Image Source: AP
Key Takeaways:
- The New England Patriots and Houston Texans are meeting in the divisional round, with the winner advancing to the AFC championship game.
- Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has come a long way since his first NFL start 15 months ago, and is now leading his team in the playoffs.
- The Texans have a strong defense, which will face off against the Patriots’ high-powered offense, led by Maye and receiver Stefon Diggs.
- The Texans will be without top receiver Nico Collins, who is expected to miss the game with a concussion.
- Patriots rookie left tackle Will Campbell is preparing to face a tough test against the Texans’ defensive ends, Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.
Introduction to the Matchup:
The New England Patriots and Houston Texans are set to face off in the divisional round, with the winner advancing to the AFC championship game. The Patriots are seeking their first appearance in the title game since the 2018 season, when they went on to win a sixth Super Bowl. The Texans, on the other hand, have never made it that far, having lost in the divisional round in each of the past two seasons under third-year coach DeMeco Ryans. As Ryans said, "We’ve been in this position before. I think we’ve learned from those things. Now it’s time to go put it on tape."
The Growth of Drake Maye:
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has come a long way since his first NFL start 15 months ago. Maye, who threw three touchdown passes in that game, but also was intercepted twice and sacked four times, has grown significantly as a player. "That feels like, shoot, 10 years ago. It’s been a long journey," Maye said. "Running out there with the first-snap jitters was pretty cool. It was fun to look back on. We’ll hopefully have a different outcome from (that) game." Maye’s growth has been impressive, and he is now leading his team in the playoffs.
Strength Against Strength:
The matchup between the Patriots and Texans is a classic case of strength against strength. The Patriots averaged an AFC-best 28.8 points per game, while the Texans have the NFL’s top-ranked defense. "I respect how hard they play," New England coach Mike Vrabel said. "They’re not only talented, but they have a play demeanor that I can appreciate." Ryans believes much of the Patriots’ offensive success can be traced to Maye’s growth under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. As Ryans said, "I think he is doing a really good job of not making bad decisions with the football. Where he’s taking that next step is his ability to escape the pocket."
Injury Concerns:
The Texans will be without top receiver Nico Collins, who is expected to miss the game with a concussion. Christian Kirk had a big game against the Steelers and the Texans are hoping for a repeat performance. Kirk had just 239 yards receiving in the regular season, but set a career high and franchise playoff record with 144 yards receiving against the Steelers. The Texans will also look for rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel to pitch in after the college teammates from Iowa State combined for 817 yards receiving and eight touchdowns in the regular season.
Preparation for the Game:
Patriots rookie left tackle Will Campbell is preparing to face a tough test against the Texans’ defensive ends, Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. Campbell was criticized on social media after yielding a team-high six pressures and two sacks – including a strip-sack – in the Patriots’ wild-card win over the Chargers. As Campbell said, "I don’t give a (expletive) what anyone says to be honest with you. It’s easy to type behind a Twitter account that is fake. I hold myself to the highest expectation of anybody." Campbell will need to be at his best to help protect Maye and give the Patriots a chance to win.
Conclusion:
The matchup between the Patriots and Texans is shaping up to be a exciting and closely contested game. With the Patriots’ high-powered offense facing off against the Texans’ strong defense, it will be a battle of strength against strength. As Maye said, "We’ll hopefully have a different outcome from (that) game." The Patriots and Texans are both confident and prepared, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/texans-patriots-preview-20260118017/
