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Best of Social Media: AFC Divisional Texans vs Patriots

Robert Alvarez
Robert Alvarez on Twitter
January 17, 2017 at 8:00 am ET

🕑 Read Time: 3 minutes

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

https://twitter.com/StevieJohnson13/status/820456358189223936

…and Julian Edelman etched his name in team history.

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.

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.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/820468537143635972

https://twitter.com/kcnodaysoff/status/820660738851270658

Leading by 11, the Patriots attempted to put it away, only for Brady to be picked off for a second time.

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.

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.

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.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BPRoAwvh94W/

https://twitter.com/KVN_03/status/820713487445921792


Tags: Chris Hogan Devin McCourty Dion Lewis Duron Harmon Eric Rowe James White Julian Edelman Kyle Van Noy LeGarrette Blount Logan Ryan Nate Ebner Rob Ninkovich Tom Brady

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