Patriots beat Texans 28-16 in snowy Foxborough, reaching first AFC Championship Game since the 2018 season

New England advances with takeaways, timely touchdowns and late defensive stops

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots earned a return to the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, defeating the Houston Texans 28-16 at Gillette Stadium in snowy conditions. The win sends New England to its first conference title game since the 2018 season and sets up a road matchup next weekend against the Denver Broncos with a Super Bowl berth at stake.

The divisional-round game turned on ball security and takeaways. New England’s defense produced four interceptions of Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, including a pick-six that provided a decisive scoring swing. In all, the Patriots forced five turnovers while weather and pressure contributed to mistakes on both sides in a game that repeatedly flipped field position.

Maye delivers three touchdown throws amid pressure

Rookie quarterback Drake Maye threw three touchdown passes, supplying enough offense to capitalize on short fields and momentum changes. New England opened the scoring through the air, then added a second-quarter surge with two more touchdown strikes to build separation before the game tightened again after halftime.

Houston remained within reach by converting possessions into points despite the turnovers, but struggled to sustain drives as the Patriots’ pass rush and coverage forced contested throws and disrupted timing. Stroud finished with four interceptions as New England repeatedly won key downs, particularly in the second half when the Texans attempted to close the gap.

Defensive highlights and the play that broke open the margin

The Patriots’ interception return touchdown was the most visible turning point, but the defensive performance extended beyond one play. New England produced multiple takeaways from its secondary, with Carlton Davis III recording two interceptions and Craig Woodson adding another. The unit also delivered a late fourth-down stop that sealed Houston’s final realistic chance to extend the game.

• Final score: Patriots 28, Texans 16
• Key statistical separator: four interceptions thrown by Houston
• Impact play: interception returned for a touchdown by Marcus Jones

What the result means for both teams

For New England, the victory marks a swift climb back into the league’s final four and places the franchise one win from its first Super Bowl appearance since its championship run in the 2018 season. For Houston, the loss ends a promising postseason run in the divisional round and underscores the cost of turnovers in a road playoff environment, particularly in winter conditions.

The AFC Championship Game will be played next weekend in Denver, with the winner advancing to the Super Bowl.