Foxborough was vibrating. It wasn't just the cold or the standard January tension. It was the feeling that the Mike Vrabel era had finally, officially, arrived in a way that regular-season wins just can't quite prove.
The Patriots final score today sits at 28-16, a number that looks reasonably comfortable on a betting slip but felt like a cardiac event for anyone watching in real-time. New England is heading to the AFC Championship game. They're going to Denver. But man, it was a weird ride to get there.
The Stat Sheet That Lies
If you just look at the 12-point margin, you'd think Drake Maye had a surgical afternoon. He didn't. Honestly, it was a bit of a disaster for the young quarterback at times. He fumbled three times. Luckily, the Patriots recovered two of those, but that kind of ball security is going to get you killed at Mile High next week.
The real story? CJ Stroud had a nightmare.
Four interceptions. That's the game right there. You cannot give this New England defense four extra possessions and expect to leave Massachusetts with a win. Christian Gonzalez was playing like a man possessed, punching balls out and shadowing receivers so closely he might as well have been wearing their jerseys.
Breaking Down the 28-16 Finish
New England jumped out early. It felt like a blowout was coming when they went up 21-10 at the half. Then, the third quarter happened.
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The offense stalled. Total gridlock.
Houston started grinding the run with Woody Marks, and for a second, the Gillette Stadium crowd got real quiet. You could feel the "here we go again" energy. Houston cut it to 21-16, and the momentum was swinging like a pendulum.
Then came the play of the year.
The Kayshon Boutte Highlight
On a 3rd and long, when they absolutely had to have it, Drake Maye just chucked one. It wasn't a "good" decision by any traditional coaching metric. It was a prayer.
Kayshon Boutte snatched it with one hand while sprinting at full tilt. 32 yards. Touchdown.
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That single moment effectively ended the Texans' season. It was the kind of "elite talent" play that the Patriots have been missing since the Brady years. Sometimes you don't need a perfect scheme; you just need a kid who can catch a ball that has no business being caught.
Defense Wins Championships (Still)
While the highlights will show the Boutte catch, the defense won this game. Khyiris Tonga, who didn't have a single sack in the regular season, came up with the massive takedown of Stroud in the fourth quarter. It forced a punt when Houston was desperate.
Why did the Texans punt there?
It was a surrender flag. DeMeco Ryans will be answering questions about that decision all week.
What Happens Next for the Pats?
The Patriots final score today sends them to a date with the Denver Broncos. Jarrett Stidham is the guy standing between New England and a Super Bowl. Think about that for a second. Stidham haven't thrown a meaningful pass in what feels like an eternity, and now he’s the final boss in the AFC.
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New England opened as a slight underdog for next week, but if they can clean up the fumbles, they're the team to beat.
Key takeaways for your Monday morning water cooler talk:
- Ball Security: Drake Maye needs to hold the rock. Three fumbles is a recipe for an early exit next week.
- The Gonzalez Factor: Christian Gonzalez is arguably the best corner in the league right now. Stroud didn't even want to look his way by the fourth quarter.
- Coaching: Mike Vrabel looks like he has this team's identity sorted. They play ugly, they play hard, and they capitalize on mistakes.
If you’re looking to get tickets for the AFC Championship, start looking at flights to Colorado now. Prices are already spiking. This team isn't perfect, but they're winning, and in January, that's the only stat that actually matters.
Check the injury report on Wednesday to see if Harold Landry’s late-game limp was just a cramp or something more serious. We’ll need him at full strength to handle the altitude in Denver.