New England 28, Houston 16

 

As if there were any remaining doubt that they're back, the New England Patriots crushed the Houston Texans, 28-16, in the AFC Divisional round.

To be fair, the Pats got a lot of assistance from Houston QB C.J. Stroud, who threw four interceptions. New England only scored on one of those intercepts, a Marcus Jones pick six, but every time the ball's not in the Texans' hands was to the advantage of the Patriots.

Drake Maye went 16 of 27 for 179 yards, including three passing TDs. He was sacked a brutal five times and threw one interception. Kayshon Boutte had 75 yards receiving including one of Drake's TD passes; ex-Texan Stefon Diggs and Demario Douglas had the other two. Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 70 of New England's 105 yards.

The Patriots led for all but two minutes of the second quarter, when Houston kicked a field goal for a 10-7 lead, only to throw that pick six on the first play of their next possession. 

The Patriots are going to the AFC Championship! They'll play the Denver Broncos, who will be without their starting QB Bonix, who broke an ankle bone on the second-to-last play of their Divisional round game against the Buffalo Bills. Bonix underwent season-ending ankle surgery on Tuesday, and their backup QB, former Patriot Jarrett Stidham, will start the game. Fun fact: Stidham was the QB at Auburn in 2017 and 2018, and after he graduated was replaced by Bonix, who lasted one season at Auburn before transfer portalling out of the SEC and over to Oregon. They both wound up in Denver. 

Anyone else sensing a New England-Seattle Super Bowl coming up?