Texans look to regain scoring touch for 2nd-round playoff game against Patriots next week

Houston Texans head couch Gary Kubiak throws the red flag during the second half of an NFL AFC Playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Houston, Texas. (AP Photo/Waco Tribune Herald/ Jose Yau) (The Associated Press)

Another trip to New England awaits the Houston Texans, and coach Gary Kubiak knows what his team has to do to have a chance against the Patriots in the second round of the playoffs.

"We had a rough trip up there last time, but we've earned our right to go back," Kubiak said Sunday. "We want to go back and play a heck of a lot better than we did."

The AFC East champion Patriots trounced the Texans 42-14 at Foxborough on Dec. 10, and Houston gets another shot after beating Cincinnati 19-13 in Saturday's wild-card game.

The Texans did enough to beat the Bengals, but they have to figure out a way to score touchdowns against a New England team that averages 34.8 points per game.

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