"The New England Patriots will face the Houston Texans in the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs. The winner will go to the AFC Championship game. The Texans have a terrific coach in DeMeco Ryans, and he knows that one asset of the Patriots' offense is a potential game-changer. It's the running ability of the Patriots' brilliant MVP-caliber quarterback, Drake Maye. And Ryans acknowledges that aspect will have to be addressed when the Texans visit Foxborough."
"A downside to facing the Texans is that they have two top sack artists: Danielle Hunter with 15 sacks and Will Anderson with 12. Conversely, the Patriots' offensive line has allowed 52 sacks in 18 games. That's not exactly a match of strength vs. strength. If the O-line surrenders five sacks as they did against the Chargers, this will be the final game of the Patriots' season."
The Patriots meet the Texans in the AFC Divisional round with the winner advancing to the AFC Championship. Houston boasts the NFL's top-rated defense, allowing 277.2 yards per game and 35 total touchdowns in 2025. The Texans present a fierce pass rush led by Danielle Hunter (15 sacks) and Will Anderson (12). The Patriots' rebuilt offensive line has allowed 52 sacks in 18 games, creating a major mismatch. Drake Maye's dual-threat ability—accurate passing combined with designed runs, scrambles and broken-play rushing—offers the primary counter. TreVeyon Henderson's explosiveness adds rushing upside. DeMeco Ryans recognizes Maye's running must be addressed.
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