Texans-Bengals Final Score: Resurgent Defense Tames A.J. Green, Andy Dalton After T.J. Yates Debuts

Texans 10, Bengals 6

Consider the page fully turned on the disastrous start to the season for the Houston Texans and their defense. After getting embarrassed against the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins, J.J. Watt and company entered the bye after a dominant performance against the hapless Tennessee Titans.

But it was just Titans! Big deal. They'd have to go into Cincinnati and deal with the undefeated, high-powered Bengals, and surely, they would lose, right?

Yeah, we thought so, too.

The extra week of preparation seems to have payed off mightily, as Andy Dalton, Tyler Eifert, and A.J. Green struggled to build a rhythm all night long. But it was the secondary that vexed Cincy the most, as they played tight coverage, deflecting passes and forcing the definitive fumble that sealed the game for a Houston team still very much in the playoff hunt.

T.J. Yates entered the game in the 4th quarter after Brian Hoyer left to be evaluated for a concussion. He would continue his Bengal-beating ways hitting DeAndre Hopkins for a 30+ yard touchdown giving the Texans the only lead they'd ever need.

With all that said, Shane Lechler might be the game's MVP, constantly pinning the Bengals deep inside their own territory, giving the defense plenty of room to work with.

I'm simply too excited (read: inebriated) to write the specifics, so talk about the victory below and we'll break down the victory tomorrow.

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