Texans vs Patriots: Patriots win 28-16, reach the AFC Championship Game

Updated
NFL Playoffs · Divisional Round
Houston TexansTexans
Playoffs 1-1 · Away
16–28
Final
Sunday, January 18, 2026
New England PatriotsPatriots
Playoffs 2-0 · Home

2026 NFL Playoffs · 5 seed Texans at 2 seed Patriots

  1. Wild Card
  2. Divisional Round
  3. AFC Championship
  4. Super Bowl LX

Texans vs Patriots final: the New England Patriots beat the Houston Texans 28-16 on January 18, 2026 at Gillette Stadium. The New England Patriots beat the Houston Texans 28-16 and move on to the AFC Championship Game; the Texans' season is over. Next for the Patriots: AFC Championship, Sunday, Jan 25 at 3:00 PM ET.

Texans vs Patriots Game Info

Date
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Kickoff
3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT
Stadium
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
Season
NFL 25/26

Score by Quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4T
Texans376016
Patriots7140728

Texans vs Patriots Recap

For the Patriots, Drake Maye threw for 179 yards, Rhamondre Stevenson ran for 70 yards. For the Texans, C.J. Stroud threw for 212 yards, Jayden Higgins caught passes for 59 yards.

The Patriots did the damage in the 2nd quarter, winning that period by 7.

After the game, the Texans are 1-1 in the playoffs and the Patriots are 2-0 in the playoffs.

Top Performers

Texans

Patriots

Team Stats

TexansStatPatriots
241Total Yards248
193Passing Yards143
48Rushing Yards105
16First Downs13
7/173rd Down3/14
04th Down0
1/4Red Zone1/1
5Turnovers3
4Interceptions1
1Fumbles Lost2
0Sacks Allowed0
4-32Penalties3-48
3/3Field Goals0
27:51Time of Possession32:09

Texans vs Patriots Box Score

Houston Texans
PassingC/ATTYDSTDINTSACKLNG
C.J. Stroud QB20/4721214342
RushingCARYDSAVGTDLNG
Woody Marks RB14171.208
Nick Chubb RB4143.507
C.J. Stroud QB2115.5010
Cade Stover TE263.004
ReceivingRECTGTYDSAVGTDLNG
Xavier Hutchinson WR4134411.0023
Jayden Higgins WR610599.8016
Christian Kirk WR262010.0110
Harrison Bryant TE36217.009
Woody Marks RB23199.5013
Cade Stover TE1322.002
Dalton Schultz TE224723.5042
Jaylin Noel WR0100.000
Nick Chubb RB0100.000
DefenseTOTSOLOASTTFLSACKINTPDFF
Azeez Al-Shaair LB149500000
Tommy Togiai DT138510001
Henry To'oTo'o LB128410010
Calen Bullock SAF95400000
Sheldon Rankins DT64200000
Kamari Lassiter CB65100030
Jalen Pitre SAF65120000
Naquan Jones DL53210000
Jaylen Reed SAF42200000
Danielle Hunter DE44012001
Will Anderson Jr. DE33023002
Dylan Horton DE32100000
Leki Fotu DT21100000
Derek Barnett DE21100010
Derek Stingley Jr. CB22000000
E.J. Speed LB11010000
KickingFGLNGXPPTS
Ka'imi Fairbairn K3/3511/110
PuntingNOYDSAVGLNGIN20
Tommy Townsend P529458.8721
ReturnsKRKR YDSPRPR YDSTD
Jaylin Noel WR3693290
Braxton Berrios WR119000
New England Patriots
PassingC/ATTYDSTDINTSACKLNG
Drake Maye QB16/2717931532
RushingCARYDSAVGTDLNG
Rhamondre Stevenson RB16704.4020
TreVeyon Henderson RB12252.106
Drake Maye QB4102.508
ReceivingRECTGTYDSAVGTDLNG
Stefon Diggs WR464010.0114
Kayshon Boutte WR357525.0132
Rhamondre Stevenson RB44112.809
Kyle Williams WR0300.000
Hunter Henry TE1255.005
TreVeyon Henderson RB12-2-2.000
DeMario Douglas WR223618.0128
Austin Hooper TE121414.0014
DefenseTOTSOLOASTTFLSACKINTPDFF
Christian Gonzalez CB129300011
Robert Spillane LB106400010
Anfernee Jennings DE85311000
Craig Woodson SAF75200130
Jaylinn Hawkins SAF64200000
Christian Elliss LB54110010
K'Lavon Chaisson OLB53211010
Carlton Davis III CB44010240
Khyiris Tonga NT43111000
Marcus Jones CB32100120
Jahlani Tavai LB32100000
Christian Barmore DT32110000
Milton Williams DT32100000
Jack Gibbens LB32100000
Elijah Ponder LB21100000
Harold Landry III LB22000000
Dell Pettus SAF21100010
KickingFGLNGXPPTS
Andy Borregales K0/004/44
PuntingNOYDSAVGLNGIN20
Bryce Baringer P833341.6553
ReturnsKRKR YDSPRPR YDSTD
Marcus Jones CB004530
D'Ernest Johnson RB247000
Kyle Williams WR122000
Efton Chism III WR120000

Game Flow

Patriots leadTexans lead
Q1Q2Q3Q4
Lead changes
2
Times tied
0
Patriots largest lead
12
Texans largest lead
3
Scoring Summary

Scoring plays, newest first. Score shown Texans-Patriots.

1st Quarter 3 scoring plays
  • 5:26TexansFG Ka'imi Fairbairn +33-7
  • 9:35PatriotsXP Andy Borregales +10-7
  • 9:35PatriotsTD DeMario Douglas +60-6
2nd Quarter 6 scoring plays
  • 3:12PatriotsXP Andy Borregales +110-21
  • 3:12PatriotsTD Stefon Diggs +610-20
  • 10:31PatriotsXP Andy Borregales +110-14
  • 10:31PatriotsTD Marcus Jones +610-13
  • 12:51TexansXP Ka'imi Fairbairn +110-7
  • 12:51TexansTD Christian Kirk +69-7
3rd Quarter 2 scoring plays
  • 1:32TexansFG Ka'imi Fairbairn +316-21
  • 9:45TexansFG Ka'imi Fairbairn +313-21
4th Quarter 2 scoring plays
  • 12:58PatriotsXP Andy Borregales +116-28
  • 12:58PatriotsTD Kayshon Boutte +616-27

Next for the Patriots

Patriots @ Broncos · AFC Championship · Sunday, Jan 25, 3:00 PM ET

AFC Championship preview ›

Road to the Divisional Round

Texans 5 seed

RoundOpponentResult
Wild Card@ Steelers (4)W 30-6

Patriots 2 seed

RoundOpponentResult
Wild Cardvs Chargers (7)W 16-3

2026 Playoff Leaders

Texans

Patriots

Totals in this postseason before this game.

More NFL Playoff Games on Jan 18, 2026

That covers Texans vs Patriots: score, leaders and box score above. Next: Texans visit the Chargers Nov 8; Patriots visit the Dolphins Nov 1.

Texans vs Patriots FAQs

Who won Texans vs Patriots?

The New England Patriots won 28-16 on January 18, 2026. The New England Patriots beat the Houston Texans 28-16 and move on to the AFC Championship Game; the Texans' season is over.

Who do the Patriots play next?

The Denver Broncos on the road in the AFC Championship on Sunday, January 25 at 3:00 PM ET.

What are the seeds in Texans vs Patriots?

The Texans are the AFC 5 seed and the Patriots the 2 seed.