Sometimes media can overstate the obvious. That is how the sports cliché was born.

But occasionally, something that seems obvious is understated because the context can be lost in the “duh” category.

That might be the case with Andre Johnson’s return to the Texans’ lineup.

You may recall that I was adamant that Johnson should have played a few plays against Indianapolis, so he could play more against the Titans, and then go all out in the playoffs.

There were two reasons for my position on that:

1. Johnson had told me many times he needed two games to get up to speed.

2. When Johnson is up to speed, nobody in the NFL can check him. Nobody.

Johnson laments not getting that second game he wanted, but man, let me tell you, he will be jacked up on Saturday. I’ve gotten wide-eyed reports from defensive backs on what he has done to them in practice. Unstoppable.

What you might not fully understand is the difference Johnson makes in the Texans’ offense.

T.J. Yates ought to be among the happiest men on the planet. Johnson’s return is a game-changer.

“As much of a presence that he is, a great football player, we’ll still do things within the structure of our offense, but knowing what he can do out at wide out and how he can press, he can create some problems for people one on one certainly,” Gary Kubiak said.

Even that is understating it. Yates knows he can throw the ball to Johnson, regardless of the coverage, and he will always have a chance at a completion. He can’t feel that way about Kevin Walters or Jacoby Jones.

“He’s a big, strong, physical guy and you know when you throw it up to him, either he’s going to come down with it or nobody is and he gives you a lot of confidence as a quarterback, because no matter where you put it he’s going to go get it,” Yates said.

With Johnson on the field, other receivers find it easier to get open, because defenders are know to paying more attention to Johnson than anyone else on the field. If they don’t pay attention, they get burned and when they do they often get burned as well.

You hear so much of late about Yates’ unwillingness to throw downfield. That is one of those overblown things I mentioned before. Actually, the opposite is true, but just hasn’t been on display in a couple of games.

Yates is more of a gunslinger than we have seen, or certainly saw in the games against the Panthers and Colts, two teams that played a high percentage of zone coverages, forcing most things to be underneath.

But if you saw what Yates did against the Bengals (300 passing yards with no Johnson), Atlanta (he threw for only 188 yards, but hit Johnson four times for 97 yards and Andre had a drop that cost him 35 more yards), you know what he can do to teams that want to man-up on the outside.

And Yates has looked great in practice this week. Apparently, yesterday, the ball didn’t hit the ground during the Texans’ workout.

Will Cincinnati go more zone than man to try to take away Johnson? Or will they do what they like to do and risk Johnson going nuts?

I don’t think it matters much. Generally, you can’t stop greatness. He will get his.

Johnson said he won’t demand the ball, but as he said, “T.J. knows where I’m at.”

“I’ll definitely know where 80 is the entire game,” Yatres said. “Andre is not that type of guy. He won’t even say much no matter what, but he’s definitely someone I’ll be looking for in that game to throw to.”

Jerry Rice had only four catches for 45 yards in his playoff debut, while Randy Moss had four for 73 yards and a touchdown in his. Do note, however, that those two were in the playoffs as rookies.

By his fourth season (1988), Rice was the best player on the planet, and he had an impressive run with 5-61 with three TDs, 5-133 with two TDs and 11-215 and a TD in the Super Bowl.

Moss had a touchdown catch in each of his first five playoff games, including ridiculous games like a nine-catch, 188-yard, two-TD performance against the Rams and a game-breaking two catches for 121 yards and two scores against the Saints.

I don’t know what Johnson will do on Saturday, but the man has waited a long time for this opportunity.

Expect him to wow on Saturday.