The conditions at Gillette Stadium on Sunday were as unforgiving as the game itself. Cold, wet weather turned the AFC Divisional Round matchup between the Patriots and Texans into a sloppy, mistake-filled affair defined by turnovers and missed opportunities.
In the end, New England proved tougher, more complete and better equipped to survive the chaos, advancing with a gritty win that pushed Mike Vrabel’s team one step from the Super Bowl.The teams combined for eight turnovers, and neither offense found much rhythm.
Drake Maye was responsible for all three of the Patriots’ giveaways, limiting New England’s ability to fully capitalize on a dominant defensive performance that produced five takeaways. Still, the Patriots consistently found ways to strike in key moments, leaning on a defense that swarmed to the football and fed off the energy of the home crowd. That edge carried New England through its second straight playoff game, setting up an AFC Championship matchup at Denver — even without Broncos quarterback Bo Nix — a scenario that would have seemed unthinkable a year ago.
For Houston, the loss was another alarming step backward for C.J. Stroud. After a shaky performance in the Wild Card Round, Stroud again looked unsettled in the pocket, struggling with accuracy and decision-making while turning the ball over four times.
He failed to push the ball downfield effectively, reduced largely to checkdowns that never seriously challenged New England’s safeties. Even his lone touchdown pass, a 10-yarder to Christian Kirk, required an adjustment from the receiver after Stroud placed the ball on the wrong shoulder. Several similar misses followed, including throws that led directly to interceptions by Carlton Davis. It was a disjointed performance that raised uncomfortable questions about Stroud’s trajectory after two deeply concerning playoff outings.
Maye, meanwhile, endured a rough statistical day but delivered when it mattered most. In brutal conditions, he showed poise and courage in pivotal moments, beginning with an early fourth-down strike to Demario Douglas for a 28-yard touchdown. He followed that with tight-window throws to Kayshon Boutte and Stefon Diggs, including a touchdown that gave New England control.
Though Maye lost multiple fumbles — three on strip-sacks and another on a keeper — he also made enough decisive plays to keep the Patriots in front. He sealed the game late with a perfectly placed pass to Boutte, who hauled in a spectacular one-handed catch for the decisive score. It was the second straight playoff win in which Maye didn’t overwhelm opponents statistically but instead delivered exactly what the situation demanded.
Houston’s defense deserved a far better outcome. The Texans fielded a unit capable of championship-level dominance, and it showed again Sunday by keeping the game within reach far longer than the offense warranted. Their efforts were undermined repeatedly by turnovers and stalled drives. In a telling moment late in the fourth quarter, down 12 points, head coach DeMeco Ryans elected to punt, effectively trusting his defense more than his offense to change the game. That decision underscored both the excellence of Houston’s defense and the futility of its offense on this night.
New England’s march continues in a way few could have predicted. These Patriots bear little resemblance to the dynasties of the past, instead emerging as a young, fast-developing team defined by defensive intensity, timely quarterback play and an unmistakable edge that mirrors their head coach. With Maye at the center, an ascending core of young talent and a group of battle-tested veterans, the Patriots are winning in unconventional fashion and peaking at the right time.
One year removed from a 3-14 season and a coaching reset, New England now stands one win from the Super Bowl, one of the most compelling and unexpected stories of the 2025 NFL season.
