Bengals lose to the Texans in playoff game 31-10

HOUSTON (AP) - Rookie J.J. Watt's leaping interception return for a touchdown late in the first half propelled the Houston Texans to a 31-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Saturday's AFC wild-card game.

Third-string quarterback T.J. Yates, another rookie pressed into action, threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Andre Johnson, and Arian Foster followed with his second touchdown of the game, a 42-yard run in the fourth quarter, for Houston (11-6).

After nine seasons of going home early, the AFC South champion Texans are heading to AFC North winner Baltimore (12-4) next Sunday.

Watt returned the first of rookie Andy Dalton's three interceptions 29 yards for a score that broke a 10-10 tie with 52 seconds left in the half.

Yates then hit Johnson on a TD pass late in the third quarter, and Foster added his long scoring run to put away the Bengals (9-8). Foster scored on an 8-yard run in the first quarter to tie the score at 7, and finished with 153 yards on 24 carries.

Daltonwas 24 of 42 for 257 yards, while Yates was 11 of 20 for 159 yards in the first playoff game in the Super Bowl era matching two rookie quarterbacks. Cincinnati has not won a postseason game in 21 years.

Houstonhad lost three in a row since its last victory, over the Bengals to clinch the division title.