01/18/26 05:35:00
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01/18 17:33 CST Maye throws 3 TD passes, Stroud has 4 INTs as Patriots top
Texans 28-16 to advance to AFC title game
Maye throws 3 TD passes, Stroud has 4 INTs as Patriots top Texans 28-16 to
advance to AFC title game
By KYLE HIGHTOWER
AP Sports Writer
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) --- Drake Maye threw three touchdown passes, Marcus
Jones returned one of C.J. Stroud's four interceptions for a score and the New
England Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 28-16 on Sunday to advance to the
AFC championship game for the first time in seven years.
In Mike Vrabel's first season as coach, the Patriots will make their 16th
conference championship game appearance and first since their run to their
sixth Super Bowl title under Bill Belichick in the 2018 season. New England has
won its last nine divisional round games.
Maye finished 16 of 27 for 179 yards, but had an interception and fumbled four
times, losing two in cold conditions in which snow and rain fell throughout the
game. One of Maye's fumbles set up Houston's first touchdown.
Carlton Davis III had two interceptions for New England. Craig Woodson added an
interception and fumble recovery.
The eight combined turnovers --- Woody Marks also lost a fumble for Houston ---
were the most in a playoff game since 2015 when the Cardinals and Panthers
combined for eight in the NFC championship game.
The Texans have lost in the divisional round in three straight seasons under
coach DeMeco Ryans. The franchise is now 0-7 all-time in this round.
Stroud finished 20 of 47 with a TD pass. All of his interceptions came in the
first half as he became the first player with five or more INTs and five or
more fumbles in a single postseason. Will Anderson forced two fumbles for the
Texans.
Leading 21-16 in the fourth quarter, the Patriots stretched their lead to 27-16
when Kayshon Boutte got behind Derek Stingley Jr. and pulled in a diving,
one-hand catch in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown.
The Texans had the ball with 5:48 to play, but punted on fourth-and-18 at their
own 21 with 4:18 remaining.
New England's next drive took the clock under two minutes. But the Texans
turned it over on downs when Stroud's fourth-down pass to Xavier Hutchinson was
batted down by Robert Spillane.
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