New England Patriots
The Patriots are shifting on to play the Denver Broncos within the AFC Championship sport.
FOXBOROUGH – C.J. Stroud threw 4 interceptions throughout a disastrous first half, and the Patriots nonetheless had a tough time placing the Texans away.
Finally, New England did sufficient to win the AFC divisional-round sport, 28-16. Nevertheless, an incapacity to swing turnovers into factors made this sport a lot nearer than it wanted to be.
Marcus Jones was the lone exception, taking a wobbly Stroud throw the space for a pick-6 landing that helped the Patriots construct a 21-10 halftime lead.
However the Patriots discovered themselves clinging to a one-possession lead after a scoreless third quarter. Drake Maye had his moments — hitting Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, and Stefon Diggs for touchdowns, however he additionally fumbled 4 instances and misplaced two of them.
Neither crew was in a position to get a lot happening the bottom. Good subject place was extraordinarily beneficial on this slugfest with the entire turnovers.
However the Patriots are moving on to play the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game. Right here’s a have a look at who stood out and struggled in the course of the win that obtained them there.
Inventory Up
Carlton Davis
Davis didn’t have a single interception in the course of the common season, however he snagged a pair of picks on this divisional-round win.
Each have been troublesome grabs — he dove in entrance of Christian Kirk and managed to remain inbounds whereas he was within the air on the primary one. He managed to catch the second with one hand, getting his toes down as his momentum carried him backward.
He did choose up his ninth cross interference penalty of the season, however anytime you ship two takeaways ought to lead to a inventory increase. He additionally had a team-high 4 cross deflections.
Ok’Lavon Chaisson
Chaisson added to his listing of big-time performs this season by popping Stroud with a play the place the Houston quarterback wound up throwing the ball off-balance and Jones fielded it like a pop fly earlier than working it again for a landing.
From the punch-out towards Baltimore to a pair of sacks final week and now fueling the Jones interception, Chaisson has come trough in a number of large moments this season.
He additionally recorded a sack, a deal with for loss, and three QB hits towards the Texans.
Kayshon Boutte
With the Patriots clinging to a five-point lead within the fourth quarter, Boutte prolonged his arm for a fabulous 32-yard landing catch.
Huge second, clutch play, towards one of many league’s premier defenses. His focus and physique management have led to a variety of explosive performs this season.
Boutte led the Patriots’ receivers with three catches for 75 yards.
Marcus Jones
Jones was impactful on protection and the return sport.
Taking the interception return in for a landing gave the Patriots factors at a time when the offense was sputtering. He broke up a pair of passes.
He additionally picked up 53 yards on 4 punt returns, serving to the Patriots within the subject place battle.
Anfernee Jennings
For the second week in a row throughout these playoffs, Jennings delivered a sack. He chipped in 5 tackles together with one for loss.
This was a participant who discovered himself buried on the depth chart and subjected to commerce rumors in the course of the preseason.
He now has a pair of sacks heading into the Patriots’ first AFC Championship sport look since 2018.
Rhamondre Stevenson
The Texans made the Patriots work for every part, and Stevenson produced 70 hard-earned yards on 16 carries.
He was additionally lively within the short-passing sport, catching all 4 of his targets. Shifting the ball was troublesome, however Stevenson dealt with his workload effectively.
Craig Woodson
Woodson additionally had a pair of takeaways on this sport, selecting off Stroud and falling on a fumble.
The rookie security was all around the subject, breaking apart three passes and contributing 5 tackles.
He took a tough hit to the top on the finish of his interception, however was ultimately cleared to return to the sport.
Inventory Flat
DeMario Douglas
Credit score to the Patriots’ coaches for going for it on fourth down early within the sport, and to Maye for locating Douglas on a fast slant over the center for the sport’s first rating.
Douglas caught each of his targets and averaged 18 yards per catch, reflecting his position as somebody who hasn’t had a ton of utilization this season however is able to breaking off an enormous play at any second.
The inside offensive line
It wasn’t an excellent day for the offensive line on the whole, however it appeared like an outsized quantity of the Texans’ strain got here from the perimeters on this one.
The Patriots topped 100 dashing yards, and Maye was in a position to make performs when he wanted to.
The Texans’ edge-rushers, Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter produced all 5 of Houston’s sacks.
Inventory Down
Drake Maye
This wasn’t an excellent sport for Maye. He had the landing throw to Boutte on the finish, which broke the sport open, however 4 fumbles and an interception usually isn’t the type of day that will get the job completed.
CJ Stroud stored giving the Patriots’ presents, and New England was in a position to take benefit. Maye had three landing passes, two of them briefly yardage conditions.
He was held below 200 yards passing and went 16-for-27, however it was sufficient for this season’s ultimate sport at Gillette Stadium to be a win.
The offensive tackles
It was a tough day for Will Campbell and Morgan Moses. That they had a tricky assignments coping with Hunter and Anderson, each All-Professional degree gamers.
Hunter and Anderson mixed for 5 sacks and a pair of tackles for loss between them.
To Campbell’s credit score, he stored issues from being worse by hustling after Maye’s strip sacks and diving on a pair of them.
Nonetheless, not an excellent efficiency on both facet towards a pair of actually robust gamers.
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