New England Patriots Force Five Turnovers Eliminate Houston Texans 28-16
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — In a snowy showdown at Gillette Stadium, the New England Patriots turned Houston's mistakes into a decisive victory, defeating the Texans 28-16 in the AFC Divisional Round to earn a spot in the conference championship game.
Drake Maye showed poise under pressure for New England, throwing touchdown passes to DeMario Douglas, Stefon Diggs, and Kayshon Boutte despite committing his own turnovers. The Patriots' defense made the difference, forcing five giveaways from the Texans, including four interceptions thrown by C.J. Stroud and one lost fumble. A highlight came when Marcus Jones returned one of those picks for a touchdown, swinging momentum firmly in New England's favor.
KAYSHON BOUTTE WHAT A CATCH! TOUCHDOWN @PATRIOTS!
— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2026
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Houston entered the game riding a long winning streak and boasting one of the league's stingiest defenses, but the constant errors proved too costly. Stroud connected on a touchdown pass to Christian Kirk, and the Texans added field goals to stay in the fight, but they could never overcome the turnover barrage.
The Patriots built an early lead, extended it before halftime, and sealed the win with a late touchdown in the fourth quarter. New England's resilient performance marked their return to the AFC title game for the first time since the late 2010s, a testament to their growth under head coach Mike Vrabel.
For the Texans, the season ended on a frustrating note as self-inflicted wounds overshadowed what had been a breakout campaign. New England now prepares to face the Denver Broncos next weekend with a chance to reach the Super Bowl.
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