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Patriots top turnover-prone Texans, clinch AFC title tilt with Denver
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- Patriots top turnover-prone Texans, clinch AFC title tilt with Denver
FOXBOROUGH, MA – With the Denver Broncos navigating life minus starting quarterback Bo Nix in next Sunday's AFC championship game, the importance of the divisional round tilt between the New England Patriots and Houston Texans multiplied tenfold.
The victor, ostensibly, would be favored despite being on the road in a week and have the benefit of facing Broncos' backup Jarrett Stidham . But after more than three hours of sloppy football – partially due to a wintry mix that went between snow flurries to rain that made for a wet atmosphere, partially due to the overall sloppiness of both quarterbacks – and 8 turnovers combined, maybe that won't be the case.
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The Patriots hung on to defeat the Texans, 28-16 , thanks to Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud 's four interceptions and a Woody Marks lost fumble.
Dating back to his fumble-filled performance six days ago against the Pittsburgh Steelers , Stroud became the first player in NFL history with five interceptions and five fumbles in a single postseason. He accomplished that in six quarters of play.
New England was fading fast until QB Drake Maye strode to the huddle, clapping his hands with 1:22 left in the third quarter. To that point, his team had managed six first downs and three turnovers (one being an inconsequential Hail Mary interception in the end zone to end the first half). But two minutes into the fourth quarter, Maye fired one of the best passes of his career over Texans All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. to receiver Kayshon Boutte , who made a diving catch and survived the ground for the score to make it 28-16 with 12:58 to play.
Maye finishted 16-for-27 passing for 179 yards, 3 touchdowns and the interception. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson , who was limited with a first-half eye injury, added 70 yards on 16 carries.
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C.J. Stroud's disastrous day started early, snowballed
Stroud's first interception came via a quality catch by Carlton Davis on the sideline with 1:37 left in the first quarter. Two plays later, though, Maye and the Patriots had a busted play in which he went to hand the ball off and Stevenson was going to block. Maye decided to take off up the middle and, while diving, Texans' defensive tackle Tommy Togiai knocked the ball out and Azeez Al-Shaair recovered on the ground, setting Houston up at the Patriots' 27-yard line.
Stroud found Christian Kirk on a third down in the red zone with 12:51 left in the second quarter for a 10-yard touchdown that gave Houston its first lead at 10-7.
But too often for Stroud, even when he tried to make a play, it often ended in disaster. In the second quarter, he faked a handoff and rolled to his left. His intended receiver, tight end Harrison Bryant , fell on the slippery Gillette Stadium playing surface. Stroud was pressured by K'Lavon Chaisson and his attempted pass went skyward toward a pack of Patriots defenders. Marcus Jones , the Pats' accomplished kick returner, settled under the ball like he was receiving a punt and won the 26-yard dash to the pylon for a touchdown that gave New England a 14-10 lead.
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The Patriots made it a two-possession game when Maye found Diggs after the wideout came across the formation in motion, and Diggs displayed strong hands to possess the ball for a touchdown that gave New England a 21-10 advantage with 3:12 until halftime.
Stroud finished 20-for-47 passing for 212 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. The Texans couldn't get anything going on the ground, finishing with 48 rushing yards on 22 attempts.
The Patriots are in their first AFC title game since the days of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, when the quarterback-head coach pairing went on to win their final Super Bowl together after the 2018 season.
For the Texans and head coach DeMeco Ryans , the loss marks the third straight year in which Houston's season has ended in the divisional round.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Patriots vs Texans: New England books AFC Championship clash with Denver
