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New England is headed to its first AFC Championship game appearance since the 2018 season and will face the Broncos
It’s not Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, but the New England Patriots are back in the AFC Championship with, fittingly, a big day from their quarterback and a dominant defense leading the way in the elements. Drake Maye threw for three touchdowns, and the New England defense forced five turnovers — including four first-half C.J. Stroud interceptions — in a 28-16 divisional round win at Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots will face the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game; Denver will start backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham after Bo Nix suffered a season-ending broken bone in his ankle late in Saturday’s win over the Buffalo Bills.
Maye’s outstanding touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte — who beat All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and caught the ball with one hand — proved to be the dagger, though the Texans had plenty of mistakes that put them in such a dire situation in the first place.
Maye finished 16-for-27 for 179 yards, three touchdown passes and three turnovers and five sacks. Crucially, he lost just one of his three fumbles, with the Texans’ pass rush wreaking havoc but unable to totally take advantage on a pair of loose balls.
The Texans led 10-7 early in the second quarter when Stroud threw his second interception of the day. It was an awful decision to even try to make the throw and an even worse result: Marcus Jones brought back the pop-up pass 26 yards for a touchdown.
Maye delivered another touchdown pass before halftime — this one a 7-yard strike to Stefon Diggs — to make it 21-10 at the break. Stroud, meanwhile, became just the second player in the last 35 years to have four interceptions in a single playoff half.
The Texans drew to within 21-13 early in the second half and got to 21-16 late in the third quarter, but that was as close as they got: Maye answered Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 51-yard field goal with the touchdown to Boutte above, and a woeful, undermanned Houston offense (no Nico Collins, and Dalton Schultz left with a calf injury early) had no hopes for a comeback, especially as the snow intensified.
Stroud finished 20-for-47 for 212 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. He had a 28.0 passer rating, the worst by a starting quarterback in a playoff game since Brian Hoyer, also playing for the Texans, over 10 years ago.
CBS Sports will have takeaways shortly.
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Touchdown Patriots: Kayshon Boutte only needs one hand!
Early 4Q: Patriots 28, Texans 16
WOW! What a response from Drake Maye and Kayshon Boutte. Incredible.
Ka’imi Fairbairn nails field goal through snow
Late 3Q: Patriots 21, Texans 16
Really good kick by Fairbairn as the weather conditions continue to deteriorate. He’s been excellent this postseason.
Fifth Texans turnover
An absolute disaster from Houston. Woody Marks coughs it up in the red zone.
Houston is 1 for 4 in the red zone and has five turnovers. That’s how you out-gain a team 206-138 … and trail by eight.
Will Anderson with ANOTHER strip sack
That’s three sacks and two fumbles forced by Will Anderson, who is beating Will Campbell like a drum.
Can the Houston offense cash in?
Texans get FG, more importantly get running game going
Early 3Q: Patriots 21, Texans 13
It’s another red-zone stall out for Houston, but it will be happy to see the running game get going.
First half: 12 carries, 8 yards
First drive of second half: 6 carries, 23 yards
Not much, but it is better!
Houston is sticking with C.J. Stroud
DeMeco Ryans told ESPN sideline reporter Laura Rutledge that the team has his back. We’ll see if the Texans can do anything on the ground … or if they can protect Stroud better .. or if Stroud can simply play any better.
HALFTIME: Patriots 21, Texans 10
Here are the numbers to know:
Texans
- C.J. Stroud: 10 for 26, 124 yards, one touchdown, four interceptions
- Texans: 12 carries, 8 yards (0.7 yards per carry)
- Will Anderson: 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble
- Danielle Hunter: 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
Patriots
- Drake Maye: 10 for 19, 117 yards, one touchdown, one interception, three fumbles (one lost), sacked three times
- Carlton Davis: Two interceptions
- Marcus Jones: Interception (returned for a touchdown)
- Craig Woodson: Interception
A FOURTH interception for C.J. Stroud
The Texans have to consider going to Davis Mills. This is a truly awful throw: You simply cannot be late and inside on a throw to the perimeter. Great play by Carlton Davis, but Stroud is playing some of the worst football you can see.
Touchdown Patriots: Drake Maye to Stefon Diggs
Mid 2Q: Patriots 21, Texans 10
Maye delivered three straight darts: two to Kayshone Boutte and then this beauty to Diggs, who makes an even better catch.
Dalton Schultz (calf) is out, Woody Marks (shoulder) is questionable to return
For the Patriots, Rhamondre Stevenson (eye) is also questionable to return.
A third C.J. Stroud turnover, this one off Xavier Hutchinson’s hands
This one will go down as a Stroud interception, but really, Xavier Hutchinson has to catch this. Craig Woodson comes up with the pick.
The Patriots weren’t able to do anything with the takeaway, though. The Texans’ defense is standing strong.
Touchdown Patriots: Marcus Jones pick six
Early 2Q: Patriots 14, Texans 10
C.J. Stroud is having an absolutely disastrous playoffs, and this time a horrific decision leads to a Marcus Jones pick six.
Also, notice Harrison Bryant (No. 88) get tripped up as he comes across the formation; that’s likely Stroud’s first read. Still, he absolutely cannot make this throw.
Touchdown Texans: Christian Kirk again!
Early 2Q: Texans 10, Patriots 7
Kirk had a huge wild card game against the Steelers, and now he has a touchdown today, too.
It’s the first time Kirk has had a touchdown catch in consecutive games since 2023.
Drake Maye gives it right back
Tommy Togiai punches it out, Azeez Al-Shaair recovers, and it’s two turnovers in the last three plays.
This Houston defense is ferocious.
What a play by Carlton Davis!
And what an awful throw from C.J. Stroud, who already has four turnovers under under five quarters of playoff football this season.
Danielle Hunter makes his mark early
Late 1Q: Patriots 7, Texans 3
The Patriots got VERY lucky to get this one back.
Dalton Schultz headed to the locker room
This would be a big blow for Houston, which is without Nico Collins. Schultz has caught two passes for 47 yards already. He’s questionable to return with a calf injury, per the broadcast.
C.J. Stroud makes big play, but Texans settle for FG
Mid 1Q: Patriots 7, Texans 3
Stroud missed his first three passes and looked to be in trouble on a third-and-8 before a 42-yard pass to Dalton Schultz (the second-longest catch of Schultz’s career!)
The Texans later appeared to score a touchdown, but it was called back for an illegal shift. Houston had to settle for a field goal. Keep an eye on this throughout the game: Houston was 30th in red zone touchdown percentage this season.
Touchdown Patriots: Drake Maye to DeMario Douglas on fourth down
Early 1Q: Patriots 7, Texans 0
The Patriots make the Texans’ aggressive defense pay: Drake Maye rips a pass to DeMario Douglas right past a diving Calen Bullock.
This is how Houston’s defense plays: they will break up a ton of passes and leave their secondary players on islands, but if there’s one mistake, it can turn into a big one.
Rhamondre Stevenson rips off the game’s first big play
We’ve already seen the effects of the weather — quick throws, ugly throws, drops and slipping — but Rhamondre Stevenson just had a 20-yard run to get into Texans territory.
We are underway from Foxborough!
Drake Maye and the Patriots start with the ball.
Drake Maye’s legs could be big
The Texans’ defense is outstanding. It very well could take over this game. But there is one area it can struggle: on quarterback runs. Houston allows 9.2 yards per quarterback scramble, the highest number in the NFL.
Maye led the NFL in scrambles (62), and only Josh Allen and Justin Herbert had more yards on scrambles.
Weather report: It could get ugly
It doesn’t look pleasant inside Gillette Stadium. There’s snow, there’s a slick playing surface, and there’s more precipitation coming all afternoon.
Patriots inactives: Good news for the hosts
Both Khyiris Tonga (foot) and Harold Landry III (knee – questionable) are good to go for New England. Tonga, who hadn’t played in nearly a month, is a big boost for the run defense. Also, Christian Gonzalez cleared concussion protocol on Friday and is good to go.
Texans inactives: No Nico Collins
Nico Collins (concussion) had already been ruled out. The Texans are going to need a lot from Christian Kirk, Jayden Higgins and others to help C.J. Stroud.
