So, if you’re looking for what score of the patriots game just popped up on the board, you’ve hit the right spot. Things are getting absolutely chaotic at Gillette Stadium right now. It's the AFC Divisional Round, Sunday, January 18, 2026, and the New England Patriots are currently leading the Houston Texans 21-13 in the third quarter.
If you just tuned in, honestly, you missed a first half that felt more like a glitch in a video game than a professional football match. We are talking about a turnover festival. CJ Stroud, who usually plays like a surgeon, has already thrown four interceptions. Four. One of those was a back-breaking pick-six by Marcus Jones that completely flipped the momentum when the Texans were actually starting to look dangerous.
The Current Situation at Gillette
Right now, the score stands at Patriots 21, Texans 13.
We just saw a Ka'imi Fairbairn 25-yard field goal cut into the lead, but the story is the New England defense. Mike Vrabel has these guys playing like it’s 2003 again. Drake Maye, our franchise savior, has been a bit of a mixed bag today. He’s found the end zone twice—one of those a beautiful 7-yard strike to Stefon Diggs—but he’s also fumbled the ball three times. Fortunately for the Foxborough faithful, the Patriots have recovered most of those loose balls, or this would be a much tighter game.
📖 Related: How to watch vikings game online free without the usual headache
How We Got Here: The 2025 Season Context
It’s kinda wild to think about where this team was a year ago. Remember the 2023 and 2024 seasons? Total disasters. But under Eliot Wolf and Vrabel, they finished the 2025 regular season with a 14-3 record. They actually clinched the AFC East for the first time since the Brady era ended, which basically felt like a fever dream for most of the season.
Last week, they took care of business in the Wild Card round against the Chargers. That game wasn't nearly this stressful. The what score of the patriots game in that round ended up being a dominant 16-3 win. It was a defensive masterclass where Justin Herbert just couldn't find any rhythm. Today against Houston, it's more of a high-wire act.
Key Moments You Need to Know
If you're following the live updates, keep an eye on these specific players because they are the reason the score looks the way it does:
👉 See also: Liechtenstein National Football Team: Why Their Struggles are Different Than You Think
- Carlton Davis: He has been CJ Stroud’s personal nightmare today. He’s got two interceptions already.
- K'Lavon Chaisson: He’s been living in the Texans' backfield. His pressure led directly to the Marcus Jones pick-six.
- Stefon Diggs: In a game where every yard feels like a mile, his veteran presence and that second-quarter touchdown provided the cushion the Pats are currently sitting on.
The weather is typical Foxborough January—chilly, clear, and about 2°C. Not exactly "Snow Bowl" conditions, but definitely cold enough to make the ball slick, which explains some of these fumbles.
What Most People Are Missing
Everyone is talking about Stroud’s interceptions, but the real nuance here is the Patriots' goal-line defense. During the regular season, they were statistically one of the worst in the league when teams got inside the 5-yard line. Today? They’ve held Houston to field goals twice after the Texans had first-and-goal situations. That is basically the difference in the game right now.
The Texans came into this game on a 10-game winning streak. They aren't going to just go away. DeMeco Ryans has a way of adjusting at the half, and we already saw them move the ball much better on the ground to start the third quarter.
✨ Don't miss: Cómo entender la tabla de Copa Oro y por qué los puntos no siempre cuentan la historia completa
Checking the Score Regularly
If you are searching for the what score of the patriots game every ten minutes, you aren't alone. This is the most significant game in New England since the 2021 playoffs, and the stakes couldn't be higher. A win here sends the Patriots to the AFC Championship game.
What to Watch for in the Final Minutes
The fourth quarter is going to come down to whether Drake Maye can protect the football. If he stops putting the ball on the turf, the Patriots’ defense has shown they can bait Stroud into mistakes. But if the turnovers keep coming from both sides, this is anyone’s game.
Keep your eyes on the clock and the turnover margin. Right now, New England is winning the "Mistake Battle," even if Maye is making it interesting with his fumbles.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you're tracking the game live, make sure to stay updated on the injury status of Marcus Moses; he went down earlier but returned, and his presence on the offensive line is the only thing keeping the Texans' pass rush at bay. Also, check the local broadcast on ABC or ESPN for the final few drives, as the live betting lines are swinging wildly with every turnover. If the Patriots hold on, the next game will likely be a showdown with the Denver Broncos for a trip to the Super Bowl.