Houston’s top-ranked defense will try to hold MVP candidate Drake Maye in check in snowy Foxborough.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Will the Houston Texans advance to their first-ever AFC Championship game? They have to get past a Patriots team in snowy Foxborough today to get there.  The winner of the Texans-Patriots showdown moves on to face Denver in the conference title game. And it’s a Denver team that received devastating injury news on Saturday.

Houston (13-5) comes into the game on a 10-game winning streak and boasts the top-ranked defense in the league.  New England (15-3) won 13 of its last 14 games and has a quarterback in Drake Maye who is one of the frontrunners for league MVP.

Throughout the game, we’ll post updates on this page, so follow along. And after the game, we’ll have live streaming coverage on KHOU 11+!

Parking lots, other surfaces being treated with salt in Foxborough area ahead of #TexansvsPatriots @khou pic.twitter.com/1UigmP68ao

— Jason Bristol (@JBristolKHOU) January 18, 2026


Tale of the tape

Houston (13-5) at New England (15-3)Kickoff: 2 p.m. Houston time.BetMGM NFL odds: Patriots by 3Against the spread: Texans 10-8; Patriots 12-5-1Series record: Patriots lead 11-4Last meeting: Texans won 41-21 in Foxborough, Mass. on Oct. 10, 2024.Last week: Texans beat Pittsburgh 30-6; Patriots beat Los Angeles Chargers 16-3.Texans offense: overall (18), rush (22), pass (14), scoring (13).Texans defense: overall (1), rush (4), pass (6), scoring (2).Patriots offense: overall (3), rush (6), pass (4), scoring (2).Patriots defense: overall (8), rush (5), pass (9), scoring (4).Turnover differential: Texans plus-17; Patriots plus-3


Texans player to watch

WR Christian Kirk had a career-high and franchise-playoff record 144 yards receiving with a touchdown in Houston’s win over the Steelers. It was his first 100-yard game since 2023 and the 10th in his career. His stellar performance came after a tough regular season where the eight-year veteran had a career-low 239 yards receiving in his first year in Houston after a trade from Jacksonville. Houston will need him to have another big game with Pro Bowl receiver Nico Collins out after sustaining a concussion Monday night. Kirk has had a touchdown reception in three straight playoff games.


Patriots player to watch

QB Drake Maye. In his first career playoff game, the MVP candidate threw for a touchdown and led the team with 66 rushing yards in last week’s win over the Chargers. He finished the regular season with a 72 percent completion rate, the highest in team history and the sixth best in NFL history. It’s better than Tom Brady, who had a 68.9 percent completion rate in 2007. The MVP that season was Brady.

The @TravelingTexans on Saturday in Foxborough? Confident, loud and ready ahead of #TexansvsPatriots . @KHOU pic.twitter.com/sK9uk2GZ05

— Jason Bristol (@JBristolKHOU) January 18, 2026


Key matchup

Patriots offensive line vs. Texans pass rush. The Texans have two of the league’s top pass rushers in All-Pro DE Will Anderson Jr. and DE Danielle Hunter. Maye was thrown off rhythm by a Chargers defense sacked him five times last week. It will be a big test for Patriots rookie LT Will Campbell, who gave up a strip-sack against Los Angeles.


Key injuries

Texans: Collins is out Sunday after sustaining his second concussion of the season against the Steelers. He sat out Oct. 26 against the 49ers recovering from his first concussion this season. … Special teams player Justin Watson is also out against the Patriots after sustaining a concussion Monday night. … T Trent Brown missed practice this week with an ankle injury but should be ready to go Sunday.

Patriots: CB Christian Gonzalez began the week in the concussion protocol after leaving last week’s game with a head injury, but will be ready to go. … RB Terrell Jennings, who has been on injured reserve, is in the protocol after starting his 21-day return window. … RT Morgan Moses missed Wednesday’s practice with a knee issue. … WR Alex Austin, who has been on IR with a wrist injury, returned to practice without restriction.


Series notes

The Patriots are 2-0 against Houston in the playoffs. Both victories were in the divisional round. The most recent was a 34-16 home victory over the Texans on Jan. 14, 2017.

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