Good morning, and Happy Gameday. Here is your Patriots news, 01-18, and NFL notes this week. The Patriots beat the Chargers last Sunday night, and with a win this afternoon, will be in the AFC Championship Game, either hosting the Bills or going to Denver.
As of Friday night, the outcomes of the Bills-Broncos and 49ers-Seahawks games are yet to be determined, setting the stage for the Conference Championship Games next week. Houston is trying to get to the AFC Championship Game for the first time in its history.
There are a lot of familiar faces among the Texans who were former Patriots, both players and coaches. However, although the teams played each other last season (Drake Maye’s first NFL start), Christian Gonzalez is the only starter from the defense that will start for the Patriots today.
Quick Hitters For the Patriots and NFL News:
Harold Landry: The Patriots’ edge rusher was not at practice on Friday and is listed as questionable against the Texans later today. He missed the last two weeks of the regular season with a knee injury that has been bothering him for the past few months. He did return against the Chargers but didn’t register any sacks or pressures.
If Landry can’t go, the Patriots will likely lean heavily on Anfernee Jennings and Elijah Ponder on the edge opposite K’Lavon Chaisson, while former Texan and new addition Derrell Taylor is a candidate to be a practice squad elevation.
Christian Gonzalez: In more good news for the Patriots’ defense this week is that their All-Pro cornerback returns for today’s game. Gonzalez cleared concussion protocol and was given a clean bill of health for the game.
Getting Gonzalez back is a huge boost for the Patriots’ defense as they can blitz and trust him on an island against any opponent’s wide receiver. He didn’t allow a catch on any of the five times he was targeted in man coverage last week.
Khyiris Tonga: The other good news is that it appears Tonga is healthy enough to play this week. He was back at practice and provided a huge presence, stuffing the run and pressuring the pocket from the nose tackle position.
Tonga missed the last two games of the regular season and the Wild Card win over LA with a foot injury. He’s also been used as a run blocking FB in short yardage situations, something the Patriots could rely on him for this week.
Alex Austin: The Patriots’ cornerback has been on IR but has been back at practice for the past few weeks. If the Patriots don’t activate Austin by Saturday at 4:00 p.m., his 21-day window is closed, and he’ll be shut down for the remainder of the season. Running back Terrell Jennings is also eligible to be activated from IR.
Patriots No Huddle Podcast: Mike, Derek, and I recorded our post-game podcast after the Chargers game. The three of us also did our Divisional Weekend preview podcast on Wednesday morning.
We’ll do a post-game podcast late Sunday night, around 9:00 p.m.
Please check it out. And be sure to like, share, and leave us a review.
Russ Francis/Chuck Fairbanks: The former Patriot tight end and head coach should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame, and the fact that Francis isn’t is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders’ Dave Casper changed how teams used the tight end position.
This will be displayed in our Sunday posts until it happens. Casper is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Francis’ numbers stand up well against Casper’s, yet he isn’t even in the team’s HOF.
Patriots Players To Watch Against The Texans:
The Patriots and Texans meet this afternoon in the Divisional Round of the Playoffs. The winner will move on to the AFC Conference Championship Game. While the Patriots excel at explosive plays on offense, the Texans are one of the best defenses in the NFL and rank either first or near the top in most defensive metrics.
Drake Maye: Maye is facing an outstanding defense that plays a mix of zone and man coverage. He’ll have to take care of the football and make sound decisions, especially on when to run and when not to.
He’ll have to ensure everyone is involved. Houston will try to take away Stefon Diggs, but the Patriots have plenty of options, including the running backs with Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson to go along with Pop Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, and Kyle Williams.
Look for Maye to attempt the same type of hole shots he did with the score with Hunter Henry last week. He knows, however, how good the Houston defense is.
“The thing about the Texans is what they do, they’re good at it,” Maye said. “They’re really good at it… They play some man coverage. They play some zone. They’ve got eyes on the quarterback. They’ve got eyes on creating turnovers.”
Will Campbell/Morgan Moses: The Patriots’ tackles will be facing Houston edge rushers Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, who combined for 27 sacks this season. Campbell had an off week and will look to bounce back.
The two tackles will have their work cut out for them this week, and it is imperative that they give Maye time to find the open receiver and deliver the ball. This will be one of the key areas of the game to watch.
A couple of options the Patriots could use are bringing in a sixth offensive lineman to help block and chipping with the tight ends on obvious passing downs.
Marcus Jones: The Patriots’ slot corner will be matched up with the speedy Christian Kirk, who had a monster game in Pittsburgh with eight catches, 144 yards, and a touchdown. Jones was outstanding last week, going against Ladd McConkey and holding him to three catches for 32 yards.
Houston had Kirk running crossers where his speed tormented Pittsburgh’s secondary. Expect a similar plan. The pressure will be on Kirk to replicate his effort with Nico Collins being out this week.
Jones has the speed to keep up with him, while the Patriots’ pass rush will be looking to pressure C.J. Stroud into making mistakes.
Milton Williams: The Patriots’ interior defensive lineman sealed the game with a fourth-down sack of Justin Herbert last week. The Patriots will be looking for him to be a penetrator and disruptor this week, getting after Stroud from the inside.
Stroud had only two fumbles all year, but had five against the Steelers, losing only two. While the talk all week has been about the Patriots’ OL struggles, the Texans’ OL has been an issue all season.
Houston ranks 30th in pass-blocking win rate and last in run-blocking win rate. Williams has the ability to definitely tip the scale in favor of New England.
NFL Divisional Weekend Predictions:
The schedule this weekend is down to the final eight teams in the league. You can make an argument as to why any of the remaining teams could go all the way to a Super Bowl win.
And you could also make the opposite argument for any of the final eight teams. It is wide open, and the games should all be great ones.
Now we’ll see how the games play out. Let’s Go!
Divisional Saturday Games:
Buffalo over Denver
Seattle over San Francisco
Divisional Sunday Day Games:
New England over Houston
LA Rams over Chicago
Last Week 5—1
2025 Season 181—90—1
2024 Season 204—68
2023 Season 178—94
2022 Season: 178—92—2
2021 Season: 183—88—1
2020 Season: 169—86—1
2019 Season: 162—93—1
Mike Vrabel Quotes This Week:
Mike Vrabel was asked, “Are you leaning on or have you noticed any other veterans in the room who have maybe had some more experience in the playoffs step up?
“Well, I thought we’ve had great leadership throughout this season, and guys like Morgan Moses and Garrett [Bradbury] in each position room. Whether it’s Milt in the defensive line room, each position group has its own group of guys.
“And so, if we can continue to get those guys in those rooms to reach out to three or four people and make connections, then we have a chance to reach the whole team.
“So, like we’ve said all along, we don’t put restrictions on leadership. Anybody that can help us, regardless of age or status, if they can help us lead and help somebody else, we’re all in favor of it.”
Mike Vrabel was asked about Jahlani Tavai winning the Ed Block Courage Award.
“Yeah, I’m always excited for those guys that go through some adversity and persevere. Just going back to the offseason, not being able to fully participate in the OTAs and training camp, and with a new staff, guys are conscious of that, especially veterans like Jahlani, they’re conscious of a new staff and want to give the best showing that they possibly can.
“Wasn’t able to do that, stayed engaged, was a great leader. Started the season on IR and just a lot of different things that he battled – on the field, off the field – and remained a great teammate, focused, and has helped us. His versatility has really shown here in the second half of the season.
Drake Maye was asked about trying to stop turnovers from happening.
“The tipped interception, it is what it is. I think I could have done a better job of seeing the guy and maybe not try to throw Hoop [Austin Hooper] at the backside and let him get across.
“The fumble, the last fumble, I just held the football. You can’t do that this week because again, you can’t do it, especially when we’re cutting on the edge in quick game. You can’t do things like that.
“Protect the football, and from there, just kind of know when that timer has gone off in my head, and I feel like I’ve had a good feel for that this year. I’ve just got to keep that in mind and know those guys on the edge are great players.
“I got to know them. I know Will [Anderson Jr.], I got to know [Danielle] Hunter at the Pro Bowl. So, I know these guys, and they’re great dudes, but they’re great players and want to get sacks.
“So, they’ve got some good guys inside as well that have played great; they played great last week. So, I know we’ve got a tough job, but at the same time, just have some mental checklist stuff, and from there, just play football and use my teammates.”
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“Somebody asked me what success looks like, and I said, ‘Yeah, you can judge it by wins and losses during the season, but success for me in the offseason is going to be that the players believe in what we’re doing, and they believe in the message, they believe in the teaching, and they believe in the connections that we’re making.’” — Mike Vrabel
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A former US Army Special Forces NCO and Officer, Steve has been following the Patriots since their days at Fenway Park. Steve has worked in the film industry and wrote as an Military Editor at SpecialOperations.com, 1945.com as a reporter for the Millbury Daily Voice, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, and the Grafton News. He's also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)
Snow & Bo Nix broken ankle. The Pats are blessed this year. Today’s game looks like the AFC championship. Hou may be better than the Pats at home in a dome and fast track. But today in the snow, not so. Houston’s front 6 on D is small and fast. They don’t have a load of depth and size on the depth chart. They are designed like a dome team. On a slippery field that speed should be curtailed a bit. Especially the pass rush.