Entering Saturday nights Divisional Playoff against the Houston Texans, the New England Patriots saw themselves as one of the largest favorites in recent memory with a trip to their sixth consecutive AFC Championship game on the line.
strength does not come from physical capacity. it comes from an indomitable will. #onemore #gopats pic.twitter.com/hzFscQ1mc6
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) January 14, 2017
Playoff game against the hometown team tonight! I Can't Wait #PatsNation #Playoffs
— Eric Rowe (@TheEricRowe) January 14, 2017
Making his playoff debut with a surprise start, running back Dion Lewis got the Patriots on the board first with a 13 yard score from Tom Brady.
.@dionlewisRB is FAST. #HOUvsNE https://t.co/SxAip24SdF
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/820443951274422273
After allowing a Nick Novak field goal to cut the deficit to four at 7-3, Dion Lewis struck again.
Pretty good postseason debut for @dionlewisRB.
98 yards and a TOUCHDOWN. https://t.co/ikte7vkGV4
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 15, 2017
Dion Lewis is gonna get his name in the paper.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) January 15, 2017
98 yard kickoff return TD for Dion Lewis. First postseason kickoff return touchdown in Patriots postseason history
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) January 15, 2017
Leading 14-3 after one quarter, it appeared the Patriots were off and running…that is until quarterback Tom Brady threw his first of two interceptions in what would become an uncharacteristic night for the future hall of famer.
Tom Brady throws an interception for the just third time this season!! #HOUvsNE #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/ZKEe8jqt12
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) January 15, 2017
TOM BRADY INTERCEPTED!
Did that just happen?
Only the #Patriots quarterback's third interception of this season!#HOUvsNE #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/dks6uTYH6J
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) January 15, 2017
After a Texans field goal brought the score to 14-6 midway through the second quarter, the Patriots again found themselves with a special teams blunder as Dion Lewis coughed the ball up returning a kick at his own 17 yard line.
Brock Osweiler found C.J. Fiedorowicz for the easy score, and just like that it was a one point game.
14-13 Patriots.
https://twitter.com/SotoSportsTv/status/820457764329844737
Needing a score to regain momentum, Chris Hogan assisted the Patriots response with the longest pass play of the game.
45 yards to the league's co-leader in average yards per catch this season, @chrishogan_15: https://t.co/4RNhaLeK8L
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/StevieJohnson13/status/820456358189223936
…and Julian Edelman etched his name in team history.
.@edelman11: the #Patriots franchise leader in postseason receptions. https://t.co/GN1MWubQyx
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 15, 2017
Tonight, Julian Edelman passed Wes Welker to become the #Patriots all-time leader in playoff receptions (70).
— The Hall presented by RTX (@TheHall) January 15, 2017
After getting inside the 10 yard line just before halftime, the Patriots were unable to find the end zone. Settling for a Stephen Gostkowski field goal to take a four point lead into the locker room.
The Texans, 16.5 point underdogs coming in, still saw themselves right in the game courtesy of Patriots mistakes.
Patriots 17, Texans 13 (halftime): Two turnovers by Patriots turned into 10 points by Houston. Keeps game close. Poor overall half from NE.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) January 15, 2017
The last team to overcome a halftime deficit against the Patriots?
The Broncos last season … led by Brock Osweiler. https://t.co/gcQbaysdC1
— ESPN (@espn) January 15, 2017
Patriots are about to get hit with that "I'm not mad I'm disappointed" talk at halftime. Everyone knows those are the worst.
— Gary Striewski (@garystriewski) January 15, 2017
After trading early punts to begin the second half, Tom Brady got the Patriots some much needed breathing room following this score to running back James White.
Brady ? White. TOUCHDOWN. https://t.co/sNlFu3p2oX
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/820468537143635972
https://twitter.com/kcnodaysoff/status/820660738851270658
.@SweetFeet_White's first career postseason TD caps off the #Patriots 90-yard scoring drive. #HOUvsNE pic.twitter.com/JYGZiMROWZ
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 15, 2017
Leading by 11, the Patriots attempted to put it away, only for Brady to be picked off for a second time.
Tom Brady throws his second interception today.
Before today, he had thrown only INTs in 12 games this season.
— Doug Moore (@DMooreNFL) January 15, 2017
Also for the second time, Brock Osweiler was unable to find the end zone following the turnover as the Texans could only come away with three points. 24-16 early in the fourth quarter.
While Tom Brady’s performance was lackluster, the Patriots defense continued to step up, namely the former Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the backfield.
hdsportsplays: Logan Ryan interception!!! #Patriots CBS NFL Playoff: Texans at Patriots https://t.co/4dOgNI6cHN pic.twitter.com/QFcXZwHD4t
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) January 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/McCourtyTwins/status/820668447956889601
https://twitter.com/RFootball/status/820488199365652480
https://twitter.com/McCourtyTwins/status/820485963017289728
https://twitter.com/RutgersNation86/status/820499892661612544
With 12 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Dion Lewis continued his big day, adding a rushing touchdown to his stat sheet to all but put the game away for the Patriots.
31-16 Patriots.
3? TDs for 3?3?. https://t.co/36czubvI4G
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 15, 2017
To think, I got traded for #DionLewis back in 2013…. someone needs to be fired for that. He a beast!
#NFL #Patriots— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) January 15, 2017
.@Patriots Dion Lewis is the first player in the Super Bowl era with a rushing touchdown, receiving TD, and kick return TD in a playoff game
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) January 15, 2017
Since 2015, the @Patriots are 15-0 with @DionLewisRB in the lineup.
(13-7 without him)
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) January 16, 2017
Dion Lewis had 188 total yards vs #Texans. Sixth highest playoff total in #Patriots history.
It was his postseason debut.
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) January 15, 2017
Receiving TD: ?
Kick return TD: ?
Rushing TD: ? https://t.co/joA9c5iR4J— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 15, 2017
The Patriots would tack on one more field goal as the defense kept the Texans silent the remainder of the fourth quarter. A 34-16 victory and another trip to the AFC Championship was clinched, six straight for an NFL record.
"Festa na sala da @giseleofficial mais um lance de craque do camisa 12 do @patriots" https://t.co/eZSGvm4uZN pic.twitter.com/M2mdhekZ0g
— Gisele Bündchen Daily ?? (@giseledaily) January 15, 2017
#onegameseason pic.twitter.com/cpUAz9Zygf
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) January 15, 2017
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPRoAwvh94W/
It's all love in my group!! They show up and show out!! Congrats to my bros @SweetFeet_White and @DionLewisRB for a combined 4 TDs! #PatsWin pic.twitter.com/3VKqII1xO3
— LeGarrette Blount (@LG_Blount) January 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/KVN_03/status/820713487445921792
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