Let the sport start!
Every week NFL Communications sends out a handful of emails across the coming weekends video games. And, for essentially the most half, each week, they ignore the Houston Texans. They have fun the “stars” like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, highlight the identical unhappy previous franchises just like the Dallas Cowboys and provides lip service to the stylish names.
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Meanwhile, the Texans are the most popular group within the NFL, using on an opponent-pulverizing 10-game win streak. This week, there are solely 8 groups nonetheless standing, but in some way the NFL managed to disregard C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Sheldon Rankins, Christian Kirk, Derek Stingley and all the remainder of the Texans stars.
As if this group is simply one other forgettable try at making a mediocre soccer group.
Even the preview snapshot of the particular Texans vs New England Patriots recreation solely mentions the Patriots.
It’s unhappy, actually. Sad that individuals who make their residing hyping the NFL and selling the joy of the sport can’t take the time to get accustomed to the story, earlier than “reporting” on it.
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Thankfully, none of that issues when the sport begins. What will rely takes place on the gridiron. While the NFL Communications group can’t be bothered to highlight the Texans, the group itself will do all of the speaking as soon as the sport begins.
Maybe it’s on account of individuals leaning too laborious on historical past.
The Texans have by no means made it to the AFC Championship recreation.
But, if “never” dictated the longer term, then Sheldon Rankins wouldn’t have rating a landing and a sack in an NFL Playoff recreation final weekend. Because no participant ever did it earlier than.
If “never” dictated the longer term, the Texans protection wouldn’t be the one group within the Super Bowl period to attain a number of defensive touchdowns and permit zero touchdowns towards in a playoff recreation.
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If “never” dictated the longer term, the Texans protection wouldn’t be the one group in NFL playoff historical past to attain on a fumble restoration and an interception in the identical quarter.
If “never” dictated the longer term, the Texans wouldn’t be the primary group within the historical past of ever to permit 175 yards or fewer and rating 2 defensive touchdowns in the identical playoff recreation.
If “never” dictated the longer term, Mike Tomlin’s Pittsburgh Steelers wouldn’t have misplaced on Monday Night Football within the playoffs for the primary time this week.
And that is simply stuff from the final 7 days. The variety of firsts, information damaged, and so forth. generated by the 2025 Houston Texans this season is spectacular, if not staggering.
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So, don’t grasp your hat on historical past. The previous isn’t going to cease the Texans any greater than the Pats will.
Houston Texans – Divisional Round Stats
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TEXANS can advance to 1st Conf. Champ. Game in franchise historical past. Won 12 video games in a season for 2nd time in franchise historical past (2012).
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QB C.J. STROUD handed for 250 yards & TD in AFC-WC & grew to become 4th QB ever to start out & win playoff recreation in every of 1st 3 seasons. Had 3,041 yards & 19 TD passes in 2025. Aims for 4th in row in playoffs with 245+ cross yards. Has TD cross in 2 of his previous 3 postseason video games. Had 3 TD passes in final reg. season assembly.
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RB WOODY MARKS (rookie) had 112 rush yards & TD in AFC-WC. Ranked sixth amongst rookies with 703 rush yards in 2025. Aims for his 4th in row on street with 75+ scrimmage yards.
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WR CHRISTIAN KIRK had 144 rec. yards & TD in AFC-WC. Aims for 4th in row in playoffs with TD catch.
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WR JAYDEN HIGGINS ranked tied-2nd amongst rookies with 6 rec. TDs in 2025. Had 2nd-most rec. TDs by a rookie in franchise historical past.
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TE DALTON SCHULTZ ranked third amongst TEs in catches (82) & sixth in rec. yards (777) in 2025.
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DE DANIELLE HUNTER had sack & FF in AFC-WC. Has sack in 4 of his previous 5 on street in playoffs. Ranked third in NFL with 15 sacks in 2025, Seventh-career season with 10+ sacks.
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DE WILL ANDERSON had 0.5 sack & FF in AFC-WC & goals for 4th in row in playoffs with 0.5+ sacks.. Had career-high 12 sacks in 2025. Made 2nd-career Pro Bowl in 2025.
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DT SHELDON RANKINS had 1.5 sacks & FR-TD in AFC-WC & grew to become 1st DT since
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1982 with FR-TD & 1+ sack in a playoff recreation.
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LB AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR had 6 tackles & TFL in AFC-WC. Made 1st-career Pro Bowl in 2025.
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CB KAMARI LASSITER had 6 tackles & PD in AFC-WC. Ranked tied-Fifth in NFL with career-high 17 PD in 2025. Has PD in 2 of his previous 3 playoff video games.
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CB DEREK STINGLEY had 15 PD this season, as he & Lassiter had been 1 of two pairs of teammates every with 15+ PD. Made 2nd-career Pro Bowl in 2025.
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S CALEN BULLOCK had 1st-career postseason INT in AFC-WC.
And, for many who clearly haven’t been paying consideration and don’t suppose the Texans D is nice sufficient to beat the Patriots, don’t neglect they aren’t alone. C.J. Stroud, Woody Marks, Christian Kirk, Jayden Higgins and Ka’imi Fairbairn will have an effect of their very own on the opposite facet of the ball.
New England Patriots – Divisional Round Stats
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PATRIOTS gained 1st playoff recreation since 2018 & are in search of 1st Conf. Champ recreation since 8 consec. appearances from 2011-18.
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QB DRAKE MAYE handed for 268 yards & TD & had 66 rush yards in AFC-WC, his 1st profession playoff begin. Ranked third with career-high 31 TD passes & 4th with career-high 4,394 cross yards in 2025 & is sixth QB below 24 in NFL historical past with 4,000+ cross yards & 30+ TD passes in a single season. Became third QB below 24 all-time with 2+ TD passes & 100+ score in 10 video games in a single season. Had 3 TD passes in final reg. season assembly.
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RB RHAMONDRE STEVENSON had 128 scrimmage yards (75 rec., 53 rush) in AFC WC & had career-high 9 scrimmage TDs this season.
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RB TREVEYON HENDERSON ranked 2nd amongst rookies with 911 rush yards & 1,132 scrimmage yards in 2025. Became third rookie in NFL historical past (Saquon Barkley &
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HOFer Lenny Moore) with 4+ rush TDs of fifty+ yards.
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WR STEFON DIGGS ranks third since 2015 with 71 receptions & 925 rec. yards in postseason. Had 100+ rec. yards in 2 of his final 3 reg. season video games.
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WR KAYSHON BOUTTE had career-high 6 TD catches in 2025.
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TE HUNTER HENRY had 64 rec. yards & TD catch in AFC-WC. Had career-high 768 rec. yards & had 7 TD catches this season.
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LB Ok’LAVON CHAISSON had 2 sacks & FF in AFC-WC. Had career-high 7.5 sacks, 10 TFL & 2 FFs in 2025.
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LB CHRISTIAN ELLISS had 7 tackles, PD & FR in AFC-WC.
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LB ROBERT SPILLANE had 6 tackles & PD in AFC-WC & goals for 4th in row in postseason with 5+ tackles.
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CB CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ had 2 PD in AFC-WC & had 10 PD in 2025, his 2nd consecutive season with 10+ PD.
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CB MARCUS JONES had sack, PD & FF in AFC-WC. Had career-high 3 INTs this season.
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S CRAIG WOODSON (rookie) had team-high 9 tackles & had TFL in AFC-WC.
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S JAYLINN HAWKINS ranked tied-Eighth with career-high 4 INTs this season. Had PD in 4 of his final 5 reg. season video games.
Now, take observe, the 2025 Patriots are a surprisingly good group. Drake Maye is enjoying at a excessive stage, their defensive sort out tandem are wrecking video games and head coach Mike Vrabel is to New England what Demeco Ryans is to Houston: former star participant was star head coach.
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But good hardly ever beats nice and the 2025 Texans protection is nice.
Houston Texans vs New England Patriots prediction
Expect this recreation to sluggish burn for the primary half and into the third quarter. Vrabel is probably going going to tug from the Belichick recreation plan of scoring early, then scoring final within the 1st half and first within the 2nd. But that’s far simpler mentioned than finished when Will Anderson Jr and buddies are between you and the tip zone.
Houston Texans – 27
New England Patriots – 13
#GoTexans