By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

For a series with just one previous meeting, there's already tension between the Bengals and Texans.

It stems from the guarantee of a victory by Cincinnati wide receiver Chad Johnson last season when the Bengals were 0-7.

Johnson wouldn't go there this past week, but the Texans remember the guarantee and the 38-3 thrashing they suffered at the hands of the Bengals.

The Texans had come in favored for the only time in what is now a 24-game franchise history.

"We've got some payback; trust me," Houston center Steve McKinney said this week. "We'll be fired up. We've got some young guys, so I'll be sure to remind them what happened last year."

The 35-point loss still stands as the most decisive in Texans history.

QUARTERBACK

Jon Kitna is having one of the most productive seasons in Bengals history, yet his leash is short. The Bengals need to stay in contention in the division in order for Kitna to keep his job ahead of rookie Carson Palmer. Speaking of No. 1 overall draft picks, Houston's David Carr (2002) had his 23-game starting streak snapped because of a high ankle sprain. He has four fourth-quarter comebacks.

Edge: Bengals

RUNNING BACKS

Indications are Corey Dillon will not be active today because of his lingering groin injury that prevents him from playing his physical game. Rudi Johnson has averaged 85 yards rushing in his two starts.

For Houston, rookie Domanick Davis has 711 scrimmage yards in just three starts and five other appearances. Small and quick, he has accounted for 32 first downs.

Edge: Texans

RECEIVERS/TIGHT END

Peter Warrick has at least one reception in all 55 of his NFL games, and Chad Johnson's five receptions of 40-plus yards are most in the NFL. Warrick's poised to turn in just the third 90-catch season in franchise history, and Johnson is almost a lock to set a receiving yards mark. The Texans have a trio of solid wide receivers in Andre Johnson (39 catches), Jabar Gaffney and Corey Bradford.

Edge: Bengals

OFFENSIVE LINE

The Bengals' line has allowed 18 sacks and shares in the responsibility of producing the league's 31st-ranked rush offense.

The Texans are 14th in rush offense and have cut their midseason sack total from 45 in 2002 to 14 this year. Improving the line was a major offseason priority for the Texans - they added four new

linemen - and the work has paid off equally in the run and pass games.

Edge: Texans

DEFENSIVE LINE

The Bengals' failure to stop the run starts up front. One theory is tackles John Thornton and Tony Williams are too small. Credit the D-line, though, for getting consistent pressure on quarterbacks while rushing just the front four.

The turf toe injury to end Gary Walker in the Texans 3-4 defense has resulted in a major loss. Houston has just eight sacks and is ranked 22nd in rush defense.

Edge: Bengals

LINEBACKERS

Another theory attempting to explain the Bengals' inability to stop the run focuses on Kevin Hardy. He's playing the middle for the first time in his career and might not be used to facing the teeth of the rush offense each down.

Houston plays a four-linebacker defense, and its linebacker corps is deep and talented. OLB Kailee Wong is getting pressure on quarterbacks, if not sacks.

Edge: Texans

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Bengals cornerback Tory James needs to rebound from a tough outing against Cardinals rookie WR Anquan Boldin last week. Houston rookie Andre Johnson will be another big challenge. Bengals corner Jeff Burris will be back after a second concussion. The Texans are 30th in pass defense and have allowed 15 TD passes. The possible loss of cornerback Marcus Coleman to a neck injury won't help them.

Edge: Bengals

SPECIAL TEAMS

Sound familiar? The Bengals are last in the league in kickoff return average. The return of a healthy Brandon Bennett should be a boost. Kicker Shayne Graham (perfect on 11 field goal attempts inside the 50) has been a major plus.

The Bengals need to play well on coverage against Houston kick and punt returner J.J. Moses, who has kickoff returns of 70 and 63 yards and a 40-yard punt return.

Edge: Texans

COACHING

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis faces one of his mentors in Texans coach Dom Capers. They worked together on Pittsburgh's defensive staff in the early 1990s. Both coaches are detail-oriented, and their hard work has paid off.

Capers is a master at getting expansion teams off the ground. Lewis didn't inherit a much better situation in Cincinnati and has laid a solid foundation to build on.

Edge: Texans

CURNUTTE'S PREDICTION

Bengals 20, Texans 17

Series history

• The Bengals lead the series with the Houston Texans 1-0.

• The Bengals handed the Texans the worst defeat in franchise history, 38-3 on Nov. 3, 2002, at Houston.

• The Bengals are 6-0 against first-year expansion teams, including their victory last season at Houston.

• During the 12 previous seasons (1991-2002), in which the Bengals didn't make the playoffs, five of their 55 victories came against first-year expansion teams (9.1 percent).

• Bengals coach Marvin Lewis faces another former boss in Dom Capers, the Texans' coach. Capers was the Steelers' defensive coordinator from 1992-94. Lewis was the Steelers' linebackers coach.

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