The Houston Texans will play the New England Patriots in the AFC divisional round on Sunday, January 18, at 3 p.m. ET in Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts. This matchup pits Houston's league-leading defense against New England's young quarterback Drake Maye, who is making his first deep playoff run.
Background
Both teams earned their spots in the divisional round with strong wins in the wild-card round. The Patriots beat the Los Angeles Chargers 16-3 on Sunday, January 11. Their defense dominated, sacking Justin Herbert six times and holding the Chargers to under 210 total yards. Drake Maye threw for 268 yards and rushed for 66 in his first career playoff start. It marked New England's first divisional round appearance since 2018.
The Texans routed the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 on Monday, January 12, securing their first road playoff win in franchise history. Houston's defense, the best in the NFL during the regular season, sacked Aaron Rodgers four times, limited Pittsburgh to 175 yards, and scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
These teams met earlier in Week 6 of the 2024 season. Houston won 41-21 in Foxborough, with C.J. Stroud throwing three touchdown passes. Maye also had three touchdown passes that day but threw two interceptions, lost a fumble, and was sacked four times. Stefon Diggs, now Maye's top target with the Patriots, caught six passes for 77 yards and a score for Houston in that game.
New England holds an 11-4 all-time record against Houston, including 2-0 in the postseason. The Patriots enter as the No. 2 seed in the AFC after a solid regular season. Houston, the No. 5 seed, has momentum from their wild-card blowout.
The game airs on ESPN and ABC, with coverage starting at noon ET on Postseason NFL Countdown. Fans can also watch on the ESPN App and NFL streaming hub.
Key Details
Houston's defense has been the story all season. They led the league in points allowed and sacks during the regular year. In the playoff opener, they shut down the Steelers' offense completely. Two defensive touchdowns sealed the win late. C.J. Stroud has been steady, but it's the unit up front that forces turnovers and pressures quarterbacks.
Drake Maye's Challenge
Drake Maye steps into the spotlight for New England. The rookie showed poise against the Chargers, managing the game without turnovers in tough weather. Now he faces a defense that sacked Rodgers four times and excels at disrupting passing games. Maye will rely on receivers like Stefon Diggs, who has been a reliable target. Diggs' experience could help in key moments.
New England's defense held firm in the wild-card game. They kept a potent Chargers offense out of the end zone. Sacks and tackles for loss defined their effort. If they repeat that, it could limit Stroud and Houston's run game.
The weather in Foxborough could play a role. January games there often bring cold and wind, testing both teams' preparation.
"Our defense has to set the tone early. We know what Houston brings, and we have to match it," said Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon after the wild-card win.
Kickoff is at 3 p.m. ET, following other divisional games like Bills at Broncos on Saturday and 49ers at Seahawks.
What This Means
A win sends the victor to the AFC Championship Game on January 25 at 3 p.m. ET. The opponent would likely be the Broncos or Bills, depending on Saturday's result. Houston aims to build on their defensive strength and reach the conference title game for the first time in years. For New England, this is a chance to prove their rebuild is ahead of schedule with Maye at the helm.
Maye succeeding here would mark a big step for the Patriots' future. Their defense has carried them so far, but the young quarterback needs to handle pressure from Houston's front. Stroud and the Texans want to keep their playoff run alive after the easy wild-card win.
The broader playoff picture narrows to eight teams chasing Super Bowl LX on February 8 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. This game decides one quarterfinal spot in the AFC bracket.
Both fan bases have high hopes. Texans supporters celebrate the franchise's first road playoff victory. Patriots fans see echoes of past glory with a home divisional game. The matchup tests young talent against proven defenses.
Preparations are underway. Coaches review film from the wild-card games and the regular-season meeting. Players focus on recovery after short weeks. Houston travels north, adjusting to New England's home-field edge.
This divisional round features tight seeding. No top seeds played in the wild-card due to byes, but upsets like the Bears over Packers and Rams over Panthers shook things up. Houston and New England represent fresh blood in the AFC mix alongside Denver and Buffalo.
Viewers get special coverage like NFL Divisional Playbook with Next Gen Stats on the ESPN App for subscribers. It breaks down key plays and advanced data.
The stakes rise with each round. A strong performance here builds confidence for championship Sunday. Teams know every detail matters in January football.
