Expectations heading into the Divisional Round matchup between the Houston Texans and New England Patriots were for a defensive-driven battle. That’s exactly what we got, with the weather conditions creating some chaos in determining who will play in the AFC Championship Game.
Let’s dive into the winners and losers from the Texans vs Patriots matchup, with New England punching its ticket to the AFC title game against the Denver Broncos.
Winner: Kayshon Boutte, WR, New England Patriots
On a day when it seemed like everyone had trouble holding onto the football in slick and windy conditions, Kayshon Boutte didn’t have a problem in the biggest moment. New England had a respectable five-point lead early in the fourth quarter but the Texans were fighting back. That’s when Boutte beat All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., creating just enough separation downfield for a tight-window throw. The former sixth-round pick made the play of the game, pulling in the football with one outstretched arm and then securing it for the touchdown. New England took a 12-point lead and never looked back.
Loser: Woody Marks, RB, Houston Texans
Fighting for extra yards does not always work out. Houston’s offense had the ball inside the red zone on 2nd-and-8 late in the third quarter with an opportunity to make it a one-point game with a touchdown. Woody Marks ran into a wall after the handoff, bounced it outside and then got the football ripped out while fighting for a gain of 3 yards. It was an ugly moment on a day where Marks turned 14 carries into just 17 rushing yards (1.2 yards per carry), with 11 yards coming on 13 of those carries. The rookie is not the entire reason that Houston lost, not by any means, but that red-zone turnover was a devastating blow for the Texans.
Winner: Will Anderson Jr, EDGE, Houston Texans
Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. did everything in his power to try to win this game. He took Patriots rookie left tackle Will Campbell to school, beating him for three sacks and recording a pair of strip-sacks on Drake Maye. Houston’s All-Pro pass rusher was truly sensational in this game, even helping set the edge against the run. Unfortunately, even in a game where he generated multiple takeaways, that was not enough.
Loser: Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
Drake Maye did put up three touchdowns in Sunday’s Divisional Round victory, but this was not a particularly impressive performance. He was strip-sacked three times, losing two of them, and had the football punched loose on a carry. The second-year quarterback also threw an interception, took five sacks and finished with under 150 net passing yards on more than 30 dropbacks. With that said, Maye delivered just enough big-time throws, and that is something C.J. Stroud never did. While Maye was not the primary reason the Patriots won, he also did not perform poorly enough to lose this game.
Winner: K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, New England Patriots
A first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, K’Lavon Chaisson has found a home in New England. The 6-foot-3 edge defender finished the regular season with career highs in pressures (23), quarterback hits (18), tackles for loss (10), sacks (7.5) and forced fumbles (two). On Sunday, he earned every dollar of his $3 million contract. Chaisson finished with a team-high four quarterback hits and tacked on a pass deflection, tackle for loss and a sack. New England might not have many household names on its defense, but Chaisson is just one of the many examples of the unheralded players who are thriving under Mike Vrabel.
Loser: C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans
There are disastrous playoff performances and then there is whatever C.J. Stroud just did in the Divisional Round. It is rare for one player to single-handedly cost his team the game, but that is the case here with Stroud. He missed open wide receivers, looked visibly rattled early under pressure and turned it over four times. What is so alarming is that New England had multiple opportunities for even more interceptions, so this could have been even worse for Stroud. We are not here to suggest that Davis Mills is a better option for Houston in 2026, but Stroud’s turnovers in the playoffs raise significant doubts about his ability in big games moving forward.
Winner: Marcus Jones, CB, New England Patriots
Marcus Jones was responsible for a two-score swing in this game. He showed great instincts to grab a deflected pass out of midair and return it for a pick-six, providing New England with a much-needed spark early on. Later in the game, he read C.J. Stroud’s eyes perfectly and flew in to break up a would-be touchdown to Christian Kirk. Just for good measure, he also picked up a second pass deflection. The second-team All-Pro made his presence felt defensively in the Divisional Round. Best of all for New England, he could be just as impactful on special teams in the AFC title game.
