FOXBOROUGH, Mass. —

Quarterback Drake Maye threw for three touchdown passes and the Patriots’ defense forced five Houston turnovers in a 28-16 win on a snowy Sunday evening in Foxborough.

With the win, New England advances to the AFC Championship game, which will be held next week in Denver against the Broncos, who will be without injured starting quarterback Bo Nix.

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud threw four first-half interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown.

See all the big moments covered during the game here:

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Full game recap:

The game opened with both New England and Houston going three-and-out, with neither team able to move the ball on its first possession.

The Patriots struck first. Wide receiver Demario “Pop” Douglas broke free across the middle of the field for a 28-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-1. New England took a 7-0 lead.

Houston answered later in the first quarter with a big completion to tight end Dalton Schultz, but the Patriots’ defense held strong near the goal line. The Texans settled for a field goal to cut the lead to 7-3.

On the next Patriots drive, the Texans’ defensive line tipped quarterback Drake Maye’s pass at the line of scrimmage, and Maye lost the ball on the play. New England recovered the fumble and kept possession.

The Texans got the ball back, but Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis intercepted quarterback C.J. Stroud’s pass with 1:37 left in the first quarter. It was Davis’ first interception of the season.

New England then turned the ball over on its next possession when Maye fumbled. Houston recovered at the Patriots’ 30-yard line, giving the Texans strong field position.

Early in the second quarter, Stroud found wide receiver Christian Kirk in the end zone for a touchdown. Houston takes its first lead of the game, 10-7.

The lead did not last long. Pressure from Patriots linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson results in a wobbly throw from Stroud, which was intercepted by Marcus Jones.

Jones returned the interception 26 yards for a touchdown, putting New England back on top 14-10 with 10:31 left in the second quarter.

Stroud was intercepted again on the Texans’ next possession, this time by rookie safety Craig Woodson. It was the fourth turnover of the game.

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Stroud continued to struggle in the second quarter, nearly losing the ball again on a play ruled an incomplete pass. Houston punts to New England.

The Patriots took advantage when Maye found Stefon Diggs for a 7-yard touchdown catch between two defenders, extending New England’s lead to 21-10.

Davis recorded his second interception of the game late in the second quarter, giving Stroud four interceptions before halftime. The first half ended with nine possessions for each team and six total turnovers.

After a near turnover on the opening drive of the second half, the Texans came away with a field goal to pull within one score, 21-13.

The Patriots regained possession, but Maye fumbled for the fourth time in the third quarter.

Moments later, Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez knocked the ball loose to force another Houston turnover, the Texans’ fifth early in the third quarter. Still no points.

At the end of the third quarter, Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn made a 51-yard field goal to keep Houston within reach, 21-16.

Early in the fourth quarter, Maye threw deep to wide receiver Kayshon Boutte for a 32-yard touchdown, extending the Patriots’ lead to 28-16.

The Patriots’ defense held the Texans scoreless the rest of the way to secure the win.

With the victory, New England advances to its first AFC championship game since 2018.