Kickoff: The Patriots host the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Round. The weather is expected to be a factor today as the region is expected to pick up 3-6 inches of snow today. In theory, the Patriots are better equipped to deal with the weather, but this is the playoffs. Both teams will tolerate them. Getting off to a good start and taking care of the ball will be vitally important for the Patriots if they want to take care of business and advance to the AFC Championship game next week.
Here are four keys to the game today for the Patriots.
1st Down: Get consistent pressure on Stroud: The Patriots need to get consistent pressure on Texans quarterback CJ Stroud. They need to throw him off his spot and get him on the move. Stroud like most quarterbacks struggled with pressures. He tends to look at the rush. The Patriots need to affect him as much as possible today.
2nd Down: Anderson vs. Campbell: The individual match up that could very well determine the outcome of this game. Campbell has to hold up as long as possible without help in this match up. If the Patriots have to consistently commit bodies to the left side of the offensive line today, that is going to be a problem. They need Campbell to step up and hold up.
3rd Down: Run the football: The Patriots need to set a physical tone and run the football. Run at Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter and slow them down! While they do pose protection issues, elite level pass rushers like Anderson and Hunter do not like to take on blockers and stop the run. Attack them and wear them out!
4th Down: Manage the weather: Despite what people might think, the snow and cold affects both teams, not just the visiting team from the warmer climate. Taking care of the ball, wearing the right cleats to manage the field conditions and playing through the conditions are all keys to winning today’s game. The Patriots need to take advantage of home field today by doing these three things.
Extra Points: The Patriots and the Texans will meet in the postseason for the third time. The Patriots and Texans played two divisional round playoff games with New England taking a 41-28 win on Jan. 13, 2013 and a 34-16 win on Jan. 14, 2017. Both games were played at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots lead the all-time regular season series with a 9-4 record. Last season, the Patriots hosted Houston in a regular season game with Houston earning their first victory ever at Gillette Stadium with a 41-21 win on Oct. 20, 2024. Houston was 0-7 at Gillette Stadium overall.
In 2016, the Patriots and Texans played two times with New England taking a 27-0 victory on Sept. 22 and a 34-16 win in the Divisional Playoffs. Both of those games were played at Gillette Stadium.
Before the Texans joined the league, the Patriots and the Houston Oilers were foes dating back to the days of the American Football League, playing twice a year from 1960-69 and 33 times overall before the Oilers moved to Tennessee following the 1996 season. Courtesy of patriots.com/Patriots Communications
Final Drive: Everything is lining up for the Patriots, they just need to take care of business today. Handling the Texans pass rushers and pressuring Stroud are the two big keys today. If the Patriots do both, they should win today’s game. I think they do. That’s why I have them winning 27-13 and advancing to the AFC title game.