Patriots resiliency proves they are a championship caliber team

January 19, 2026

Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images FOXBOROUGH- The Patriots proved that they have the resiliency necessary win football games this time of year. It is not always going to be pretty. It will not always look good. What matters is that you win and that is what the Patriots did yesterday. Patriots coach Mike Vrabel echoed that sentiment after the game against the Texans. “I think, again, there’s times where it…

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7 Points on the Patriots 28-16 win over the Houston Texans

January 19, 2026

FOXBOROUGH– The Patriots did not play the cleanest game but they made big plays when it counted to beat the Houston Texans 28-16 and advance to their 16th AFC Championship game in franchise history. Drake Maye and the offensive line struggled against the Texans vaunted front but when they needed to make big plays to maintain their lead, Maye and the offense stepped up and made them pay. The defense…

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Patriots Four Down Preview: AFC Divisional Round: Houston Texans at New England Patriots

January 18, 2026

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…

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Top 5 matchups to watch in the Texans, Patriots playoff game

January 18, 2026

It’s a battle of Will’s today. Literally! Today’s game is the ultimate match up game for the Patriots. Offensively they will have their hands full against one of the best defenses in the NFL. Match ups will dictate what ultimately happens and who wins this game. The Patriots will need to be on the right side of these match ups if they ultimately want to win this game and advance….

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Patriots Game Plan vs. the Houston Texans

January 18, 2026

The Patriots host the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round at snowy Gillette Stadium. Houston is a talented football team that poses a lot of match up problems. The Patriots will have their hands full against them. Winning those match ups will be key today. Here is how the Patriots could attack them on offense and defense today. Offense Emphasis on sprint and boot: The Patriots are going to need…

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Does Boston/New England vs. Houston Constitute A Sports Rivalry?

January 16, 2026

By John Sapochetti NEFJ Contributor In the long, storied history of Boston sports, there have been many individual team rivalries. Red Sox – Yankees is the greatest rivalry in Major League Baseball. The Celtics, winners of 18 NBA Championships, have had decades long duels with the Philadelphia 76ersand the Los Angeles Lakers. The Bruins, most natural rival is the Montréal Canadiens. Although, for the first 60 years of this matchup,…

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Coaching matchup In Sunday’s AFC Divisional Round contest pits a pair of true alphas

January 15, 2026

By John Sapochetti NEFJ Contributor One of the most used phrases in football is, “It’s not about the X’s and O’s, but the Ja’Marr’s and the Joes.” Sorry for the editorial license, I couldn’t resist. While being poetic and partially true, coaching does have a massive impact in the fortunes of a football team. To prove that point, look to the sidelines on Sunday at 3:00 when the 15-3 New…

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Connections between Patriots & Texans run deep

January 15, 2026

Former Patriots executive and coach Nick Caserio leads the Texans organization (Courtesy of the Houston Chronicle) The Houston Texans beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night, 30-6 to advance to the Divisional Round of the AFC Playoffs. The Patriots will take on the Texans at 3 pm on Sunday. There are plenty of former Patriots staffer and players from the Belichick era currently employed by the Texans. The return to…

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The Patriots will miss Myles Bryant

March 28, 2024

Free agent cornerback Myles Bryant signed a one year deal with the Houston Texans on Monday. On the surface, some might think that Bryant’s departure is not a loss but in reality, it is. Bryant played in 55 games, including 17 starts. He recorded 200 tackles, two sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and four interceptions. Bryant’s production and versatility will be hard to replace. The past three years,…

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Segel: O’Brien proof that dreams do come true; can he lead BC back to prominence?

February 16, 2024

(Image courtesy of Victor Stefanescu / The Heights) By Alan Segel NEFJ Correspondent Chestnut Hill —Let’s be honest. When it comes to collegiate sports in New England in general and Boston in particular, the colleges take the lower tier in the sports pecking order. Yes, there is the phenomenon that is UConn basketball (men and women) and to some extent Providence College. However, these programs, while successful, have a local…

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