The Texans vs Patriots matchup has developed into an intriguing AFC contest, especially after Houston’s recent rise and New England’s return to postseason contention. Their latest meeting carried major stakes: the New England Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 28-16 in the AFC Divisional Round on January 18, 2026, ending Houston’s playoff run and advancing to the AFC Championship Game.
The final score does not tell the entire story. Houston actually produced almost as many total yards as New England, but turnovers dramatically changed the game. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud threw four interceptions, while Patriots quarterback Drake Maye threw three touchdown passes despite facing significant pressure from Houston’s defense.
Here is what happened in the latest Texans vs Patriots game, how the teams compared, and what their head-to-head history shows.
Texans vs Patriots Latest Game Result
The Patriots beat the Texans 28-16 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, in the Divisional Round of the 2025 NFL playoffs on January 18, 2026.
The matchup was much closer statistically than the 12-point margin might suggest.
| Game statistic | Houston Texans | New England Patriots |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 16 | 28 |
| Total yards | 241 | 248 |
| First downs | 16 | 13 |
| Rushing yards | 48 | 105 |
| Net passing yards | 193 | 143 |
| Third-down efficiency | 7/17 | 3/14 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 3 |
| Red-zone efficiency | 1/4 | 1/1 |
| Time of possession | 27:51 | 32:09 |
Official NFL statistics show that Houston gained 241 total yards compared with New England’s 248. The Texans also recorded more first downs and converted third downs at a considerably higher rate. The biggest separation came from turnovers and rushing production.
Houston committed five turnovers, including four interceptions, while New England committed three. The Patriots also rushed for 105 yards, more than twice Houston’s total of 48.
Those differences helped New England turn a relatively even yardage battle into a comfortable scoreboard advantage.
C.J. Stroud’s Four Interceptions Changed the Game
C.J. Stroud finished the Divisional Round matchup 20 of 47 for 212 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. His passer rating was 28.0.
All four interceptions occurred in the first half, and one was returned for a touchdown. That defensive score gave New England a lead it never surrendered.
The performance was particularly costly because Houston’s defense repeatedly gave its offense opportunities to remain competitive. The Texans intercepted Maye once and recovered two Patriots fumbles, but Houston could not consistently convert those opportunities into touchdowns.
The Texans reached the red zone four times and scored a touchdown on only one of those possessions. New England had just one official red-zone opportunity and converted it.
That combination illustrates one of the clearest lessons from the game: moving the football was not Houston’s only problem. Protecting possession and finishing drives mattered more.
Drake Maye Made His Opportunities Count
Drake Maye did not produce enormous passing numbers against Houston’s defense, but his touchdowns proved decisive.
The Patriots quarterback completed 16 of 27 passes for 179 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, producing a 100.7 passer rating. He was also sacked five times and lost two fumbles.
New England’s three receiving touchdowns went to Kayshon Boutte, Stefon Diggs and DeMario Douglas. Boutte led Patriots receivers with 75 yards on three receptions, including a touchdown. Diggs caught four passes for 40 yards and a score, while Douglas added 36 yards and another touchdown.
Maye therefore did not need to dominate Houston through sheer passing volume. New England capitalized on scoring opportunities while its defense repeatedly disrupted Houston.
That efficiency became more important because the Texans successfully pressured Maye throughout the afternoon.
The Patriots Won the Turnover Battle, but Both Teams Had Problems
Calling the game a clean Patriots performance would overlook an important part of the matchup.
The two teams combined for eight turnovers. New England lost two fumbles and threw one interception, while Houston lost one fumble and threw four interceptions. NFL’s postgame analysis described the cold, wet conditions in Foxborough as part of a disruptive afternoon for both offenses.
New England nevertheless handled those mistakes more effectively.
Consider the basic turnover equation:
Houston turnovers: 5
New England turnovers: 3
Turnover margin: Patriots +2
The Patriots also generated an interception return touchdown, meaning one of Houston’s mistakes directly added points to New England’s total.
That explains why total yardage alone gives a misleading picture of this Texans vs Patriots game.
New England’s Running Game Provided an Important Advantage
One of the quieter differences between the teams appeared on the ground.
New England accumulated 105 rushing yards on 32 attempts, compared with Houston’s 48 yards on 22 carries.
Rhamondre Stevenson accounted for most of the Patriots’ production, rushing 16 times for 70 yards. TreVeyon Henderson added 25 yards on 12 carries, while Maye contributed 10 yards.
Houston struggled considerably more.
Woody Marks carried 14 times for only 17 yards. Nick Chubb recorded 14 yards on four attempts, while Stroud contributed 11 yards.
Without a dependable running attack, Houston became increasingly dependent on its passing game. Stroud attempted 47 passes, compared with Maye’s 27.
The Texans therefore faced a difficult combination: limited rushing production, frequent passing situations and multiple interceptions.
Texans vs Patriots Head-to-Head History
Historically, New England has held the advantage in this matchup.
The NFL’s 2025 Record & Fact Book listed the Patriots with a 9-4 regular-season series lead through the 2024 season and a 2-0 postseason advantage at that point.
The January 2026 Divisional Round victory subsequently gave New England another postseason win over Houston.
The rivalry has included several notable results. Houston earned regular-season victories in 2009, 2019, 2020 and 2024, while New England controlled much of the series during the Tom Brady era.
Houston’s 2024 victory was especially notable because the Texans went to New England and won 41-21. The result showed how significantly the matchup had changed from earlier periods when the Patriots routinely controlled the series.
The January 2026 playoff meeting, however, shifted the advantage back toward New England when the stakes were considerably higher.
Texans vs Patriots Playoff History
The postseason has been considerably less favorable to Houston.
Before their January 2026 meeting, Houston had already traveled to New England twice for AFC Divisional Round games and lost both. The NFL Record & Fact Book recorded New England with a 2-0 postseason series advantage entering the 2025 season.
The 2026 Divisional Round created another chapter in that pattern.
New England’s 28-16 victory sent the Patriots into the AFC Championship Game against Denver. The Patriots subsequently defeated the Broncos 10-7 before losing 29-13 to Seattle in the Super Bowl.
For Houston, the loss again stopped the franchise at the Divisional Round.
That makes postseason performance an important distinction when discussing the overall Texans vs Patriots record. Houston has demonstrated that it can beat New England during the regular season, including on the road, but the Patriots have maintained their advantage when the teams meet in the playoffs.
How the Quarterbacks Compared
The quarterback statistics provide perhaps the clearest explanation for New England’s victory.
| Quarterback | Comp/Att | Pass yards | TD | INT | Passer rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.J. Stroud | 20/47 | 212 | 1 | 4 | 28.0 |
| Drake Maye | 16/27 | 179 | 3 | 1 | 100.7 |
Stroud actually threw for 33 more yards than Maye. The difference came from what happened around those yards.
Maye produced a touchdown on three of his 16 completions. Stroud needed 47 attempts to produce one touchdown and threw four interceptions.
This comparison is a useful reminder that passing-yard totals do not necessarily indicate which quarterback had the more productive game. Touchdowns, interceptions, sacks, efficiency and field position can have a much larger impact on the final result.
Houston’s Defense Still Created Serious Problems
The 28 points allowed should not obscure the pressure Houston’s defense created.
The Texans held New England to only 248 total yards and 13 first downs. The Patriots converted just three of 14 third-down attempts, a 21.4% success rate. Houston also recorded five sacks and forced three turnovers.
Those numbers would normally give an offense a realistic opportunity to win.
The difficulty was complementary football. Houston’s defense kept creating chances, but the offense repeatedly returned possession to New England.
This distinction matters when evaluating the matchup. New England did not simply overwhelm Houston’s defense for four quarters. The Patriots survived Houston’s defensive pressure, generated more consequential takeaways themselves, and converted enough short-field and scoring opportunities to build the winning margin.
What Ultimately Decided Texans vs Patriots?
Three factors stand out from the January 2026 playoff game.
First, Houston committed five turnovers. Four came from Stroud interceptions, including the interception returned for a touchdown.
Second, New England finished drives more efficiently. Maye threw three touchdown passes despite finishing with fewer than 200 passing yards.
Third, Houston could not establish its running game. The Texans averaged only 2.2 yards per rushing attempt and finished with 48 rushing yards.
Those factors mattered more than Houston’s advantages in first downs and third-down conversions.
The game provides a useful example of why playoff results cannot always be explained through total offense. Houston was only seven yards behind New England in total yardage, yet lost by 12 points because possession value and scoring efficiency favored the Patriots.
Where the Teams Went After the Matchup
New England’s victory extended its postseason run.
The Patriots defeated Denver 10-7 in the AFC Championship Game on January 25, 2026. They then advanced to the Super Bowl, where Seattle defeated New England 29-13 on February 8.
Houston’s season ended with the Divisional Round defeat.
As of October 2, the Texans and Patriots have started the 2026 regular season, but their official NFL team schedules do not show a 2026 regular-season game against one another.
That means the January playoff game remains their latest meeting.
FAQs About Texans vs Patriots
Who won the latest Texans vs Patriots game?
The New England Patriots won the latest meeting, defeating the Houston Texans 28-16 on January 18, 2026, in the AFC Divisional Round at Gillette Stadium.
What happened to C.J. Stroud against the Patriots?
Stroud completed 20 of 47 passes for 212 yards and one touchdown but threw four interceptions. All four interceptions occurred during the first half.
How did Drake Maye perform against the Texans?
Maye completed 16 of 27 passes for 179 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He posted a 100.7 passer rating, although Houston sacked him five times and he lost two fumbles.
Have the Texans beaten the Patriots in New England?
Yes. Houston defeated New England on the road during the 2024 regular season. The NFL’s historical records list that result as a 41-21 Texans victory.
Do the Texans play the Patriots in the 2026 regular season?
The teams’ official 2026 NFL schedules do not currently include a Texans-Patriots regular-season matchup. Their latest meeting therefore remains the January 18, 2026 playoff game.
Why did the Texans lose despite having similar total yardage?
Turnovers and scoring efficiency were the major differences. Houston committed five turnovers, including four interceptions, and scored a touchdown on only one of four red-zone trips. New England committed three turnovers but turned its opportunities into four touchdowns.
Conclusion
The latest Texans vs Patriots matchup showed how dramatically turnovers can change an otherwise competitive game. Houston and New England were separated by only seven total yards, and the Texans actually recorded more first downs and better third-down efficiency. Yet New England won 28-16 because it created more damaging turnovers, ran the ball more effectively and converted its opportunities into touchdowns.
For Houston, the game reinforced the importance of pairing its defensive strength with consistent offensive execution. For New England, the victory demonstrated that an offense does not need massive yardage totals when its defense creates extra possessions and the offense converts those chances into points.
Most importantly, the result added another postseason victory to New England’s side of a series in which Houston has become more competitive during recent regular-season meetings but has yet to translate that progress into a playoff win over the Patriots.
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