Patriots Ride Dominant Defense Into AFC Championship as Maye Faces Playoff Test vs Texans
TL;DR Summary
The Patriots’ defense again carried the win in the Divisional Round, bottling Houston and allowing just one TD drive across two playoff victories through aggressive early-down pressure, heavy man coverage, and smart disguises. Drake Maye faced a playoff gauntlet against top defenses, showing flashes and some ball-security issues, but the unit’s consistent dominance kept New England on track to face Denver in the AFC Championship.
- After Further Review: Breaking Down the Patriots Defense's Playoff Breakout, Maye Review, and Quick-Hit Notes From Divisional Round Win vs. Texans New England Patriots
- Patriots outlast Texans in wintry, turnover-filled affair to advance to AFC title game - The Athletic The New York Times
- Patriots 28-16 Texans (Jan 18, 2026) Game Recap ESPN
- The Run Ends | VanderBlog Houston Texans
- Texans-Patriots on Divisional Round Sunday: What We Learned from New England's 28-16 win NFL.com
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