Preview: Houston at Cincinnati.

[Greenbacks]

When: 8:30 PM ET, Monday, November 16, 2015
Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

One of three undefeated teams still standing in the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals look to extend their perfect run to nine games when they host the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football. The Bengals entered the weekend with a 3 1/2-game cushion over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North and have had 10 days off since demolishing Cleveland 31-10 on Nov. 5.

“We’ve put ourselves in the position that we’re in and there aren’t a lot of teams that get to 8-0," Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton said. "We’ve got to keep pushing and keep the same mentality that we’ve had the first half of the season and do whatever we can to keep winning these games in the second half." It marks the second of three straight prime-time matchups for the Bengals, who visit NFC West-leading Arizona on Nov. 22. Houston stumbled out of the gate with four losses in its first five games and has already changed starting quarterbacks twice. Brian Hoyer reclaimed the job and led the Texans to two wins in three games before last week's bye.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Bengals -11. O/U: 47.5

ABOUT THE TEXANS (3-5): Houston's three victories have come at the expense of teams who are a combined 7-15, but it entered the weekend sitting a half-game behind first-place Indianapolis in the AFC South. Hoyer lost his starting job in Week 1 but has provided some stability by throwing for at least two scoring passes in a club-record five straight games and has one of the league's top receivers in DeAndre Hopkins, who has 66 receptions for 870 yards and six touchdowns. The running game has been anemic since the loss of Arian Foster and the defense will be without former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney.

ABOUT THE BENGALS (8-0): If not for the play of New England's Tom Brady, Dalton would be the front-runner for MVP honors after throwing 18 touchdowns against only four interceptions while compiling a career-best 111.0 passer rating - second only to Brady. Wideout A.J. Green has 50 receptions and four touchdowns, but perhaps the biggest boost for Cincinnati's offense in the emergence of tight end Tyler Eifert, who had nine scoring passes among his 37 catches. Gio Bernard and Jeremy Hill continue to share time in the backfield while the defense is permitting only 17.8 points and has notched 23 sacks.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Green had 12 receptions for 121 yards in a 22-13 victory over Houston last season.

2. Texans DE J.J. Watt has 19.5 sacks in his last 13 games.

3. Eifert needs one TD to become the first Cincinnati tight end with 10 scoring passes in a season.


ATS Trends

Houston

Texans are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game. Texans are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games in Week 10. Texans are 7-18-1 ATS in their last 26 games on fieldturf. Texans are 1-3-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Texans are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 road games. Texans are 5-16-1 ATS in their last 22 games following a ATS win. Texans are 3-12-1 ATS in their last 16 games following a S.U. win. Texans are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing less than 250 total yards in their previous game. Texans are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games after allowing less than 150 yards passing in their previous game. Texans are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 Monday games. Texans are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game. Texans are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.

Cincinnati

Bengals are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win. Bengals are 7-0-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall. Bengals are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 vs. AFC. Bengals are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games following a SU win of more than 14 points. Bengals are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing less than 150 yards passing in their previous game. Bengals are 7-1-2 ATS in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Bengals are 5-1-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record. Bengals are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in November. Bengals are 18-6-2 ATS in their last 26 home games. Bengals are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game. Bengals are 20-8-2 ATS in their last 30 games on fieldturf. Bengals are 17-7 ATS in their last 24 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game. Bengals are 33-16-3 ATS in their last 52 games following a S.U. win. Bengals are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.

OU Trends

Houston

Over is 3-0-1 in Texans last 4 road games. Over is 5-1 in Texans last 6 vs. AFC. Over is 4-1 in Texans last 5 games overall. Over is 8-2 in Texans last 10 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game. Over is 4-1 in Texans last 5 Monday games. Over is 4-1 in Texans last 5 games in Week 10. Under is 4-1-1 in Texans last 6 vs. a team with a winning record. Over is 10-3 in Texans last 13 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game. Over is 12-4 in Texans last 16 games following a ATS win. Over is 5-2 in Texans last 7 games after allowing less than 250 total yards in their previous game. Under is 5-2 in Texans last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

Cincinnati

Under is 6-0 in Bengals last 6 games in November. Under is 6-1 in Bengals last 7 games in Week 10. Under is 23-6-1 in Bengals last 30 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game. Over is 7-2 in Bengals last 9 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Under is 19-6-1 in Bengals last 26 games following a SU win of more than 14 points. Over is 3-1-1 in Bengals last 5 games after allowing less than 150 yards passing in their previous game. Under is 5-2 in Bengals last 7 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game. Over is 7-3 in Bengals last 10 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game. Over is 7-3 in Bengals last 10 home games. Under is 15-7-1 in Bengals last 23 games after allowing less than 250 total yards in their previous game.

Head to Head

Texans are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings. Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=1]Kirk Cousins gives game ball to dad

[/h]Don Cousins told the Orlando Sentinel this summer that he was diagnosed with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma and underwent cancer treatments this summer and fall. Yesterday, though, he was there to watch his son have one of the best games of his career.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=1]DeAndre Hopkins: I'm the best WR in NFL

[/h]The Texans WR says he's the NFL's top dog at his position -- he can prove it tonight vs. the undefeated Bengals (8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN).

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=1]ICYMI: Pats survive Giants, improve to 9-0

[/h]Tom Brady drives the Patriots down the field with 1:47 left to set up Stephen Gostkowski's game-winning 54-yard field goal in a 27-26 win.

 

[Greenbacks]

Devin Hester (turf toe) back at practice today with a helmet. Six week window to sit out after being placed on short term IR is over. Also back practicing are William Moore (groin), Justin Durant (calf), and Leonard Hankerson (hamstring). Working on a side field without helmets are Robert Alford (groin), and Robenson Therezie (hamstring).

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=1]Will Manning's foot injury end his career?

[/h]Jeff Legwold analyzes what impact Peyton Manning's partially torn planter fascia in his right foot (as reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter) will have on his career.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=1]Which NFL contenders should panic?

[/h]Peyton Manning got benched. Julian Edelman and Sam Bradford got hurt. And Aaron Rodgers struggled again. Bill Barnwell assesses which contenders should start worrying.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=1]Coughlin wonders: Why can't we finish?

[/h]Giants coach Tom Coughlin was frustrated after his team's loss to the Pats: "Just get the game over with. We had the ball in the end zone that's knocked out of the hands. You have a chance to intercept the ball in the middle of the field and we don't catch the ball. Very frustrating loss."

 

[PsychedelicPicks]

Wow that's awesome! Great memorable day for the Cousins family.. Thank you for sharing GB2

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=1]Cam Newton's TD dances irk Titans1h
[/h]The Panthers QB did some dancing after a touchdown during Sunday's 27-10 win, which led to words being exchanged between him and Titans LB Avery Williamson. Said Newton: "If you don't like me to do it, then don't let me in [the end zone].''

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=1]Cruz to have season-ending calf surgery

[/h]Giants WR Victor Cruz announced today he'll miss the rest of the season due to upcoming surgery on his left calf. Cruz hasn't played since Week 6 of last year, when he tore his patellar tendon in his right knee.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=1]Tom Brady feels 'terrible' for Edelman

[/h]Said the Patriots QB after WR Julian Edelman broke his foot against the Giants on Sunday: "Julian has been incredible for us. Incredible. ... It's just unfortunate to lose such a critical player. You've just gotta try to figure out different ways to get it done." (via WEEI)

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

Here's Watt high fiving small children after playing catch with them.

 

[Greenbacks]

JJ Watt has the encircled outline of the Eiffel Tower drawn onto the right shoulder of his warm up shirt to honor the victims of the attacks in Paris.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=1]Primetime Dalton looks to up 4-7 record

[/h]This is the second of three straight primetime games for the Bengals. Cincinnati is 4-7 in primetime games during the Andy Dalton era (since 2011). Dalton went 21-27 for 234 yards and 3 TDs in the Bengals’ win over the Browns in Week 9.

 

[Greenbacks]

Rain has stopped...

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=1]Texans bring NFL's best in 3rd-down D

[/h]Opponents are converting just 26.7 percent of the time against Houston. Cincinnati's offense ranks fourth in 3rd-down conversions (45.2 percent).