Texans vs Patriots Match Player Stats: 28-16 Patriots Win

C.J. Stroud unraveled under playoff pressure, throwing four interceptions as the New England Patriots handed the Houston Texans a 28-16 loss in the AFC Divisional Round on January 18, 2026. Drake Maye’s three touchdown passes led New England to victory, exposing the gap between Houston’s potential and their playoff readiness.

Final Score: Patriots 28-16 Texans · Stroud Passing Yards: 212 · Maye TDs: 3 · Stroud INTs: 4

Who is favored to win, Texans or Patriots?

The Houston Texans entered the AFC Divisional Round with a 12-5 regular season record, having clinched the AFC South division title. The New England Patriots finished 14-3, earning the second seed in the AFC. Despite the Texans’ strong regular season, the Patriots emerged as the decisive winners in this playoff matchup.

Pre-game odds and predictions

The Patriots held a clear advantage based on their superior regular season record. Their 14-3 finish reflected a team that had found consistency under new quarterback Drake Maye, while the Texans were still learning to maximize C.J. Stroud’s potential in high-stakes situations.

Post-game outcome analysis

Drake Maye threw three touchdown passes for the Patriots, demonstrating the efficiency that New England had built its offense around all season. According to ESPN’s game coverage, Maye completed 16 of 27 passes for 179 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Meanwhile, C.J. Stroud struggled significantly against the Patriots’ defensive schemes.

Why did the Texans lose to the Patriots?

Turnovers proved to be the deciding factor in this game. The Houston Texans committed five total turnovers, while the New England Patriots limited themselves to three. That differential directly translated into scoring opportunities for New England that Houston simply couldn’t match.

Stroud’s 4 interceptions

C.J. Stroud completed 20 of 47 passes for 212 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions, according to Fox Sports box score data. His completion percentage of 42.6% on 47 attempts reflected a night where the Patriots’ secondary dominated the Texans’ receiving corps. Every interception shifted momentum toward New England and gave their offense short fields to work with.

Defensive stats breakdown

The Patriots’ defense was led by Carlton Davis III, who recorded four solo tackles and four pass deflections, per FantasyData’s box score. Craig Woodson contributed an interception and a fumble recovery, while Marcus Jones added one interception and a defensive touchdown. On the other side, Will Anderson Jr. recorded two sacks and three quarterback hits, and Danielle Hunter added two more sacks, but the Texans’ defensive effort couldn’t overcome the offensive struggles.

The pattern reveals New England’s defensive unit controlled the game by forcing mistakes and capitalizing on every opportunity.

Who wins Patriots vs Texans?

The New England Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 28-16 in the AFC Divisional Round. The victory sent New England to the AFC Championship Game, where they would face their next playoff opponent. For the Texans, the loss ended their postseason run and forced a difficult offseason of reflection.

Game summary

According to NFL.com’s recap, the Patriots controlled the game from start to finish. Maye’s three touchdown passes kept the pressure on a Texans defense that simply couldn’t generate enough stops. Stroud’s four interceptions effectively ended any comeback hopes Houston harbored. The Patriots finished with 248 total yards compared to Houston’s 241, but the turnover differential made the yardage gap irrelevant.

Key turning points

Marcus Jones’ defensive touchdown shifted momentum decisively in New England’s favor. Combined with the Patriots’ ability to capitalize on Stroud’s interceptions, every Patriots score felt inevitable once they established their lead. The Texans converted only 7 of 17 third-down attempts, while the Patriots managed just 3 of 14, but New England’s efficiency in the red zone proved decisive.

The implication is that a single defensive score can flip an entire game’s narrative when a quarterback continues to struggle under pressure.

Texans vs Patriots score

The final scoreboard read Patriots 28, Texans 16. New England accumulated 248 total yards of offense, while Houston managed 241 yards. The Patriots received 3 penalties for 48 yards, and the Texans were flagged 4 times for 32 yards. Despite similar yardage totals, the turnover battle determined the outcome.

Box score overview

The box score revealed a tale of two offenses. Maye threw three touchdown passes on efficient 16-of-27 passing. Stroud’s 42.6% completion rate and four interceptions told the story of a quarterback who never found his rhythm. Christian Gonzalez led the Patriots with six solo tackles, while Azeez Al-Shaair recorded four solo tackles and five assisted tackles for the Texans.

Team stats comparison

The side-by-side data shows New England’s efficiency advantage despite Houston’s slight edge in first downs and third-down conversions.

What this means is that raw counting stats obscured the real story—New England’s opportunistic defense created the margin that their offense converted into points.

Texans vs New England Patriots match player stats

The player-level statistics from this game reveal why the Patriots advanced and the Texans went home. Quarterback efficiency differences, turnover margins, and defensive standouts all contributed to New England’s 28-16 victory on January 18, 2026.

Passing leaders

Drake Maye of the Patriots finished 16 of 27 for 179 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. His counterpart, C.J. Stroud of the Texans, completed only 20 of 47 passes for 212 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions. The completion percentage gap—59.3% for Maye versus 42.6% for Stroud—reflected a fundamental difference in how each quarterback handled playoff pressure.

Rushing and receiving stats

Neither team’s rushing statistics were fully detailed in available game coverage, but the passing game dominated the narrative. K’Lavon Chaisson recorded one sack and four quarterback hits for the Patriots, adding to the pressure that New England’s defense applied throughout the game. The Patriots’ defensive front consistently disrupted Stroud’s timing, while their secondary capitalized on every mistake.

The Patriots’ defensive pressure forced Stroud into four interceptions, turning every Patriots possession into a potential scoring opportunity.

— ESPN Game Recap, Texans vs Patriots (January 18, 2026)

Maye’s three touchdown passes demonstrated the efficiency that New England built its playoff offense around all season.

— CBS Sports Box Score Analysis (January 18, 2026)

Summary

The Patriots’ 28-16 victory over the Texans in the AFC Divisional Round exposed the gap between Houston’s potential and their playoff readiness. For C.J. Stroud and the Texans, the path forward is clear: eliminate the turnover habit that cost them this game, or watch another season slip away in the first round. For Drake Maye and the Patriots, the AFC Championship awaits, built on the foundation of efficient quarterback play and a defense that forces mistakes. The contrast between these two approaches—careful ball security versus costly turnovers—decided everything on January 18, 2026.

Drake Maye now carries New England into the AFC Championship with momentum, while C.J. Stroud must regroup during a critical offseason to prove he can perform under playoff pressure.

Related reading: Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles Match Player Stats – Super Bowl LVII & LIX Breakdown · Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers Stats – Head-to-Head Record, Recent Scores

Drake Maye threw for 179 yards and three TDs while C.J. Stroud managed 212 yards with four picks in the detailed divisional box score, powering New England’s playoff advance.

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