Their most complete team effort of the season has the Patriots one win from a trip to the Super Bowl. Drake Maye threw three touchdown passes in the snow and rain, Marcus Jones returned one of C.J. Stroud's four interceptions for a score and the Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 28-16 on Sunday to advance to the AFC Championship Game for the first time in seven years.

In snowy conditions in Foxboro, the two teams combined for eight turnovers in New England's 28-16 win over Houston in the AFC Divisional Round. The game's two quarterbacks combined for seven of them, as C.J. Stroud threw four interceptions, while Drake Maye threw an interception and lost two fumbles.

Maye was far from the star. That title belonged to a defense that harassed Texans’ third-year starter C.J. Stroud into one of his worst career outings.

Ann Michael Maye showed her husband Drake love after the New England Patriots' January 18 playoff win. The New England Patriots cruised to a relatively smooth 28-16 victory over the Houston Texans on January 18, which sends them West to face the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game next weekend.

Before the Patriots quarterback went out for the next series, which extended into the start of the fourth quarter, Mike Vrabel pulled his quarterback aside and had a quick word with Maye. Seven plays later, the Patriots were in the endzone.

Maye stood strong in the pocket and delivered a perfect dart to Diggs, who somehow hauled in the pass in the snowy elements to put six points on the board for New England. The drive was aided by an 18-yard reception by wide receiver Kayshon Boutte.

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye delivers an impressive strike to DeMario Douglas to score a TD against the Texans defense.

There was a point during Drake Maye’s 2024 season when Patriots fans openly booed the team and called for the removal of head coach Jerod Mayo. Now, in the 2025 26 NFL season, the atmosphere could not be more different.