Patriots Ride Takeaways-Filled Win Past Texans and Into AFC Championship Game

New England is back on the AFC’s biggest stage

It has been seven years since the New England Patriots last reached the AFC Championship Game, but that wait ended Sunday afternoon in Foxborough, Massachusetts. In a snowy divisional-round matchup, the Patriots beat the Houston Texans 28-16 to move within one win of a Super Bowl berth.

The result was built on two defining themes: a defense that repeatedly took the ball away from Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, and an offense led by quarterback Drake Maye that did enough—despite its own ball-security issues—to capitalize on the moments that mattered most. Maye threw three touchdown passes, while the defense produced five turnovers, including four interceptions.

Now the Patriots, led by head coach Mike Vrabel and their rookie quarterback, head to Denver for the AFC Championship Game. The Patriots’ path to this point has sparked plenty of conversation, but the win over Houston provided tangible evidence of what New England can be when its defense dictates the game and its offense lands a few decisive punches.

Takeaway 1: The Patriots’ defense didn’t just hold up—it took over

Much of the pregame attention centered on Houston’s top-ranked defense and whether it could carry the Texans deep into January. On this day, however, it was New England’s defense that looked like the unit capable of changing a postseason trajectory.

The Patriots intercepted Stroud four times, forced five turnovers total, and held Houston to 241 yards. They also pressured Stroud throughout the afternoon, pushing him into hurried decisions and limiting his options downfield. The coverage and pass rush worked together: pressure arrived quickly, and when Stroud tried to get the ball out, throwing windows were tight and contested.

New England’s cornerback trio stood out in particular:

• Christian Gonzalez was consistently on top of routes and helped shrink the Texans’ passing game.
• Marcus Jones delivered the game’s most direct defensive scoring play with a pick-six.
• Carlton Davis came away with two interceptions, repeatedly turning Houston possessions into New England opportunities.

The performance wasn’t just a one-off. Over the last three games, the Patriots have yielded an average of 209.3 yards. In the postseason specifically, they have surrendered 448 total yards and 19 points across two playoff games. That kind of defensive output gives New England a margin for error—an important detail considering the Patriots’ offense has turned the ball over five times since the postseason began.

Takeaway 2: Drake Maye wasn’t perfect, but he was decisive when it counted

Maye’s stat line won’t be remembered as a masterpiece, but it will be remembered as effective. Against what was described as the NFL’s best defense, in snowy conditions, and under steady pressure from a pass rush that sacked him five times, Maye finished 16-of-27 for 179 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.

There were clear issues. Maye put the ball on the ground four times, losing two fumbles. Across two playoff games, he has six fumbles with three lost, and he has been sacked 10 times. Those numbers underline the most urgent area for improvement as the competition stiffens.

Still, the larger story of Maye’s afternoon was composure. He stayed calm in the pocket, avoided forcing throws into coverage, and “surgically” took what was available. Even when he had to rush throws, he largely kept New England out of catastrophic mistakes through the air.

There was also a strategic point that emerged from the game flow: the Patriots’ offense did not convert any of the Texans’ five turnovers into points, a missed opportunity that could loom larger in future matchups. Yet Maye still delivered the plays that swung the outcome, including a fourth-quarter touchdown pass that will be remembered as much for the catch as the throw.

In that sense, Maye’s performance fit a classic New England template: not necessarily gaudy, but timely—doing whatever was required to win, even if the final numbers look modest.

Takeaway 3: Stroud’s rough day raised uncomfortable questions for Houston

For the Texans, the most difficult part of the afternoon was the quarterback position. Stroud struggled from the opening stages and never found a rhythm. He finished 20-of-47 for 212 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.

In many ways, Houston was fortunate the damage wasn’t even worse. New England turned those interceptions into just seven points, all coming on the Marcus Jones pick-six. Had the Patriots’ offense been more efficient off turnovers, the game could have tilted out of reach much earlier.

This wasn’t presented as an isolated blip, either. The issues were described as building since Houston’s wild-card win in Pittsburgh, when Stroud threw an interception and had five fumbles (two lost) in a game the Texans’ defense eventually salvaged. In Foxborough, he again looked rattled and unsure under pressure—traits that stand out in January, when the margin for error is thin and the spotlight is brightest.

The broader question that hovered over the performance was direct: is Stroud still a franchise quarterback? The Texans, according to the information available, are expected to pick up his fifth-year option for 2027 by May 1, with the figure noted at $26.5 million. But the longer-term financial picture for quarterbacks is far steeper, and games like this—paired with what was described as a recent decline—can create hesitation when it comes to committing elite-level money.

At the same time, Stroud’s résumé still includes consistent team success: he has helped Houston reach the playoffs in each of his three seasons. The implication moving forward is that next season will carry added weight, as he works to show he is capable of more than average production and to reassert himself as the kind of quarterback who can elevate a team in its biggest moments.

Takeaway 4: New England’s supporting cast is better than the narrative suggests

One of the quieter developments in New England’s season has been the emergence of a more complete set of offensive weapons than the team is typically credited for having. Against a Texans defense that entered the game with a top ranking, the Patriots showed they can stress opponents in multiple ways—even if the box score doesn’t fully capture it.

The Patriots’ backfield remains a central feature. Rookie TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson formed what was described as an excellent one-two punch during the regular season, combining for 1,514 yards and 16 touchdowns. On Sunday, they combined for 95 rushing yards against one of the league’s toughest run defenses. That total may not jump off the page, but it reflected the ability to remain functional on the ground even when space is limited and conditions are poor.

In the passing game, Maye had multiple options:

• Stefon Diggs, while described as not as electric as he once was, still drew defensive attention and produced 4 catches for 40 yards and a touchdown.
• Kayshon Boutte provided the biggest splash play, going 3-75-1 and delivering a one-handed touchdown catch in the fourth quarter that stood out as one of the most spectacular moments of the game.
• DeMario Douglas contributed with 2 catches for 38 yards and a touchdown and was described as underused and underrated.
• Hunter Henry was also part of the mix, finishing with 1 catch for 5 yards.

One detail that framed Boutte’s highlight: he beat cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. before making the sensational catch. In a game where yards were hard to come by and every mistake felt magnified by the weather and defensive pressure, one explosive, well-executed play carried extra weight.

The larger point is that Houston’s defense—considered better than almost anyone—found it difficult to defend all of New England’s options. That doesn’t mean the Patriots were flawless offensively, but it does suggest the unit has more variety than the season-long conversation around New England has sometimes allowed.

The schedule debate isn’t going away, but the Patriots keep advancing

Even with the win, the broader narrative around New England’s season remains part of the discussion. The Patriots were described as being “barely tested” during the regular season due to a very soft schedule. They played just four teams that made the playoffs, and only one after Week 5.

In the postseason, the matchups have also fueled that perception. New England opened against a banged-up Chargers team in the wild-card round, then faced a Texans team that turned the ball over repeatedly in the divisional round.

Now comes another storyline-heavy matchup: the Patriots will face the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game in Denver on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, with a berth in Super Bowl LX on the line. The Broncos are slated to be without starting quarterback Bo Nix due to a fractured ankle and are expected to start Jarrett Stidham, who has not thrown a pass in an NFL game in more than two years.

And yet, the Broncos cannot simply be dismissed. They are coming off a 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills and, as the top seed, have won 14 of their last 15 games. The Patriots did not play Denver during the regular season, adding another layer of uncertainty to how the matchup will unfold.

What the Patriots must clean up before Denver

New England’s formula is working, but it is not without risk. The defense is playing at a level that can carry a team through January, but the offense has left points on the field—most notably by failing to convert Houston’s turnovers into additional scoring. Against stronger opponents, empty possessions after takeaways can become the difference between advancing and going home.

Ball security is the other obvious focus. Maye’s fumbles have become a postseason theme, and while heavy pressure and a high sack rate help explain some of it, the Patriots will need cleaner execution in the pocket. In a conference championship environment, extra possessions are precious, and giveaways can quickly erase the advantage created by a dominant defense.

Still, the Patriots are exactly where they want to be: a win away from the Super Bowl, with a defense that is producing turnovers in bunches and an offense that has shown it can deliver timely touchdowns even under difficult conditions. The divisional-round win over Houston wasn’t just a step forward in the bracket—it was a reminder that New England’s path, however debated, is being validated on the field one game at a time.