Betting against the New England Patriots this season hasn’t paid off for many people, and it definitely didn’t work out on Sunday against the Houston Texans.

The Patriots entered the contest as favorites, but many NFL analysts picked Houston to win due to its strong defense and challenging schedule. In contrast, New England faced one of the easier schedules, leading to differing opinions on the matchup.

However, Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs sent a message to everyone who doubted New England.

“I think we’re one of those teams that play better with a chip on our shoulder,” Diggs said on...

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye didn’t have his usual outing in New England’s 28-16 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday.

Maye completed 16 of 27 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns. However, he threw an interception and fumbled the ball four times, losing two of them.

Head coach Mike Vrabel dropped his honest assessment of Maye’s performance following the win.

“We talk about not going in the blender,” Vrabel said on Sunday, via WEEI’s Tom Carroll. “And I think it’s hard. They put pressure on us, and we know we’ve got to take care of the ball. Drake knows...

For a second straight week, Robert Spillane was all smiles at the Gillette Stadium podium on Sunday. He had good reason to be: the New England Patriots had just beaten the Houston Texans 28-16 to advance to the AFC Championship Game for the first time in seven years.

But while the defensive captain was clearly pleased with his team’s performance, he also wanted to make something clear about the Patriots season: it ain’t over yet.

“A work in progress. We’re not finished,” Spillane explained. “We’ll just going to continue to put our heads down, bring the energy required each and...

The Patriots are headed to the AFC Championship Game after clinching a victory over the Houston Texans with a score of 28-16 on Sunday. A key factor in New England’s win was quarterback Drake Maye, who stepped up and made several crucial plays down the stretch.

Someone who had a great view of Maye’s performance was left tackle Will Campbell, who praised Maye for his effort.

“Nothing can make him flinch,” Campbell said on Sunday. “I like our chances anytime he’s in the game. He’s just a heck of a player, even better leader. Wouldn’t want anybody else commanding the...

The New England Patriots will travel to Denver to face the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday; however, one key player will not be playing.

Broncos quarterback Box Nix suffered a season-ending break in his ankle during Denver’s 33-30 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. The Broncos selected Nix in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the same year the Patriots picked Drake Maye. Maye commented on not being able to face Nix in their upcoming matchup.

“Heartbreaking for the player he is, the guy he is. Praying for Bo,” Maye said on Sunday. “I...

Celebrating a 28-16 win in snowy Foxborough, the New England Patriots managed to survive the slugfest that was their divisional round game against the Houston Texans. That said, they suffered multiple injuries along the way.

The most notable of the players to get shaken up might be Carlton Davis. The veteran cornerback, who helped set the tone with a pair of interceptions in the first half, was unable to finish the game because of a head injury.

Davis, 29, left the game in the fourth quarter. He first headed to the blue medical tent on the sideline and later made...

Drake Maye and Kayshon Boutte added another spectacular play to their highlight reel during Sunday’s AFC Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans.

The duo composed the final salvo in a 28-16 victory when Maye found Boutte for a 32-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Boutte dove to the ground and made a spectacular one-handed catch to give New England breathing room at Gillette Stadium.

Maye applauded his wide receiver’s latest acrobatic play after the game, via Fox Sports.

“He keeps on making them,” Maye said. “He keeps on making plays, making me look good. And (I’m) proud to be...

The New England Patriots are one victory away from the Super Bowl following Sunday’s 28-16 win over the Houston Texans.

New England advanced to the AFC Championship Game in a sloppy, turnover-filled triumph over Houston. Following consecutive home wins, the Patriots will travel to Denver to face the Broncos for the conference title.

After New England’s victory, the NFL announced the details for next weekend’s matchup. The Patriots will play the Broncos on Sunday, Jan. 25, at 3 p.m. ET.

CBS will televise the AFC Championship Game, and viewers can also stream it on Paramount+.

The Patriots finished the regular...

There was no path back to Gillette Stadium for the New England Patriots. But there was a path back to the AFC Championship Game.

Head coach Mike Vrabel’s side cleared it with a 28-16 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday, earning the right to visit the Denver Broncos.

Here’s a glance back on the divisional round before sights set on the No. 1 seed that awaits at Mile High.

Maye outlasts fumbles to punch AFC title ticket

January 2019 marked the last time New England had punched a ticket to the AFC title game. To do so again,...

The New England Patriots and Houston Texans were engaged in a slugfest on Sunday, with the home team ultimately emerging victoriously. Led by an opportunistic defense as well as an offense that made enough plays in the end, head coach Mike Vrabel and his team celebrated a 28-16 win to set up a meeting with the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game.

Here is a Patriots-centric view at some of the key moments of the game.

Moment No. 1: Fourth down touchdown

After both teams exchanged three-and-outs to open the game, the Patriots were able to find some...

The New England Patriots are not done. Beating the Houston Texans in a defensive-dominated battle on Sunday afternoon, the team of first-year head coach Mike Vrabel managed to punch its ticket to the AFC Championship Game against the top-seeded Denver Broncos.

The game will take place on Sunday, Jan. 25 at 3 p.m. ET at Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High. It will be broadcast on CBS and Paramount+.

For the Patriots, who have now won 16 games this season and are one win away from the Super Bowl, the conference title game is familiar territory. They have advanced so...

It may not have been pretty, but the New England Patriots’ cinderella season will continue for another week. Taking on the visiting Houston Texans at snowy Gillette Stadium on Sunday afternoon, the team of first-year head coach Mike Vrabel celebrated a 28-16 win in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.

Defense dominated for much of the afternoon, with both offenses struggling to hold onto the football and string positive plays together. Ultimately, however, MVP candidate Drake Maye and company were able to get the upper hand: aided by four first-half interceptions as well as some big passing plays and...