rushing offense as the defense yielded an average of 97 yards per game. With that in mind, they can stifle the offense Texans offense effectively but not certain enough because Houston may have something for them.

Defense may not be the problem of the Ravens but the offense will always be questionable especially the fact that quarterback Joe Flacco hasn’t yet proven lead the team deeper in the playoffs. Flacco has his best year so far accumulating 3,610 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His quick decision making must be with sharpness and wisdom so that the Ravens will make it through. Flacco will be tested if he can deliver in times of crunch time. His poise under pressure is being questioned in the past yet this is the time for him to get out of the box to be a quarterback who can bring the team to the Super Bowl.

Ravens offensive attacks do not rely primarily on Flacco because of the rushing weapon that they can apply in this AFC Divisional Playoff. Running back Ray Rice can make the difference in this game as he is the person that can ease out the tension from the throwing shoulder of the quarterback. Rice had 1,364 yards in 291 carries with 12 touchdowns for the Baltimore Ravens this season. This means that the Ravens can pound the ball harder through Rice to dismantle Texans defense.

Of all the receivers of the Ravens, Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith will carry the offense. Boldin caught 57 times for 887 yards while Smith had 841 yards in 50 carries. Both these players can make the passing offense flow with such success if they will get into the gameplan and as Flacco throws with accuracy. Ravens have plenty of options in the offense own this game against the Texans.

Meanwhile, Houston Texans surprised millions of NFL spectators because they were able to beat the Cincinnati Bengals in the wildcard game last week despite the fact that they have a quarterback who played the fewest games of all the quarterbacks in the playoffs. Surely, Texans struggled in the last three games of the regular season but eventually shocked the Bengals.

The main reason of the Texans being here in the AFC Divisional Playoff game is because also of their defense. The stingy rushing defense, like the Ravens, had proven to be the key of success for the Texans alleviating the quarterback dificiency and problem. Texans defense will be the determining factor for victory. If it can stop the offense of the Ravens, then they will have a chance for the upset.

Texans have two horns to rely on the offense, running back Arian Foster who accumulated 1,224 yards on the ground with 10 touchdowns and Ben Tate who rushed a total of 942 yards and four touchdowns. They are the hinges of the offense of the Texans as they can extricate from the defense of the Ravens if given the opportunity. Not only that, Foster had also 617 yards of receiving that he is a two dimensional player in the offense.

Quarterback TJ Yates can be the liability of this game but it is too soon to tell until he couldn’t lead them to victory. In the previous game against the Bengals, Yates completed 11 of 20 passes for 159 yards with no turnover. His best thing to do is not to make errors in this game so that he will give this team the chance to be in contention at the fourth quarter. If Yates will play better than last week’s game, then the Ravens will be in trouble.

Though the Texans are known for the rushing game, expect the team to alter the game plan if the running game is not working. Yates might be looking for long passes as he navigates through the defense of the Ravens.

Texans vs Ravens Game Time, start time, kickoff time is at 1:00 PM ET. For the Ravens, coach John Harbaugh has to figure out how his defense will stop the rushing game of the Texans. Harbaugh knows that his defense will be the most important asset of the team to bring them to the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots next week.

Texans vs Ravens tv coverage is on CBS. We will provide you the Texans vs Ravens score here. Which defense do you think will be more dominant? Houston Texans vs Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional Playoff game.