HOUSTON — The Cincinnati Bengals exorcised their NRG Stadium demons.

Buoyed by a second consecutive strong defensive effort on the road, the Bengals churned out a 22-13 victory over the Texans on Sunday to move beyond two postseason defeats in Houston that reflected Cincinnati’s stagnated progress.

“It’s bittersweet for myself. I’ve lost twice here,” Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga said, referencing postseason setbacks after the 2011 and ’12 seasons. “It hurts and it sucks coming into this locker room and everyone’s head is down. To get off that field with a ‘W,’ it meant a lot for myself, and I think I speak on behalf of everybody on this team that we’re just excited.”

One week after limiting the Saints to one touchdown in a win at New Orleans, Cincinnati (7-3-1) kept the Texans’ offense out of the end zone.

The Bengals’ defensive might, particularly in the fourth quarter with Cincinnati clinging to a one-possession lead, served as a perfect complement to the two-headed ground attack fashioned by running backs Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill, plus a career day from fourth-year receiver A.J. Green.

Green finished with 12 receptions for 121 yards while serving as the primary threat for quarterback Andy Dalton (24-for-35, 233 yards, one touchdown, one interception). Dalton targeted Green on 16 occasions. Bernard and Hill combined for 35 carries, 132 yards and a touchdown.

“All day long, they got the ball out of their hands extremely quickly,” Texans defensive end J.J. Watt said of the Bengals’ plan to neutralize his influence. “It doesn’t matter what you do up front when they get the ball out that quick. So give credit to them. They put together a good game.”

The Texans (5-6) amassed just 248 total yards and only 64 on the ground after rushing for 213 yards the previous week in a win at Cleveland. Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett finished 21 of 45 for 189 yards, posting a miserable 49.2 rating totaling 4.2 yards per attempt.

What the Bengals said:

“That’s very critical, especially going into a long stretch where the elements are not going to be as great as they were here. We’ve got to get our running game going.” — Wide receiver A.J. Green on the Bengals’ run-pass balance that featured 43 rushes and 35 pass attempts.

What the Texans said:

“Obviously we want to get into a rhythm and move the ball better. We have to be better on first and second down. We have to run it better, we have to throw it better, we have to do everything better.” — Quarterback Ryan Mallett on the offensive struggles.

What we learned about the Bengals:

1. Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green remains an absolute handful when he is fully healthy. After missing the better part of four games due to a toe injury, Green regained his form last week in New Orleans and continued his progress with a career-high 12 receptions for 121 yards on Sunday. “It felt good just to get back in the groove of things,” Green said. “I felt good out there. The toe is back to 100 percent. It’s getting back into the swing of things.”

2. Bengals swing tackle Marshall Newhouse is a valuable asset off the bench. Bengals left tackle Andre Smith was lost in the first quarter to a biceps injury in his first game back after missing two contests with an ankle injury. In stepped Newhouse, who filled in for Smith while he was lost and ably help handle Texans defensive end J.J. Watt. “It was another big game for stepping in for Marshall today,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. “I’m pleased that Marshall was able to go in there. We adjusted a little bit and things worked out.”

–LT Andre Smith was lost to a biceps injury, the severity of which was unknown following the game. Smith was hurt in the first quarter in his first game back after missing two contests with an ankle injury. OT Marshall Newhouse filled in for Smith. “I don’t know,” Smith said of the diagnosis. “I have to get an MRI and we’ll see where it goes from there.”

–QB Andy Dalton completed 24 of 35 attempts for 233 yards and a touchdown (with an interception) to earn a victory in his hometown. Dalton, a product of Katy High School just west of Houston, played poorly in a pair of postseason losses at NRG Stadium in 2011 and ’12, completing 41 of 72 attempts for 384 yards and four interceptions. “Hopefully now that all can be over the hump,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said.

–RB Jeremy Hill came off the bench following three consecutive starts yet still paced the Bengals with 87 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Hill split reps with Giovani Bernard, who got the start and rushed 17 times for 45 yards. Hill leads the team with 643 rushing yards, 131 attempts and six rushing touchdowns.

What we learned about the Texans:

1. Texans rookie outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney has a ways to go before becoming an impact player. In his most extensive action during his injury-marred season, Clowney was essentially a non-factor, recording three tackles (one for loss) while failing to muster pressure on Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. “I can only do my job, which is set the edge and get after the quarterback,” Clowney said. “Sometimes you get that and sometimes you don’t.”

2. One week after turning heads in a win at Cleveland, Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett was inaccurate and scuffled leading the offense. Mallett finished 21 of 45 for 189 yards with an interception and was routinely high on his throws. In just his second career start, what remains clear is that Mallett needs reps. “I’ve got to go look at the film to see if I was six inches off with the step or just one of those things,” he said.

–WR DeAndre Hopkins recorded his 100th career reception and finished with five catches for 39 yards, his lowest yardage total since being held to one catch for 12 yards in Week 6 against the Colts. Hopkins still leads the Texans with 803 receiving yards this season. “We just weren’t clicking today,” Hopkins said. “Things didn’t go our way.”

–DE J.J. Watt finished with seven tackles (one for lost yardage), one quarterback hit and one pass defensed in what was a pedestrian day by his lofty standards. The Bengals effectively neutralized the Texans’ pass rush, and Watt in particular, by having QB Andy Dalton get rid of the ball quickly. Cincinnati also ran the football 43 times against the Texans.

–CB Darryl Morris posted team-high totals in tackles (10) and passes defensed (three) but was part of a secondary that struggled to contain Bengals WR A.J. Green, whose 12 receptions represented a career high. “He is a good receiver,” Morris said of Green. “It’s a team game. The pass rush comes in, linebackers communicate and it makes it easier for me.”