Kayshon Boutte scored a spectacular one-handed landing within the fourth quarter because the New England Patriots lastly broke the Houston Texans’ resistance to succeed in the NFL’s last 4 with a 28-16 victory on Sunday.
Quarterback CJ Stroud threw 4 interceptions in a mistake-riddled sport that noticed the Texans keep alive due to their No 1-ranked protection, which restricted New England to simply seven factors from their 5 whole turnovers.
The Patriots now journey to face the Denver Broncos in subsequent Sunday’s AFC Championship Recreation, the place Sean Payton’s facet can be led by Jarrett Stidham at quarterback after Bo Nix broke his ankle throughout their Divisional Spherical victory over the Buffalo Payments.
Patriots second-year quarterback and MVP contender Drake Maye completed 16 of 27 for 179 yards, three touchdowns, an interception and 4 fumbles as he was harassed all evening by Houston’s go rush.
Will Anderson starred for DeMeco Ryans’ facet with three sacks, two tackles for loss and a quarterback hit, however it could be New England’s protection that left a defining mark to incite Stroud’s catalogue of errors and finish Houston’s 10-game win streak.
Stats leaders:
Texans
- Passing: CJ Stroud, 20/47, 212 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs
- Dashing: Woody Marks, 14 carries, 17 yards
- Receiving: Jayden Higgins, 6 catches, 59 yards
Patriots
- Passing: Drake Maye, 16/27, 179 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
- Dashing: Rhamondre Stevenson, 16 carries, 70 yards
- Receiving: Kayshon Boutte, 3 catches, 75 yards, 1 TD
It could take one thing spectacular to breach the spirit and ferocity of Houston’s protection. It could take one thing spectacular to beat Derek Stingley Jr in protection. New England referred to as on Boutte.
With 12.58 to play, the Patriots broad receiver purchased himself lower than a yard of separation on an out of doors launch vertical route, monitoring Maye’s deep shot over his shoulder earlier than stretching out his proper hand to make a shocking one-handed 32-yard landing catch whereas hitting the turf along side the tip zone. It proved one thing of a knockout blow.
Turnovers and protection had ruled a frenetic first half through which Stroud coughed up his 4 interceptions whereas Maye misplaced certainly one of three fumbles because the Patriots carried a 21-10 lead into the break.
Maye surrendered his fourth fumble of the sport within the third quarter as he was strip-sacked by Anderson on third-and-six after Kaʻimi Fairbairn’s 25-yard discipline purpose minimize New England’s lead.
Additional fumble chaos ensued when Texans operating again Woody Marks misplaced each his shoe and the ball, which was punched out by Christian Gonzalez. However not for the primary time Houston’s protection was readily available to play saviour, forcing a punt because the Patriots once more did not convert a turnover into factors.
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C.J. Stroud is blitzed on first down and his looping throw is picked off by Marcus Jones, who races in for a shocking Patriots landing
Marcus Jones scored a 26-yard pick-six at hand New England a 14-10 benefit within the second quarter after Stroud’s blind go looped into the sky throughout a bruising hit from Ok’Lavon Chaisson. Stroud was then intercepted on the very subsequent possession when his go ricocheted off the palms of Xavier Hutchinson and into that of Craig Woodson.
Stefon Diggs and his suction palms held on tight for a seven-yard landing with three minutes left within the half, earlier than Stroud’s ensuing possession led to a second decide of the sport by Carlton Davis.
Davis’ first had arrived within the opening quarter when Stroud missed Christian Kirk on a wild throw to the sideline, inviting the Patriots defensive again to make a sliding catch whereas neatly dragging his knee as he tumbled out of bounds.
The Patriots had been unable to capitalise when Tommy Togiai dislodged the ball from the palms of the scrambling Maye, earlier than recovering to arrange the drive that culminated in Kirk’s 10-yard landing catch for a 10-7 lead.
DeMario Douglas broke free for a 28-yard catch-and-run on fourth-and-one to open the scoring for New England on their second drive of the sport.
Fairbairn was three of three on discipline targets for Houston, who misplaced tight finish Dalton Schultz to harm having entered the sport with out Nico Collins on account of a concussion.
Douglas: I like Vrabel
The win continues a formidable first season for the Patriots below head coach Mike Vrabel, who has led the franchise with which he gained three Tremendous Bowls as a participant again into competition.
“He’s a player’s coach,” broad receiver Douglas informed Sky Sports activities NFL. “I heard a lot of things from outside of this team with people who have worked with him and they said ‘you’ll love him’ and I do. He knows what it takes to be in this position.
“I am feeling blessed. My previous two years have not been too good however to be on this place is a blessing.
“This is amazing, I’ve never heard this stadium so loud. It helped us come out with this victory.
“We will preserve constructing, the highway warrior has to return out once more.”
Douglas also praised quarterback Maye, who is now just one game away from reaching the Super Bowl after asserting himself as a long-term answer under center in the post-Tom Brady era at Foxboro.
“That’s my boy,” said Douglas. “Since he got here he is all the time had that vitality and good spirit the crew wants. He is been rising and this 12 months you see the management and confidence he is been gaining and I am loving what he is placing out.”
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