Patriots hold off Texans in turnover-filled divisional game

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — This game may not have been a masterpiece of football.

In a match marked by turnovers and the snowy weather, the New England Patriots relied on their defense and a few crucial offensive plays to secure a 28-16 win against the Houston Texans in an AFC divisional playoff game on Sunday.

The Patriots’ defense forced five turnovers, including four interceptions of Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, while New England quarterback Drake Maye overcame three turnovers (two fumbles and one interception) to aid the No. 2 seed’s advancement, throwing for three touchdowns.

The Patriots are set to face the Denver Broncos next Sunday (3 p.m. ET, CBS) for a chance to reach the Super Bowl, matching up against Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who is stepping in for the injured Bo Nix. The Patriots will aim to maintain their aggressive playstyle in Denver, a venue where they have struggled historically, particularly in the playoffs.

Here are the key takeaways from Sunday’s game for both teams:

New England Patriots

Assessing the quarterback’s performance: Maye struggled with ball security, partly due to pass protection issues. He fumbled four times, raising his season total to 14, the highest in the league ahead of Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and Cam Ward, each with 11. Among those 14, six were lost, second only to Ward’s seven. Maye became only the second player in the last 15 years to fumble three times in a half during a playoff game, alongside Stroud from last week. Nevertheless, when it was crucial, Maye executed a perfect 32-yard touchdown pass to receiver Kayshon Boutte. He ended with 16-of-27 for 179 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.

Turning point: Trailing 10-7 early in the second quarter, Stroud made a risky pass under pressure from defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson, which cornerback Marcus Jones intercepted and returned 26 yards for a touchdown, giving the Patriots a 14-10 lead they would not relinquish.

Trend to watch: The Patriots held the Texans to just 8 rushing yards on 12 carries in the first half, effectively dominating the line of scrimmage. This limitation forced Stroud into mistakes in the passing game and may be crucial against the Broncos and Stidham, who is newly under pressure.

Stat to note: Receiver Stefon Diggs’ 7-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter marked his 49th career touchdown reception, the fourth-most among all players since he joined the NFL in 2015 as a fifth-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings. Only Mike Evans, Davante Adams, and DeAndre Hopkins have more.

Most remarkable performance: Cornerback Carlton Davis III had a standout day with two first-half interceptions. He demonstrated skillfully maintaining his feet in bounds on both plays. Davis had participated in 90.9% of the defensive snaps before this game and was in search of his first interception of the season, having notched 11 career picks across eight seasons. — Mike Reiss

Houston Texans

The question is, is it 2024, 2025, or 2026? Regardless, the Texans were once again not prepared to seize history.

Houston arrived at this divisional round matchup with a winless 0-6 history, but this season felt like a real opportunity for them to reach their first conference championship.

With a 10-game winning streak and a commanding victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the prior wild-card round, the Texans’ defense, known as one of the league’s strongest, was set to take advantage of snowy and harsh conditions that could benefit a stout defense.

yet, everything that could go awry did go awry. Quarterback C.J. Stroud, devoid of his primary two targets—with receiver Nico Collins out due to a concussion incurred in the previous wild-card game and tight end Dalton Schultz sidelined in the second quarter with a calf issue—delivered one of the poorest performances of his young career, tossing four interceptions in the first half alone. He concluded with 20-of-47 passes for 212 yards and a dismal QB rating of 28.

One of his picks was returned for a touchdown, a pivotal error. plus, running back Woody Marks fumbled during a critical third-quarter drive while Houston was behind 21-16, after the defense had just forced a fumble from Maye.

The defense, which averaged just 17.4 points allowed per game in the regular season, surrendered three touchdowns, the highest total they had conceded in nearly a month. though the Texans produced three turnovers, they did not demonstrate the shutdown capabilities that had become their standard.

Coach DeMeco Ryans’ third year ended similarly to the previous two: falling on the road in cold conditions during the divisional round.

Key turning point: With 12 minutes remaining, Boutte’s acrobatic touchdown grab against All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. was a game-changer, extending the Patriots’ lead to 28-16.

Statistic of note: Stroud’s four interceptions in the first half tied for the most in a playoff half since 2000. One of those interceptions was returned for a touchdown, marking the first pick-six Stroud has thrown since being selected second overall in the 2023 draft.

Trend to monitor: Stroud has committed seven turnovers across his last two playoff games, his highest total for any two-game stretch. While only two out of five fumbles were lost in Houston’s wild-card victory, Sunday’s contest featured multiple dropped interceptions, making seven turnovers seem fortunate.

Best locker room quote: Houston’s Will Anderson Jr. reassured Stroud post-game: “I still think you’re the best quarterback in the league, no doubt.” — D.J. Bien-Aime