If you're frantically refreshing your phone to find out what is the score of today's patriots game, there’s a very specific reason you aren't seeing a live ticker right now.
It’s Thursday, January 15, 2026.
The New England Patriots are currently in the thick of the postseason, but they don't play today. NFL playoff games are strictly weekend affairs. You’ve likely got that nervous energy because the Divisional Round is looming, and the stakes for this specific New England squad haven't been this high in years. After a dominant Wild Card win, the team is resting up before their next big test at Gillette Stadium.
The Most Recent Result: Patriots vs. Chargers
The last time the Pats took the field was this past Sunday, January 11, 2026. If you missed it, the defense put on an absolute clinic. New England took down the Los Angeles Chargers with a final score of 16-3.
It wasn't a high-flying offensive explosion, but it was vintage "smash-mouth" football. Drake Maye did exactly what he needed to do—staying efficient and finding Hunter Henry for a crucial fourth-quarter touchdown that effectively iced the game. The real story, honestly, was the defense. They sacked Justin Herbert six times and held the Chargers to a measly three points. That kind of defensive performance is why Foxborough is starting to feel like a fortress again.
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Andy Borregales was also a quiet hero in that Wild Card matchup. He knocked through three field goals, providing the steady scoring New England needed while the defense squeezed the life out of the LA offense. It was the first time the Patriots won a playoff game since the 2018 season, breaking a drought that had fans in a bit of a panic for the last few years.
When Is the Next Patriots Game?
You won't have to wait long to see the next score. The Patriots are scheduled to host the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Round.
The game kicks off on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 3:00 PM EST.
This is going to be a massive matchup. The Texans are coming in hot after a gritty season, led by C.J. Stroud. We already saw these two teams meet back in October, and it wasn't pretty for New England—the Texans walked away with a 41-21 win. But that was a different time. The 2026 Patriots finished the regular season 14-3, tying for the best record in the league. They’ve evolved since that October stumble.
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Game Details for Sunday
- Matchup: Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots
- Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
- Time: 3:00 PM EST
- TV Channel: ABC / ESPN
- Radio: 98.5 FM The Sports Hub
Why This 2025-2026 Season Is Historic
What most people get wrong about this team is thinking it's just "luck." It isn't. The jump from a 4-13 record in 2024 to a 14-3 record this season is a 10-game improvement. That ties the 1999 Colts and the 2008 Dolphins for the greatest single-season turnaround in NFL history.
Mike Vrabel has this locker room playing with a level of discipline we haven't seen since the early 2010s. The defense finished the year ranked 4th in points allowed, giving up only 18.8 per game. On the other side of the ball, the offense finished 2nd in the league for points scored. That balance is rare. It’s why the Patriots are currently 3-point favorites heading into the weekend.
Key Players to Watch
When the game starts on Sunday, all eyes will be on Drake Maye. He’s passed for over 4,000 yards this season and has shown a poise that belies his age. However, the Texans' defense, led by Derek Stingley Jr., is notorious for baiting young quarterbacks into mistakes.
Don't sleep on Rhamondre Stevenson, either. In the Wild Card win against the Chargers, he was the engine of the offense, grinding out tough yards to keep the clock moving. If New England can establish the run early against Houston, it opens up those deep play-action shots to the receivers that have become a staple of this year's playbook.
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Stats to Keep in Mind
The Patriots' defense has been particularly lethal at home. They allowed under 100 yards rushing in their last outing. If they can replicate that against Houston's backfield, it forces Stroud to be perfect through the air—a tall order in the swirling January winds of Foxborough.
Planning Your Sunday
Since there is no score for today, you have plenty of time to prep for the Divisional Round. If you're heading to the stadium, expect temperatures to be brisk. Typical New England playoff weather. If you’re watching from home, the ABC broadcast starts at 3:00 PM, but the pre-game coverage usually begins an hour earlier.
The path to the AFC Championship goes through Gillette Stadium. If the Patriots win on Sunday, they’ll be one step closer to their first Super Bowl appearance in seven years. It’s a "wait and see" situation for now, but the momentum is clearly on New England's side.
Keep an eye on the injury reports Friday afternoon. Staying healthy is the only thing that could derail this run. Right now, the roster looks relatively clean, which is a luxury this late in January.
Check the final injury report on Friday afternoon to see if any key starters on the offensive line are limited before Sunday's kickoff.