Patriots links 1/19/26: Pats Defense out-swarms Texans, 28-16

TEAM TALK

• Post Game Notes, Patriots vs. Texans: Patriots forced five turnovers and tied the team’s postseason record with four interceptions; QB Drake Maye throws three touchdown passes; More.
• Evan Lazar’s Game Observations: 8 Takeaways from the Patriots victory over the Texans to reach the AFC Championship game. “As far as improbable runs go, head coach Mike Vrabel has been a part of two of them in New England.” More.
• Gamebook: Full Patriots-Texans stats.
• Mike Dussault’s Rapid Recap: Patriots defeat Texans 28-16, will face Denver in AFC Championship.
• Post Game Quotes: Patriots and Texans.
• Post Game Pressers: Mike Vrabel – Drake Maye – Stefon Diggs, Marcus Jones, Rhamondre Stevenson, Milton Williams, Christian Gonzalez, K’Lavon Chiasson, Robert Spillane, Hunter Henry, Charles Woodson, Jaylinn Hawkins.
• Highlights: Patriots vs. Texans, AFC Divisional round game. (5 min. video)
• Patriots Postgame Show: Full breakdown of Divisional round win over the Texans. (85 min.)

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss recaps the Patriots’ win and how the swarming defensive performance, (tying the franchise postseason record with 4 INTs) helped the Pats advance to the AFC Championship Game.
• Mark Daniels gives us 10 takeaways as the Patriots beat the Texans 28-16. 1. Pats get aggressive.
• Alex Barth posts five takeaways as the Patriots survive and advance. 1. Defense swarms Stroud.
• Andrew Callahan writes, ‘It took three quarters, but the MVP candidate who led the Patriots back to the playoffs arrived in time Sunday to send them to the AFC Championship Game.’
• Andrew Callahan explains how the Patriots are carrying a dynasty-era feel on return to AFC title game.
• Doug Kyed notes the Patriots defense made a statement after taking praise of the Texans personally.
• Greg Dudek mentions how playmaking from Marcus Jones is becoming staple of Patriots’ run.
• Karen Guregian writes ‘Drake Maye didn’t pick the best time to have one of his worst games this season. But even when he struggles, he’s found a way to make enough plays to win the game.‘
• Karen Guregian explains how Mike Vrabel’s sideline chat helped lead to Drake Maye’s pivotal fourth quarter TD throw.
• Ethan Hurwitz spotlights how the offensive line struggled yesterday.
• Mark Daniels highlights Will Campbell after Sunday’s win: ‘I need to play better.’ /Yep.
• Chris Mason relays Stefon Diggs on how he believes Patriots learned a valuable lesson about themselves.
• Doug Kyed’s Best and worst: What we learned from Patriots’ 28-16 playoff win over Texans.
• Lauren Campbell notes Vrabel praised the Gillette Stadium crowd for ‘ratcheting it up’ in fourth quarter.
• Karen Guregian hears from the longest tenured players, how an AFC title game ‘almost doesn’t feel real.’

NATIONAL NEWS

• Gilberto Manzano (SI) These Patriots are no juggernaut, and they’re also no underdog
• Nick Shook (NFL.com) Divisional Round Sunday: What we learned from New England’s 28-16 win.
• Mike Reiss and DJ Bien-Aime (ESPN) Patriots hold off Texans in turnover-filled divisional game. -...