Foster was instrumental in getting things done again for the Texans.  Source:  Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Texans beat the Cincinnati Bengals on Wildcard weekend for the second year in a row.  The Bengals were never able to get the ball moving, with Andy Dalton completing a mere four of ten passes for three yards in the first half.  Dalton ended up finishing with a more respectable (though certainly not playoff caliber) 14 of 30 for 127 yards and pick.  The Bengals simply could not move the ball against the Texans defense.  The Texans were able to do what they wanted and managed an interception to go with sacks from J.J. Watt and Brooks Reed.

The Texans offense was clicking as well.  Matt Schaub, starting for the first time in the postseason, finished with a decent 29 of 38 for 262 yards and an interception.  The interception was returned for a touchdown, which brought the game much closer than it should have been.  Arian Foster was the primary reason the Texans were able to hang on and win.  While kicking four field goals, the Texans needed clock management on their side.  Foster delivered with a 140 yard performance on 32 carries with the lone offensive touchdown of the game.

The Texans finished the day with a 19 to 13 home playoff victory.

The Indianapolis Colts struggled much more than their AFC South counterpart in their improbable playoff appearance.  While being bounced from the postseason by the Baltimore Ravens is tough, it would have been a ridiculous improbability for the team to continue to beat the odds.  Despite a decent showing from Andrew Luck (much more decent than Andy Dalton!) of 28/54 for 288 and pick, the Colts were not able to keep pace with the Ravens as Baltimore consistently found ways to exploit the Colts defense.  Despite the game being 10-6 at halftime, the Ravens were able to limit the Colts to only one more field goal while marching down the field for two more 70+ yard touchdown drives.

The Colts offense did not click as well as it could have.  Luck was not as strong as he had been during the regular season and the game plan was pass heavy despite 91 yards on the ground from Vick Ballard.  Reggie Wayne’s nine receptions for 114 yards was not enough of a balance to Anquan Boldin’s 145 yards on five grabs and the time management offense of the Colts simply did not produce enough points to compete against the more explosive Ravens.  The Ravens were able to eat up more yardage on the ground (175) than the Colts (151) with only two more carries in the game.

The Colts finished the day losing 9-24.

With two teams representing the AFC South again in the playoffs, it’s nice to see at least the division champion continuing to play.

- Luke N. Sims

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Blackmon and the Jaguars both have a heavy incentive to get a deal in place as soon as possible.  Signing Blackmon will make the Jaguars look like they know how to negotiate well with talent (unlike the Adam Podlesh fiasco last offseason) and will set them up for success by making sure that one of Blaine Gabbert’s new toys is participating and developing in a new offense.  Blackmon also has an incentive as he needs to show that he is committed to the game more than just the money.  As much as we all like Blackmon, his DUI made the Jaguars and the league think twice before moving forward.  Getting a deal done and getting into camp is a good way to show his commitment.

The offset clause is the main sticking point between the two sides (supposedly) but I’m assuming that the team is not trying to “stick it” to Blackmon in their negotiations.  I trust that the two sides will come together quickly.  It should be beneficial to both sides to get it done soon.  I hope that we can see it as a step moving forward rather than a potential holdout and more bad press for the Jaguars front office.

- Luke N. Sims

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You can also find me on Twitter @LukeNSims

We start the series off with the quarterbacks.

1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers: Rodgers is the most efficient quarterback the Jaguars will face during the season.  The guy deserves another ring and has the firepower to go out and get it.  If the Packers even remotely have a running game then the efficiency of Rodgers becomes even more formidable.
2. Tom Brady, New England Patriots: The Jags draw the Patriots, of course.  If Rodgers if the model of efficiency, then Brady is the legend that helped form the mold that Rodgers fits in.  It doesn’t seem to matter who Brady is throwing to, because someone will catch the ball (unless it’s Wes Welker in the Super Bowl).  The guy makes people look good.
3. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans (x2): The Jags play Schaub twice each season – barring injury – and will wish that T.J. Yates was starting again.  Schaub is a big time quarterback with a big time target in Andre Johnson.  He can light it up or dink and dunk you for whatever yardage best fits the offense for the day.
4. 

   Matt Stafford has a serious opportunity to break Drew Brees' single season yards record. Why not this season? Source: Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIRE

   Matt Stafford, Detroit Lions: The Lions rely entirely on Stafford’s arm.  The guy is the youngest to break 5,000 passing yards.  He is a formidable quarterback who is not afraid to sling it.

5. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears: Like Stafford, Cutler is not afraid to sling the football.  His 26 interceptions two years ago were a problem, but his career high outside of 2009 was 18 (and he only had 7 in 10 games last season).  Cutler will do even better than usual in an offense not designed by Mike Martz.
6. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills: Fitzpatrick should not be underestimated.  The rifle for Buffalo can thread the needle when he wants to and has talent that far surpasses his win-loss ratio.
7. Matt Hasselbeck, Tennessee Titans (x2): Hasselbeck is an ex-Super Bowl quarterback.  While he may lose the job to Jake Locker, I expect he’ll be able to fend off the younger guy and may even surpass expectations.  His 61.6 completion percentage and his 3,700 yards last year were the highest in four seasons and the highest since the Seahawks went 10-6 under his arm.
8. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals: I have been an Andy Dalton fan since his days at TCU, but I he is not as good as the other quarterbacks on this list.  He probably won’t be torching any defenses this season (especially if he gets a sophomore slump), but he has the skills to get that good.
9. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets: Sanchez is a winner, somehow he gets his team to the playoffs and succeeds.  The bad news?  He is only 27-20 in his three seasons and is coming off an 8-8 campaign.  The good news?  He threw 26 touchdowns last season.
10. Carson Palmer, Oakland Raiders: I believe that Palmer can turn his game around in Oakland.  Unfortunately, his statistics from last year don’t affirm my faith.  16 interceptions in 10 games doesn’t bode well for him next year.
11. Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags have their hands full getting Gabbert to be the best he can be.  Fortunately, his TD-Int ratio isn’t bad.  It just isn’t great either.  He should benefit from a full offseason and hopefully won’t succumb to checkdown syndrome.
12. Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings: Christian Ponder does not get the same attention as Blaine Gabbert does for being supremely underwhelming in his rookie year.  Like Gabbert, he was supposed to play behind a veteran quarterback for the season but was pressed into service for 11 games – starting 10.  His 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions are not impressive and neither is his 1,853 yards.
13. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts: I would put Andre Luck higher, but I am expecting gains from the two second year players above him.  Luck could have a good year but we ultimately won’t know until the season starts.  If he has a rookie season like Peyton Manning, then Luck shouldn’t be any trouble for defenses in 2012.
14. Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins: I do not have a definitive opinion of Tannehill just yet.  I do not think he was worth the eighth overall pick though and I do not think he will have a great time in Miami during his first season, especially when Chad Ochocinco is the top man on his receiving depth chart.

- Luke N. Sims

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You can also find me on Twitter @LukeNSims