At a Glance
- The New England Patriots beat Houston 28-16 to reach their first AFC Championship Game since 2019
- Drake Maye threw three touchdowns and Marcus Jones added a pick-six
- The Patriots will face the top-seeded Denver Broncos, who lost QB Bo Nix to a broken ankle
- Why it matters: New England is now one win away from a return to the Super Bowl after a seven-year absence
The New England Patriots are back in the AFC title game. Drake Maye’s three touchdown passes and Marcus Jones’ 35-yard interception return powered a 28-16 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday, ending the franchise’s longest conference-championship drought since the pre-Tom Brady era.
Patriots Defense Feasts on Stroud’s Miscues
C.J. Stroud threw four first-half interceptions and lost a fumble, becoming the first player in postseason history with at least five picks and five fumbles in a single playoff run. Carlton Davis III grabbed two of those interceptions; Craig Woodson added another pick and recovered a fumble. The eight combined turnovers matched the playoff high set in the 2015 NFC championship game between Arizona and Carolina.
“It was a crazy game,” said linebacker Robert Spillane, who batted down Stroud’s final fourth-down pass. “We knew if we kept hustling, the ball would pop out.”
Maye Shakes Off Elements, Spots Boutte for Late Dagger
Snow and rain pelted Gillette Stadium all afternoon. Maye still completed 16 of 27 passes for 179 yards, but he also fumbled four times-losing two-and had an interception. One of those lost fumbles set up Houston’s lone touchdown drive.
Up 21-16 midway through the fourth quarter, Maye rolled right and lofted a pass to the back-left corner. Kayshon Boutte slipped behind cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., laid out, and secured a one-handed, diving 22-yard touchdown that pushed the lead to 27-16. Joey Slye’s extra point made it 28-16 with 5:48 left.
Texans’ Divisional Curse Continues
Houston punted on fourth-and-18 from its own 21 with 4:18 remaining. The Texans never saw the ball again. New England ground more than two minutes off the clock, and Spillane’s fourth-down deflection sealed the outcome.
The loss extends Houston’s divisional-round misery:
- 0-7 all-time in this round
- Three straight exits in the divisional round under coach DeMeco Ryans
- Stroud finishes the postseason with six interceptions and five fumbles
Mile-High Showdown Up Next
New England will travel to Denver for the AFC Championship Game against the top-seeded Broncos, who advanced despite losing rookie quarterback Bo Nix to a broken ankle in the divisional round. The winner earns a trip to Super Bowl LX.
The Patriots are making their 16th conference-title appearance and first since the 2018 season that ended with a sixth Lombardi Trophy. They have won nine consecutive divisional-round games, the longest active streak in the NFL.
Key Takeaways
- Turnover margin: Patriots +4 (5 takeaways, 1 giveaway)
- Third-down defense: Texans converted just 3 of 12 attempts
- Patriots’ rushing attack churned 118 yards despite the weather
- Special teams: Slye perfect on extra points, no missed kicks
- Next kickoff: Sunday, 3:05 p.m. ET at Empower Field
