At a Glance
- Drake Maye threw three touchdown passes and the Patriots forced four C.J. Stroud interceptions
- New England defeated Houston 28-16, reaching the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 2018
- The Patriots will face top-seeded Denver, who lost quarterback Bo Nix to a broken ankle
- Why it matters: The victory extends New England’s divisional-round winning streak to nine games and keeps alive its pursuit of a seventh Super Bowl title
The New England Patriots are heading back to the AFC Championship Game. Drake Maye tossed three touchdown passes, Marcus Jones returned an interception for a score, and the defense forced four C.J. Stroud picks in a 28-16 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Patriots End Seven-Year Drought
In Mike Vrabel’s first season as coach, the Patriots earned their 16th conference championship appearance and first since the 2018 season, when they captured their sixth Super Bowl under Bill Belichick. New England has now won nine straight divisional-round contests.
Next up: a showdown with the top-seeded Denver Broncos, who will be without rookie quarterback Bo Nix after he broke his ankle late in their divisional win. The winner advances to Super Bowl LX.
Maye Battles Elements, Turnovers
Maye completed 16 of 27 passes for 179 yards, but the victory came despite four fumbles-two lost-and an interception. Snow and rain fell throughout the game, and one of his fumbles directly led to Houston’s first touchdown.
“Just proud of the guys,” Maye said. “Battled the elements. This is New England. This is what we’re trying to embrace and we want to embrace all season long. Props to our defense, played a hell of a game. We’ve got to protect the football better, but we made enough plays to win it.”
Defense Dominates Stroud
The Patriots’ defense turned Houston’s second-year quarterback into a turnover machine:
- Carlton Davis III recorded two interceptions
- Craig Woodson added an interception and a fumble recovery
- Marcus Jones took one pick back for a touchdown
Stroud finished 20 of 47 with a touchdown pass, but all four interceptions came in the first half. He became the first player in a single postseason with five-plus interceptions and five-plus fumbles.
Turnover-Filled Playoff Classic
The teams combined for eight turnovers, the most in a playoff game since the 2015 NFC Championship Game between the Cardinals and Panthers. Houston’s Woody Marks also lost a fumble, while Texans edge rusher Will Anderson forced two fumbles.
Late Drama Seals Outcome
Leading 21-16 in the fourth quarter, New England extended the margin when Kayshon Boutte beat cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. for a diving, one-handed touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone.
Houston took possession with 5:48 remaining but punted on fourth-and-18 from its own 21 with 4:18 left. The Patriots’ ensuing drive bled the clock under two minutes, and the Texans turned it over on downs when Robert Spillane batted down Stroud’s fourth-down pass to Xavier Hutchinson.
Texans’ Divisional Woes Continue
The loss extends Houston’s streak of divisional-round heartbreaks. Under coach DeMeco Ryans, the Texans have fallen in this round three straight seasons, and the franchise is now 0-7 all-time in divisional playoff games.
Key Takeaways
- New England’s defense forced four interceptions and a fumble, dominating the first half
- Drake Maye overcame four fumbles and an interception to throw three touchdown passes
- The Patriots’ nine-game divisional-round winning streak is the longest in NFL history
- Denver will host the AFC title game without quarterback Bo Nix, leveling the matchup
The Patriots now turn their attention to Denver and a chance to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2018 season.
