The New England Patriots are moving on to the AFC Championship Game.
New England earned a 28-16 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots will now travel to Denver to take on the Broncos — who eliminated the Buffalo Bills.
It was a turnover-riddled affair for both teams, but New England’s defense made life difficult for C.J. Stroud — who was intercepted four times in the first half and sacked three times in the game.
Drake Maye wasn’t perfect, but he was good enough to advance to the AFCCG in just his second year in the NFL.
The winner of next week’s game moves on to the Super Bowl.
Here’s what’s being said about New England’s win.
ESPN
“Kayshon Boutte might be one of the most underrated wide receivers in the NFL. His one-handed 32-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter Sunday was a highlight-reel play and ultimately knocked out the Texans — against All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., no less. The score was his fourth receiving TD on a deep fade/go route this season, including the playoffs (per ESPN Analytics and NFL Next Gen Stats). That’s tied for second most in the NFL after the Bengals’ Tee Higgins (six). Boutte played 55.4% of the offensive snaps in the regular season, totaling 33 receptions for 551 yards and 6 touchdowns.”
Nick Foles, former Eagles quarterback
“Note for the Broncos and their fans: I know it has been an emotional 24 hours. I feel for Bo and the team, and I’m sending prayers for a strong recovery. A positive note going into the game versus the Patriots is that they struggle against backup QBs in championship-type games.”
CBS Sports
“The defensive line, led by prized offseason add Milton Williams, was outstanding all game; Houston finished with just 48 yards on 22 carries. Rookie Craig Woodson (who also had an interception) recovered Woody Marks’ red zone fumble at a crucial juncture in the second half. The Patriots’ rush defense was terrific in the first half of the season and the league’s worst in the second half of the season. Now, fully healthy, it looks to be back on track.
“Money can’t buy happiness, but money well spent can buy a really good football team, and the Patriots seem quite happy.”
The Athletic
“New England’s defense outplayed the highly touted Houston unit, sacking Stroud three times, forcing five turnovers and getting a defensive touchdown on a second-quarter pick six. Stroud was hammered by edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson as he tried to throw, the ball went nearly straight up into the air, and Marcus Jones intercepted it and returned it 26 yards for a score.”
USA TODAY
“The bottom line – 179 yards on 16-of-27 passing – surely wasn’t what one would expect from a leading MVP candidate. But the second-year signal-caller managed to do what Stroud couldn’t: be judicious about how he attacked his opponent in a game defined by defensive performances. Maye tends to thrive against blitz-heavy teams that provide him the opportunity to punish them for their aggressiveness. That’s decidedly not the Texans, who can put quarterbacks in uncomfortable spots without diverting from their established ways. But Maye was largely discerning and at times even opportunistic, with his 32-yard deep shot to Kayshon Boutte essentially putting the game out of reach in the fourth quarter.”
NFL
“These are not your uncle’s Patriots. In previous decades, Bill Belichick’s squads won Super Bowls on the back of a stifling defense and a good enough offense, then morphed into an offensive machine before striking a bit of a balance in their second era of dominance in the 2010s. Consider these Patriots a green, but rapidly maturing group that is still establishing their identity. They have one true star leader wearing No. 10 (Maye), a group of ascending youngsters (i.e., Boutte, TreVeyon Henderson , Christian Gonzalez), a collection of talented and hungry veterans (i.e., Davis, Stefon Diggs , Hunter Henry) and a fearless coach with experience gained both in uniform and on the sideline whose own gritty nature saw him bloodied in celebration a week ago and gleefully drenched by rain/snow mix Sunday.
“Perhaps they’re the perfect blend of ingredients that could produce a surprisingly delicious and nourishing stew; on the other hand, they might just be a team that is peaking at the right time with a coach perfectly suited to lead them through an unfamiliar AFC landscape to new heights. Regardless, they’re winning in unconventional fashion, they’re fun to watch, they’re a machine fueled by passion and are positioned for one more game with a chance to return to the Super Bowl since the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era. It’s a place Patriots fans never would have expected to find themselves in even a year ago when they went 3-14 and fired Jerod Mayo after one season.
“And while it’s familiar to the fanbase that enjoyed two decades of incredible success under Belichick, it might feel like a whole new experience when considering how they’ve reached this point, making the Patriots one of the most fascinating stories of the 2025 season that will continue for at least one more week.”
Sports Illustrated
“Most of the week was spent giving acclaim to the Texans’ top-ranked defense, but the Patriots have proved they know a little something about that side of the ball, too.
“After allowing only three points in their wild-card win over the Chargers last week, New England produced five takeaways, including four interceptions of C.J. Stroud in a 28–16 win. Houston did little offensively, with the Patriots allowing only 48 rushing yards (2.2 yards per carry) and 3.3 yards per play on the afternoon.”
