Three game balls for the Texans' win over the Bengals:
Whitney Mercilus, outside linebacker
After missing a game because of a back injury, he returned against the Bengals and registered two sacks, giving him a team-high 7½ this season. He came off the edge strong and got after Andy Dalton, chasing him from the pocket several times.
A.J. Bouye, cornerback
He continued his splendid performance this season, recording nine unassisted tackles and knocking down three passes. He did a solid job of sticking with his receivers.
Shane Lechler, punter
He punted a season-high eight times because the offense continued to bog down, and he did an exceptional job.