Patriots battle Texans in AFC divisional round; Watch on WCVB
APP. IT’S A GREAT STORY. WE ARE LIVE HERE AT THE GILLETTE STADIUM IS RIGHT BEHIND US, AND OBVIOUSLY THE ENERGY AROUND THE BUILDING IS ELECTRIC. BUT DUKE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE PLAYERS, MOST OF THESE PLAYERS PLAYED THEIR FIRST PLAYOFF GAME LAST WEEK. NOW YOU’RE IN THE RHYTHM, NOW YOU’RE PLAYING FOOTBALL. NOW IT’S CALMED DOWN. AND LET’S SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE TALENT ON BOTH SIDES. REALLY. IF HOUSTON TURNS THE BALL OVER LIKE THEY DID LAST WEEK, IF C.J. STROUD DOES NOT TAKE CARE OF THE FOOTBALL AND HE HE HAS A HISTORY OF HISTORY OF THE FOOTBALL, THEY’RE GOING TO COME AFTER HIM TONIGHT. THEY’RE GOING TO COME AFTER HIM. THE PATRIOTS ARE. IF THAT HAPPENS THE PATRIOTS WIN BIG AND THEY WIN EASILY. ALL RIGHT SPORTSCENTER 5 ANGEL SALCEDO IS CALLING IT AUDIBLE. WE DIDN’T KNOW WE COULD DO THAT. ARE YOU ALLOWED TO DO THAT ANGEL WITH THE ATHLETICS I’M GETTING BETTER AT IT. CAN CAN CAN THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE TO DO. GOT TO CHECK THE PLAY. LET’S GO. NEXT. HEY, CHAD, THERE ARE SO MANY STORIES HERE. WE’VE GOT INJURIES. WE’VE GOT WEATHER RIGHT NOW. BUT WE GOT TO START WITH THE MAIN STORY, AT LEAST TO ME. HOW IS DRAKE MAYE GOING TO RESPOND TO THIS ATMOSPHERE. WELL WHAT’S SO INTERESTING TO ME IS LAST GAME WAS NOT DRAKE MAYS BEST GAME WHICH IS RARE. WE HAVEN’T SEEN A STUMBLE BASICALLY SINCE LAST YEAR, SO I’M CURIOUS TO SEE HOW HE BOUNCES BACK FROM THAT. THE CHARGERS DEFENSE THAT WE SAW LAST WEEK WAS VERY GOOD. THIS DEFENSE IS ON A COMPLETE OTHER LEVEL. DANIELLE HUNTER, WILL ANDERSON, THE CORNERBACKS THEY HAVE, THERE’S NOT A WEAKNESS ON THIS DEFENSE. AND SO I’M VERY CURIOUS TO SEE HOW HE BOUNCES BACK AND SPECIFICALLY HOW HE DOES HOLDING ON TO THE BALL. OBVIOUSLY WET SLIPPERY. BUT DANIELLE HUNTER A DEFENSIVE END WITH LONG, LONG ARMS, HE’S GOING TO HAVE HIS ARMS BACK. THEY’RE SWIPING AT THE BALL. WE SAW DRAKE FUMBLE LAST WEEK. I WANT TO SEE HOW DRAKE DOES PROTECTING THE BALL TODAY. YEAH CAROLINA BOY HE’S GOTTEN USED TO THE WEATHER SO FAR. BUT C.J. STROUD I DON’T KNOW IF YOU’RE FROM HOUSTON. YOU’RE PRACTICING IN HOUSTON ALL THE TIME. I DON’T KNOW IF YOU CAN GET USED TO THIS. SURE. YEAH. OBVIOUSLY PLAYED HIS COLLEGE FOOTBALL IN THIS, BUT HE’S BEEN OUT OF IT FOR A LITTLE BIT. I’M CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT HE DOES TODAY. IT WAS A TOTAL CLUNKER FROM HIM LAST WEEK. NOT A VERY GOOD GAME, FRANKLY. WE SPENT ALL THIS TIME, I THINK RIGHTFULLY SO, TALKING ABOUT HOW GOOD THE TEXANS DEFENSE IS, TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS PATRIOTS OFFENSE IS GOING TO MATCH UP WITH THAT. I’M CURIOUS HOW HOUSTON’S GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THE BALL. LIKE THAT’S THE AREA THAT I THINK THE PATRIOTS SHOULD HAVE CONFIDENCE IN, EVEN THOUGH ALL SEASON THE OFFENSE HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE. I LIKE THE PATRIOTS DEFENSE AGAINST THE TEXANS OFFENSE TODAY. HAVING CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ CLEARED TO PLAY IN THIS GAME, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THIS OFFENSE? WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE VERSATILITY AND DIVERSITY OF THEIR COVERAGES TODAY? WELL IT’S HUGE BECAUSE NICO COLLINS THE GREAT WIDE RECEIVER FOR THE TEXANS, IS NOT PLAYING DUE TO A CONCUSSION. AND SO THIS ALLOWS ZACH CALLED THE DEFENSIVE PLAY CALLER WHO HAD SUCH A GREAT GAME AGAINST THE CHARGERS TO DIAL UP A BUNCH OF EXOTIC STUFF. WE HAVE SEEN HIM AS THE SEASON GOES ALONG, PUTTING TOGETHER MORE ADVENTUROUS STUFF. BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. THEY KIND OF PLAYED SOME BASIC COVERAGES SIMILAR TO WHAT THE TEXANS DO OF LATE. HE’S THROWING SOME WILD STUFF AT YOU ALL OUT. BLITZ. HIS BLITZ IS FROM THE CORNERS, ODD FRONTS LIKE IT’S IT’S BEEN IMPRESSIVE WHAT HE HAS DONE. AND SO I’M EXCITED TO SEE IF THAT TRIPS UP CJ STROUD AT ALL. HEY THE CHARGERS AND THE WILD CARD ROUND. THEY SAID THEY DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE PATRIOTS WERE RUNNING. SO THAT’S A GOOD SIGN CHAD GRAF WITH THE ATHLETIC. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US CHAD. AND WE’RE GOING TO CHECK IN WITH YOU AFTER THE GAME OKAY. THANKS. ED MARIA DUKE ANGEL. THAT WAS A WONDERFUL AUDIBLE WORK ON YOUR BLUE 90. BLUE 90. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I THOUGHT IT WAS OMAHA. OMAHA. OTHER THAN THAT, IT WAS SPECTACULAR. THERE’S A CLICHE IN PRO FOOTBALL THAT THE TEAM ADOPTS THE IDENTITY OF THE COACH. CLEARLY, THE PATRIOTS HAVE ADOPTED THE IDENTITY OF VRABEL, AND THE TEXANS HAVE ADOPTED THE IDENTITY OF DEMARCO RYAN. DEMECO RYANS WAS AN EXCELLENT FOOTBALL PLAYER. HE WAS A TOUGH LINEBACKER, JUST LIKE MIKE VRABEL. BIG, STRONG GUY. BUT YOU KNOW, THE GAME HAS CHANGED IN THE WAY YOU COMMUNICATE WITH PLAYERS AND IT’S SO IMPORTANT NOW TO BE EMPATHETIC AND COMPASSIONATE. YOU KNOW THE WAY YOU TALK TO YOUNGER PEOPLE IS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN THE WAY BILL BELICHICK DID. WE’VE SEEN VRABEL GO OUT THERE SO MANY TIMES AT THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, AND YOU KNOW, WHEN A GUY’S HURT, PUTS HIS HAND ON HIS SHOULDER, IS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT HIM. AND I THINK THAT IS SO IMPORTANT IN TODAY’S GAME BECAUSE YOU KNOW, AS WE ALL KNOW, YOUNGER PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED IN THE WAY YOU COMMUNICATE WITH THEM AND THE WAY YOU COACH THEM AND TEACH HAS CHANGED. YEAH. AND WE AND WE SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH DRAKE MAYE AND MIKE VRABEL AND SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL. BUT HOW DID DRAKE MAYE BEGIN? RHONDELLA RICHARDSON CAUGHT UP WITH HIS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH. LOTS OF CREDIT GOES TO THE PATRIOTS COACH, WHO WAS ONCE A DEFENSIVE PLAYER. TURNS OUT DRAKE MAYE IS IN TOUCH WITH THE GUY WHO COACHED HIM AT MYERS PARK HIGH SCHOOL IN CHARLOTTE. WORD OF ADVICE FOR DRAKE AS HE GOES INTO SUNDAY. OH IT’S UP. THAT THAT TEXANS PASS RUSH IS IS NO JOKE. AS FANS RUSH TO GET THAT DRAKE MADE JERSEY COACH CHADWICK FONDLY RECALLS THE YEARS BEFORE THEY LEFT FOR COLLEGE AT NORTH CAROLINA. KIND OF AN ASSASSIN IN THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU DON’T SEE HIM, YOU KNOW, YOU DON’T SEE HIM COMING, YOU DON’T SEE THAT, AND ALL SUDDEN YOU’RE LIKE, WHOA, WHERE’D THAT COME FROM? AND, YOU KNOW, HE’S HE’S PROBABLY A VERY UNDERRATED TRASH TALKER BECAUSE HE PROBABLY DOESN’T DOESN’T DO IT A LOT. BUT WHEN HE DOES, IT’S IT’S PROBABLY PRETTY MEANINGFUL IN FOXBOROUGH RHONDELLA RICHARDSON WCVB NEWSCENTER 5. HERE’S ONE OTHER THING HE DID WHEN HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. HE WOULD TAKE THE PLAY SHEET IN THE LOCKER ROOM AT HALFTIME. HE’D LOOK AT THE PLAY SHEET AND SEE WHO CAUGHT PASSES AND WHO CAUGHT TOUCHDOWN PASSES. AND IT MAKES SURE IN THE SECOND HALF OF THAT GAME, SOMEONE ELSE GOT THE BALL. SOMEONE ELSE SCORED A TOUCHDOWN PASSES. HIS JUNIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL. YEAH, I LOVE IT. VERY, VERY AWARE OF THE WHOLE GAME, NOT JUST THE PARTIES INVOLVED IN. WE ARE LIVE HERE AT GILLETTE STADIUM, COMING UP AS WE COUNT DOWN TO KICKOFF BETWEEN THE PATRIOTS AND THE TEXANS TONIGHT, OUR JOSH BROGADIR GOES ONE ON ONE WITH CHRISTIAN ELLIS, WHO CAME UP, AS MANY DID WITH A BIG GAME AGAINST THE CHARGERS LAST WEEK. HE TELLS US TONIGHT WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A HEAD COACH WHO WAS IN HIS SHOES. SERA CAN YOU GIVE ME A NAPKIN?
Patriots battle Texans in AFC divisional round; Watch on WCVB
Updated: 4:18 PM EST Jan 18, 2026
The Patriots are taking on the Texans in the AFC Divisional Round today — a game you can watch at 3 p.m. on WCVB Channel 5. It’s a matchup featuring New England’s high-powered offense against a Houston defense that allowed the fewest yards per game in the league during the regular season.You can follow live updates of the game below: The Texans and Patriots have only met in the playoffs twice, with New England winning both matchups, most recently in the 2017 AFC Divisional.Coach Mike Vrabel appeared optimistic this week, following a wild-card game victory led by physical defensive plays, including six sacks. Last week’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers was also quarterback Drake Maye’s playoff debut. Vrabel, in his first season as head coach for New England, turned a 4-13 Patriots team into a 14-3 powerhouse that reclaimed the AFC East title after a five-year run by the Buffalo Bills. However, the Patriots’ offense was 4 of 11 on third down and 0 for 3 in the red zone against the Chargers, and they know those rates need to improve against the Texans. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud have made the playoffs in each of their three years together in Houston, overcoming an 0-3 start this season. The NFL’s No. 1 defense, led by Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Derek Stingley Jr., and Jalen Pitre, makes the Texans a Super Bowl contender despite a No. 5 seed.Sunday is also the first time that Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs plays against his former team. Diggs played one season with the Texans, where he suffered a season-ending torn ACL injury after just eight games with the team. He later signed a deal with the Patriots in 2025 for three years.The winner of Sunday afternoon’s game will move on to face the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. —
The Patriots are taking on the Texans in the AFC Divisional Round today — a game you can watch at 3 p.m. on WCVB Channel 5. It’s a matchup featuring New England’s high-powered offense against a Houston defense that allowed the fewest yards per game in the league during the regular season.
You can follow live updates of the game below:
The Texans and Patriots have only met in the playoffs twice, with New England winning both matchups, most recently in the 2017 AFC Divisional.
Coach Mike Vrabel appeared optimistic this week, following a wild-card game victory led by physical defensive plays, including six sacks. Last week’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers was also quarterback Drake Maye’s playoff debut.
Vrabel, in his first season as head coach for New England, turned a 4-13 Patriots team into a 14-3 powerhouse that reclaimed the AFC East title after a five-year run by the Buffalo Bills. However, the Patriots’ offense was 4 of 11 on third down and 0 for 3 in the red zone against the Chargers, and they know those rates need to improve against the Texans.
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud have made the playoffs in each of their three years together in Houston, overcoming an 0-3 start this season. The NFL’s No. 1 defense, led by Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Derek Stingley Jr., and Jalen Pitre, makes the Texans a Super Bowl contender despite a No. 5 seed.
Sunday is also the first time that Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs plays against his former team. Diggs played one season with the Texans, where he suffered a season-ending torn ACL injury after just eight games with the team. He later signed a deal with the Patriots in 2025 for three years.
The winner of Sunday afternoon’s game will move on to face the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship.