Game Preview: Texans at Ravens

Houston (11-6) at Baltimore (12-4), Sunday, 1:00 (Baltimore -7.5)

Storylines: First home playoff game for Ravens, who claimed AFC North title and conference's second seed by virtue of season sweep of rival Pittsburgh, since 15-6 loss to Indianapolis in 2006 Divisional Round, while AFC South champion Texans won franchise's long-awaited postseason debut with 31-10 drubbing over Cincinnati last weekend...Ravens have come out on top in all five lifetime meetings with Houston, including 29-14 decision in Baltimore on Oct. 16, and own 6-0 record against 2011 playoff participants as well...Ravens also posted 8-0 mark at M&T Bank Stadium during regular season and have won 18 of last 19 home bouts dating back to 2009...Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin (knee surgery) set to return from two-game absence and had season-high eight catches totaling 132 yards in team's Week 6 triumph over Texans, while guard Marshal Yanda (thigh) also probable for Baltimore and cornerback Jimmy Smith and safety Tom Zbikowski both cleared to play for after sustaining late-season concussions...Tight end Owen Daniels to suit up for Houston despite cracking bone in his hand against Bengals...Clash of two of NFL's premier defenses this season, with Texans second in total yards allowed (285.7 ypg), third against the pass (189.7 ypg) and fourth in scoring defense (17.4) and Ravens second versus the run (92.6 ypg) while permitting third fewest points (16.6 ppg) and total yards (288.9 ypg)...Houston also second in rushing offense (153.0 ypg) and received 153-yard, two-touchdown performance from standout running back Arian Foster in Wild Card Round, but team held to 93 yards on the ground in first meeting with Baltimore...Ravens running back Ray Rice led league in yards from scrimmage (2,068) and compiled 161 combined yards (101 rushing, 60 receiving) against Texans earlier in year...Houston defense intercepted Cincinnati's Andy Dalton three times last Saturday, with rookie end J.J. Watt returning his pick 29 yards for critical touchdown late in first half.

Fast Fact: Before the Texans' history-making result last week, the last franchise to win its first-ever postseason game was the Ravens, who bested Denver by a 21-3 count in an AFC First-Round encounter at M&T Bank Stadium on Dec. 31, 2000 en route to a victory in Super Bowl XXXV later that season.