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[New England Patriots]

Stefon Diggs’ arraignment postponed until February

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs has had his request to postpone his arraignment granted by a judge, according to court records.

Diggs is now scheduled to be arraigned in Dedham District Court on Feb. 13 — five days after the Super Bowl — instead of the previously scheduled Jan. 23 date.

Diggs is facing charges of felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery stemming from an alleged incident on Dec. 2. According to a police report, Diggs is accused of choking and slapping his personal female chef over a money dispute.

His attorney, David Meier, denied the allegations in a released statement.

“Stefon Diggs categorically denies these allegations,” Meier wrote. “They are unsubstantiated, uncorroborated, and were never investigated — because they did not occur. The timing and motivation for making the allegations is crystal clear: they are the direct result of an employee-employer financial dispute that was not resolved to the employee’s satisfaction. Stefon looks forward to establishing the truth in a court of law.”

Diggs has remained eligible to play while the legal process unfolds. After appearing in the Patriots’ regular-season finale last week, the veteran receiver is now set to take the field for New England’s playoff opener Sunday night.

The news was first reported by The Boston Globe.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...on-diggs-arraignment-postponed-until-february

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots vs. Chargers Friday injury report: Khyiris Tonga out, three questionable

The New England Patriots will be down one starter against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Nose tackle Khyiris Tonga has been ruled out for the wild card after staying sidelined for a third straight week due to a foot injury, head coach Mike Vrabel announced during his Friday press conference.

But elsewhere, wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. and outside linebacker Harold Landry III all close in on the playoffs with questionable game statuses.

Here’s the final injury report ahead of Sunday’s 8 p.m. ET kickoff at Gillette Stadium.

OUT​

Patriots​

• DT Khyiris Tonga (foot)

Chargers​

• WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (hamstring)
• S Kendall Williamson (ankle)

Since sustaining a foot injury in December against the Baltimore Ravens, Tonga has been a non-participant for nine consecutive practices. A third matchup among the No. 2 seed’s inactives is ahead. The all-purpose defensive tackle’s inaugural campaign in Foxborough has brought 24 tackles along with a pair of stops for loss, a pair of quarterback hits and a pair of batted passes. He stands with 337 snaps on defense, 14 snaps on offense and 65 snaps on special teams.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh’s side has ruled out two and listed six others as questionable, including the reigning No. 22 overall pick from the University of North Carolina.

QUESTIONABLE​

Patriots​

• WR Kayshon Boutte (hamstring)
• OT Thayer Munford Jr. (knee)
• LB Harold Landry III (knee)

Chargers​

• RB Omarion Hampton (ankle)
• TE Tucker Fisk (ankle — IR return)
• OT Austin Deculus (oblique)
• LB Bud Dupree (hamstring)
• LB Del’Shawn Phillips (hamstring)
• S Elijah Molden (hamstring)

The Patriots added Boutte to the injury report midway through the week. The perimeter wideout, listed as a limited participant, previously missed two games in November because of a hamstring injury and finished the campaign with 33 catches for 551 yards and a career-high six touchdowns.

Additional questionable designations reside on the offensive line and off the edges. Munford, who has made two starts in jumbo sets and tallied 100 offensive snaps since rejoining the AFC East champions, sat out Thursday’s practice due to a knee issue. And Landry has continued to practice in a partial capacity due to a knee issue of his own. New England’s sack leader had been ruled out for back-to-back games to end the regular season before ramping up for the playoffs.

Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson, who was not in attendance for Friday’s practice due to personal reasons, will go without a game designation versus the Chargers. The same green light goes for rookie left guard Jared Wilson and veteran inside linebacker Robert Spillane. Concussion protocol and an ankle injury had kept the starters off the field since Week 16 and Week 13, respectively. Returns are on deck after upgrading to full.

Cornerback Alex Austin’s 21-day activation window remains open, as well, with the deadline for roster moves set for Saturday at 4 p.m. ET.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...out-nfl-wild-card-playoffs-three-questionable

 

[New England Patriots]

Pair of Patriots voted to 2025 NFL All-Pro team

The 2025 AP NFL All-Pro team was announced on Saturday, and the New England Patriots are represented with two players. Quarterback Drake Maye and punt returner Marcus Jones were both voted to the second team at their respective positions.

Maye, 23, started all 17 of the Patriots’ games this season and in his second year as a pro developed into one of its best quarterbacks. Completing 354 of 492 pass attempts, he led the NFL with a completion rate of 72% Maye also threw for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.

He also led the league in several other statistical categories such as passer rating (113.5), yards per attempt (8.9), net yards per attempt (7.8), expected points added per play (0.313) and completion percentage above expectation (10.8). Nonetheless, Maye missed out on first-team All-Pro honors to Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford, who can now be considered the favorite to win the NFL MVP award as well.

Stafford received 31 first-team votes compared to Maye’s 18.

Jones, 27, is in his fourth year in the NFL and continues to be one of the league’s most electric returners. In 2025, he ran back 21 punts for 363 yards and an average of 17.3 yards per return. He also scored a pair of touchdowns, tying the league lead with a group of players including the Tennessee Titans’ Chimere Dike, the eventual first-team All-Pro selection ahead of him.

In total, nine Patriots received All-Pro votes this season. Besides Maye and Jones, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, tight end Hunter Henry, right guard Mike Onwenu, cornerback Christian Gonzalez, safety Jaylinn Hawkins, kickoff returner Antonio Gibson and special teamer Brenden Schooler. Jones also received votes as a slot cornerback.

Last year, two members of the Patriots were voted All-Pros. Brenden Schooler was named first-team special teamer, with Christian Gonzalez announced as a second-team cornerback.

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The full All-Pro teams for the 2025 season look as follows (second team in parentheses):

Offense​

Quarterback: Matthew Stafford, LA. (Drake Maye, NE)

Running back: Bijan Robinson, ATL (James Cook, BUF)

Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk, SF (Patrick Ricard, BAL)

Wide receiver: Puka Nacua, LA; Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA; Ja’Marr Chase, CIN (Georgie Pickens, DAL; Amon-Ra St.Brown, DET; Chris Olave, NO)

All-purpose: Christian McCaffrey, SF (Bijan Robinson, ATL)

Tight end: Trey McBride, ARI (Kyle Pitts, ATL)

Left tackle: Garrett Bolles, DEN (Trent Williams, SF)

Left guard: Joe Thuney, CHI (Quenton Nelson, IND)

Center: Creed Humphrey, KC (Aaron Brewer, MIA)

Right guard: Quinn Meinerz, DEN (Chris Lindstrom, ATL)

Right tackle: Penei Sewell, DET (Darnell Wright, CHI

Defense​

Edge rushers: Myles Garrett, CLE; Will Anderson Jr., HOU; Micah Parsons, GB (Brian Burns, NYG; Danielle Hunter, HOU; Aidan Hutchinson, DET)

Interior defenive line: Jeffery Simmons, TEN; Zach Allen, DEN (Leonard Williams, SEA; Cameron Heyward, PIT)

Linebacker: Jack Campbell, DET; Jordyn Brooks, MIA (Devin Lloyd, JAX; Ernest Jones IV, SEA)

Cornerback: Derek Stingley Jr., HOU; Quinyon Mitchell, PHI (Patrick Surtain II, DEN; Devon Witherspoon, SEA)

Slot cornerback: Cooper DeJean, PHI (Derwin James, LAC)

Safety: Kyle Hamilton, BAL; Kevin Byard, CHI (Jessie Bates III, ATL; Talanoa Hufanga DEN, Xavier McKinney, GB)

Special Teams​

Placekicker: Will Reichard, MIN (Brandon Aubrey, DAL)

Punter: Jordan Stout, BAL (Michael Dickson, SEA)

Long snapper: Ross Matiscik, JAX (Andrew DePaola, MIN)

Kickoff returner: Ray Davis, BUF (Kavontae Turpin, DAL)

Punt returner: Chimere Dike, TEN (Marcus Jones, NE)

Special teamer: Devon Key, DEN (Del’Shawn Phillips, LAC)

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-news/118662/nfl-all-pro-team-drake-maye-marcus-jones

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots rooting guide for NFL wild card weekend

Welcome to the NFL playoffs. Welcome to our first postseason rooting guide of the year.

The New England Patriots will, of course, enter the tournament on Sunday night. The second seed in the AFC, they will host the seventh-seeded Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium. And while our attention is fully on that game, the other five matchups this weekend are also worth keeping a close eye on.

So, with that said, here is our rooting guide for the non-Patriots games in the wild card round.

Saturday​

Los Angeles Rams (5) at Carolina Panthers (4) | LA 34, CAR 31

Green Bay Packers (7) at Chicago Bears (2) | GB 27, CHI 31

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Sunday​

1 p.m. ET​

Buffalo Bills (6) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3): Go Jaguars! This game has not direct impact on the Patriots, but Buffalo seems like a more challenging opponent that Jacksonville in the grand scheme of things. Also, rooting against a division rival is never the wrong thing to do. | CBS

4:30 p.m. ET​

San Francisco 49ers (6) at Philadelphia Eagles (3): Go Eagles! The same thing we mentioned on Saturday also holds true in this game. The Patriots received a sixth-round selection in the 2026 draft from the 49ers as part of the Keion White trade. San Francisco getting eliminated in the wild card round would be good for that pick’s positioning. | FOX

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Monday​

8 p.m. ET​

Houston Texans (5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4): Go Texans! This depends largely on who will win between the Bills and Jaguars on Sunday, so this pick is subject to change. For now, however, we are going with a Houston team seemingly better suited to upset Denver in the divisional round if Jacksonville defeats Buffalo. An added bonus is the sixth-round pick the Patriots received from the Steelers for Kyle Dugger, which would be in a better spot if Pittsburgh gets bounced on Monday night. | ESPN/ABC

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This article also serves as an open thread for this week’s games. Please head down to the comment section to discuss and share your thoughts on the games as they unfold.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-opinion/118681/rooting-guide-nfl-wild-card-weekend

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots X-factors against the Chargers in NFL wild card playoffs

The New England Patriots were one of the most successful teams in the NFL during the regular season, winning 14 of their 17 games and earning both a division title and the No. 2 playoff seed in their conference. Looking ahead, however, those accomplishments matter little: it’s one-game season time.

The first of those games will see the team of head coach Mike Vrabel go up against a formidable opponent, an 11-6 Los Angeles Chargers team combining a formidable offense with one of the best defenses in the NFL. Naturally, the Patriots need to bring their A-game to the prime time matchup on Sunday night.

Beating the Chargers takes more than just good individual performance, however. The Patriots also need to be able to succeed in some critical areas. With that said, here are our X-factors for the wild card playoffs, using numbers from NFL Next Gen Stats.

Offensive X-factors​

Be aggressive against zone defense: While the Chargers do like to mix things up on critical downs, they are at their core a zone defense. During the regular season, they ranked fifth in the NFL playing variations of the coverage on 80.7% of plays. The defense coordinated by Jesse Minter performed well using it, too, allowing a completion percentage of just 64.5% while also giving up only seven touchdowns versus 16 interceptions.

The Patriots, on the other hand, have not been limited by zone coverage so far this season. Drake Maye topped the league with a 74.9% completion rate and 9.2 yards per attempt against zone looks during the regular season, throwing 13 TDs to only four INTs. He has been particularly impressive throwing deep, another area the Chargers have fared well so far this season. And while the defensive numbers suggests a formidable opponent in all those areas, Maye is the type of player to find holes and exploit the zone looks he is likely to face at a high rate Sunday.

Get the Chargers out of their comfort zone: L.A. was one of the top teams in football during the regular season operating out of dime looks, a package Minter called on 23.3% of opponent dropbacks — third-highest in the NFL. The team is able to use those seemingly lighter packages thanks to a player like Derwin James, who blurs the line between the traditional safety, nickelback and off-ball linebacker; having him on the field doesn’t compromise the defense’s integrity against the run while still in dime.

The Patriots, however, have the tools to counter this and get the Chargers out of their comfort zone. They recently started increasing the use of packages using six offensive linemen, with backup tackle Thayer Munford Jr. serving as an extra blocker on the line. For offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, this allows the team to move some responsibilities around while remaining physical up front. Against Los Angeles’ dime-heavy crew, those bigger sets and the run game advantages it creates could give New England some advantageous matchups unless Minter and company opt to adjust.

Win at the second level: For as good as the Chargers have been defensively, they have a glaring weakness in the tackle department. During the regular season, they whiffed on 15.8% of tackle attempts, the highest such mark in the league. The aforementioned Derwin James in particular was a culprit, missing a team-leading 19 takedown attempts.

On the other side of the ball, you have a Patriots team made to take advantage of those miscues. Just last week, running back Rhamondre Stevenson gained 104 of his 131 total rushing yards after contact. On the year, he and fellow RB TreVeyon Henderson have averaged a respective 6.9 and 7.2 average yards gained per missed tackle forced.

Defensive X-factors​

Set the edge: All week, the Patriots spoke about the dangers Justin Herbert presents on extended plays, be they scramble runs or passes. The Chargers quarterback ranked first in the NFL in scramble yards during the regular season with 469, while also ranking third in passing yards on extended dropbacks with 599.

Herbert is not the only player dangerous when allowed outside the pocket. Running back Omarion Hampton, who is expected to play despite dealing with an ankle injury, has a drastic inside/out split: he averaged 5.5 yards per carry on outside rushes, ranking 10th among all qualifying backs; he averaged only 2.7 yards inside, the second-fewest. For the Patriots, the goal needs to be clear: keeping both Herbert and Hampton inside by setting a hard edge versus the pass and the run.

Challenge the offensive line: It’s no secret that the Chargers offensive line has had its issues this season: over the first 17 games of the season, the unit used 18 unique combinations, the most in the NFL. One big part of that lack of stability was losing starting tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater for the season after Week 9 and in training camp, respectively. As a consequence, Herbert was pressured on 268 of 619 dropbacks this season (43.3%), the highest such rate in the NFL.

When under pressure, the Chargers Pro Bowler has thrown for the fourth-most yards in the NFL (1,192) and tied the league lead in touchdowns (10, a number shared with Drake Maye). However, he also threw nine of his 13 total interceptions on the year while under duress. Ultimately, the Patriots’ performance against L.A’s makeshift O-line will go a long way toward deciding who will win the matchup between the two wild card opponents.

Defend the slot: The last time the Patriots squared off against the Chargers, in Week 17 of the 2024 season, they had a hard time slowing down wide receiver Ladd McConkey. Working primarily against slot corner Jonathan Jones, the then-rookie beat New England for eight catches, gaining 94 yards and scoring a pair of touchdowns.

After he finished the regular season ranked first on the team in receiving yards (789) as well as second in targets (102), receptions (66) and touchdowns (6), McConkey again projects as a focal point in offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s attack. And, like last year, the slot is his preferred area of attack: he 62.3% of his routes from the slot this season, one of the highest rates in the league, and finished with 70 slot targets. Needless to say that McConkey versus Marcus Jones looks like a key matchup for the Patriots.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...611/x-factors-chargers-nfl-wild-card-playoffs

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots defense kept Chargers guessing in wild card playoff win

The New England Patriots put the clamps on the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild card round of the playoffs, surrendering only a field goal in a 16-3 victory on Sunday night. The defensive performance paved the way for that win, and it was one earned through relentless pressure and deception.

That combination, conducted from the sideline by defensive play caller Zak Kuhr, left the Chargers guessing throughout the night. And don’t just take it from us: they said so himself, according to linebacker Robert Spillane.

“Zak has been great all year. He keeps the dial spinning. He keeps offenses guessing. All year he’s been doing that,” said Spillane during his postgame press conference.

“After the game, just talking to a few of the guys on their team, they had no clue what we were doing. And they came up and said that: ‘We had no clue what you guys were in all game.’ So, for him just to be able to build those packages throughout the week, our backend players then knowing how to disguise the different defenses, that really keeps quarterbacks guessing.”

On the day, the Patriots did not just prevent the Chargers down reaching the end zone, they also limited their overall output. L.A. finished with only 207 yards of offense and a mere 3.5 yards per play, all while going just 2-for-13 on combined third and fourth downs.

Unsurprisingly, Spillane was quite thrilled with the end result.

“I’m just so proud of this defense,” he said. “We’ve really come together. To hold an offense like that to three points in a playoff game is huge for us. It’s another boost of confidence for what we’ve already been doing all year.”

That year, thanks to Sunday’s win, is set to continue for at least another week. And the Patriots defense will continue trying to confuse opponents, or as Spillane put it:

“We’re just going to continue to build on what we already know works.”

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...5/defense-chargers-clueless-nfl-wild-card-win

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots open 53-man roster spot by waiving running back D’Ernest Johnson

The AFC East champions will turn the page to the divisional round with an opening on the 53-man roster.

The New England Patriots announced the waiving of running back D’Ernest Johnson on Monday, currently leaving the active depth chart in the hands of starter Rhamondre Stevenson and rookie TreVeyon Henderson.

Johnson, 29, had been promoted from the practice squad in December after serving as a three-time standard elevation. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound vested veteran’s stay in Foxborough got underway in October. He appeared in eight games, including Sunday night’s 16-3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild card. Along the way arrived 25 rushing yards and 128 kickoff return yards across 32 snaps on offense and 34 snaps on special teams.

Undrafted in 2018, Johnson stands 106 games into his NFL run, including playoffs. Setting out with the Alliance of American Football’s Orlando Apollos, the South Florida product joined the Cleveland Browns in 2019 and went on to be named FedEx Ground Player of the Week. Subsequent stints were made with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals.

In the regular season, Johnson’s career has stretched 228 carries for 1,014 yards, 53 catches for 467 yards, as well as three starts and three touchdowns. He is a candidate to be retained and elevated upon clearing waivers.

New England’s healthy backfield room also includes Elijah Mitchell on the practice squad. And on injured reserve, Terrell Jennings, who sustained a concussion last month, remains eligible to have his 21-day practice window open. But cornerback Alex Austin’s potential activation also looms after logging the past two weeks as a limited participant while working back from wrist surgery.

The AFC’s No. 2 seed also released offensive tackle Sebastian Gutierrez from the practice squad on Monday.

Gutierrez, 27, re-signed to the 16-man group last week. It marked his third tour with the Patriots. Entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of Minot State in 2022, the 6-foot-5, 308-pound tackle spent his rookie training camp with the Denver Broncos before briefly resided on the practice squad at Gillette Stadium. Subsequent stops were made with the Las Vegas Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts. Twice an elevation during his journey, he circled back in September.

The winner of Monday night’s Houston Texans-Pittsburgh Steelers matchup will visit head coach Mike Vrabel’s side next Sunday.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...man-roster-sebastian-gutierrez-practice-squad

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots playoff schedule: Pats to play Texans in NFL divisional round

The New England Patriots will officially host the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round at Gillette Stadium. Kickoff is set for Sunday, Jan. 18 at 3 p.m. ET.

Coming off a 16-3 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card Round, Drake Maye, who made his first career start last year against the Texans, and the Patriots offense will be challenged by another strong defense in round two. Houston finished the year 2nd in DVOA on defense while ranking No. 1 in yards and first downs allowed.

It was that defense — led by head coach DeMeco Ryans and defensive coordinator/play caller Matt Burke — that powered the five seeded Texans to a road Wild Card win by holding the Steelers to just six points and scoring a pair of touchdowns themselves.

Houston’s offense, meanwhile, ended the year 19th in offensive DVOA and 13th in points per game (23.8) behind former No. 2 overall pick C.J. Stroud under center and former Patriots’ positional coach Nick Caley coordinating the unit.

The game will be broadcasted on ESPN/ABC.

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The full schedule for NFL divisional weekend looks as follows:

Saturday, Jan. 17​

4:30 p.m. ET: 6 Buffalo Bills at 1 Denver Broncos

8 p.m. ET: 6 San Francisco 49ers at 1 Seattle Seahawks

Sunday, Jan. 18​

3 p.m. ET: 5 Houston Texans at 2 New England Patriots

6:30 p.m. ET: 5 Los Angeles Rams at 2 Chicago Bears

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...ots-to-play-texans-in-nfl-divisional-playoffs

 

[New England Patriots]

New England Patriots analysis: Submit your Pats questions for our mailbag

The New England Patriots are on to the divisional round after they secured their first playoff win since Super Bowl 53 on Sunday. Now, they’ll get ready to host the Houston Texans and a top ranked defense with a trip to the AFC Championship Game on the line.

So, submit any Patriots questions — or whatever else is on your mind — down in the comments below or on Twitter using #PostPulpit.

Stay tuned for Friday’s updated mailbag.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...is-submit-your-pats-questions-for-our-mailbag

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots sign four to practice squad heading into divisional round

The practice squad of the AFC’s No. 2 seed would be subject to renovations ahead of the divisional round against the Houston Texans.

The New England Patriots signed running back D’Ernest Johnson, wide receiver Trent Sherfield Sr., offensive tackle Lorenz Metz and cornerback Miles Battle to the 17-man group on Tuesday, the organization announced.

Johnson, 29, cleared waivers after being let go from the 53-man roster. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound back is now a candidate to serve as a standard elevation for the fourth time since heading to Foxborough in October. He has appeared eight games in all, including the wild card, while totaling 25 rushing yards and 128 kickoff return yards. Undrafted in 2018, Johnson stands 106 combined games into his NFL career. His run has brought 228 carries for 1,014 yards, 53 catches for 467 yards, as well as three starts and three touchdowns in the regular season, By way of the Alliance of American Football’s Orlando Apollos, the South Florida product made previous stops with the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals.

Sherfield, 29, joins the Patriots’ wideout room as a veteran of 124 games in the regular season. A 14-game starter, he has caught 89 passes for 1,034 yards and six touchdowns since going undrafted in 2018. Sherfield has accrued 2,684 snaps on offense and 1,804 snaps on special teams through stints with the Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos. The 6-foot-1, 206-pound Vanderbilt alum’s journey in the league also includes seven playoff contests.

Metz, 26, checks in with an exemption through the NFL’s International Player Pathway, making him the 17th man on the scout team. Born in Bavaria, Germany, the 6-foot-9, 330-pound offensive tackle played collegiately at Cincinnati and entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Following stints with the Chicago Bears and New York Giants, he went on to spend the 2024 and 2025 seasons on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad.

Battle, 25, had been released from New England’s practice squad entering the playoffs. The 6-foot-3, 197-pound cornerback now circles back a week later. He began the campaign on the practice squad before spending a month on the 53-man roster. His sophomore year has spanned five appearances and three tackles across 29 snaps on defense and 53 snaps on special teams. Originally signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2024, the former transfer from Ole Miss to Utah made his NFL debut in last January’s finale.

To make room on the practice squad, wide receiver Brandon Smith and defensive tackle Fabien Lovett were released in corresponding moves.

Smith, 27, joined the Patriots’ practice squad on Christmas Eve. The 6-foot-1, 218-pound wideout entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa in 2021. After parts of two years on the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad, he made multiple tours in the XFL with the DC Defenders. He then went from Arizona in 2023 to the New York Jets up into 2025, where he appeared in three games as a standard elevation.

Lovett, 25, headed to New England entering Labor Day weekend and re-signed with the practice squad in November. Originally entering the league as an undrafted free agent with Kansas City in 2024, the 6-foot-3, 316-pound defensive tackle out of Mississippi State and Florida State spent the entirety of his rookie year on the AFC West practice squad. He was retained on a futures contract following Super Bowl LIX.

Sunday’s kickoff at Gillette Stadium is set for 3 p.m. ET.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...le-trent-sherfield-lorenz-metz-practice-squad

 

[New England Patriots]

Simple Mike Vrabel question puts Patriots’ playoff opportunity into perspective

As Mike Vrabel stood in front of his team on Wednesday, he posed a simple question: Raise your hand if you were still playing football at this time last year.

In a full room, only defensive tackle Milton Williams raised his hand.

It was an eye-opening moment for quarterback Drake Maye.

“There’s 24 teams at home right now. There’s eight of us practicing and still working,” Maye relayed. “He mentioned it to us today before practice, ‘Take a look, raise your hand, who was still practicing at this time last year?’”

At this point last year, Maye — who just ended his rookie season with four wins — was already on his couch watching Williams record a two-sack performance in a Super Bowl victory with the Eagles.

Now, Maye is just two wins away from that same opportunity, beginning with a divisional-round matchup against the Houston Texans.

“There’s eight teams left and this is a chance, an opportunity that we have, to play a home football game, a home playoff game, at a time when it matters most,” Maye said. “Just reflect on that and realize the opportunity we have, and at the same time, how much work we’ve done to get here and enjoy it. He just reminded us to take advantage of it and know that we’ve got a chance.”

Throughout the season, Vrabel has made it a point to ensure his team is enjoying the ride. Despite the stakes growing higher and the games becoming more meaningful, that message has remained consistent.

“I just feel like you put a lot into it,” Vrabel said. “This isn’t the easiest profession in the world, and we only get one chance a week. And so, if we only try to focus on having fun during the game, it’s a small window of our week. And so, we want to bring good people in here that we enjoy being around, that are like-minded and want to try to exhibit the qualities of the identity that we wish to play with, enjoy it and obviously work, but then go out to the game and let them have fun and compete. We know that one play is not going to make the difference and that we have to keep going.”

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...e-vrabel-nfl-playoffs-opportunity-ddrake-maye

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots rookie focused on bounce-back with challenging test ahead

Patriots left tackle Will Campbell knows his playoff debut was not perfect.

He does not, however, pay attention to those who say so online.

“Honestly, I don’t give a [expletive] what anyone says,” Campbell said Wednesday. “It’s easy to type behind a Twitter account that is fake. I hold myself to the highest expectation of anybody. I want to be perfect.”

Against a talented Chargers defensive front, Campbell allowed five pressures and a sack. The third quarter sack resulted in a strip sack of Drake Maye with the Patriots in scoring range.

“The Chargers, obviously, I didn’t pitch a shutout,” Campbell said. “I had two or three plays that I wish I could have back. But that’s $300 million in defensive ends and I’ve got a ton of respect for those dudes. It’s going to be like that every week in the playoffs.

As the Patriots move on to the divisional round, they will welcome another talented group up front. A top ranked Texans defense is anchored by elite edge rushers Will Anderson, who set a career-high with 12 sacks this season, and Danielle Hunter which will mean New England will need a strong showing from the No. 4 overall pick in pass protection.

“They’re two of the best in the game at what they do. They play extremely hard — high motors,” Campbell said. “And that’s their entire defense. Their linebackers fly around, DBs fly around. This is a physical group. I think their coach kinda preaches the same thing Vrabes does. It shows on tape the way they play the game on offense and defense. We’ve got to have a good week in practice and be prepared because it’s going to be a challenge.”

Campbell has past experience matching up against Anderson, who primarily rushes over the left side, from their time at college, as the Alabama pass rusher was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in Campbell’s freshman year at LSU.

The Patriots left tackle knew back then a rematch would come down the line.

“My freshman year, I played some really good players. Played him, Jared Verse and Jalen Carter, all when I was 18 years old. It’s a great experience for a young player,” Campbell said. “I had a feeling one day I would get to see him again. He’s an extremely talented player. Plays the game really hard. Ton of respect for him and what he’s been able to do.”

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...will-campbell-bounce-back-texans-nfl-playoffs

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots vs. Texans Thursday injury report: Christian Gonzalez joins growing list of full participants

The New England Patriots continued work on the Houston Texans with perfect attendance.

Offensive tackles Morgan Moses and Thayer Munford Jr. returned for Thursday’s practice after knee ailments kept both sidelined to begin the week.

Elsewhere in Foxborough, running back Terrell Jennings and cornerback Christian Gonzalez shed red non-contact jerseys while phasing through the NFL’s concussion protocol. Both joined a growing list of full participants that also included defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga on the heels of missing three games due to a foot issue.

Here’s the second injury report ahead of Sunday’s 3 p.m. ET divisional round at Gillette Stadium.

DID NOT PARTICIPATE​

Patriots​

• No players listed

Texans​

• WR Nico Collins (concussion protocol)
• WR Justin Watson (concussion protocol)
• OT Trent Brown (ankle)
• DE Denico Autry (knee)

While head coach Mike Vrabel and the AFC East champions had a full house, the same four remained absent for the Texans. Count Collins among them. The perennial 1,000-yard receiver was carted to the locker room during Monday night’s wild card at Acrisure Stadium due to a concussion. With back-to-back missed practices logged since then, he is doubtful to be cleared in time for the No. 5 seed to visit the No. 2 seed.

LIMITED PARTICIPATION​

Patriots​

• OT Morgan Moses (knee)
• OT Thayer Munford Jr. (knee)
• LB Anfernee Jennings (knee)
• LB Harold Landry III (knee)

Texans​

• RB Jawhar Jordan (ankle)
• OT Tytus Howard (ankle)
• G Ed Ingram (shoulder)
• DT Sheldon Rankins (elbow)
• LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee)
• CB Kamari Lassiter (knee, ankle)

As offensive bookends returned from knee injuries, a total of four Patriots went in a limited capacity on Thursday. At right tackle, Moses started and stayed in for all 64 snaps last weekend. And as an extension of the line, Munford reported as an eligible tight end on four occasions after carrying a questionable game designation.

FULL PARTICIPATION​

Patriots​

• RB Terrell Jennings (concussion protocol — IR return)
• TE Hunter Henry (knee)
• DT Khyiris Tonga (foot)
• CB Christian Gonzalez (concussion protocol)
• CB Alex Austin (wrist — IR return)

Texans​

• OT Aireontae Ersery (thumb)
• S Jaylen Reed (forearm)
• LS Austin Brinkman (knee)

The Patriots opened a 21-day window to return from injured reserve as Texans prep began. And Gonzalez, who was ruled out in the closing minutes of the wild card, has also graduated to full participation. The Pro Bowl corner was among a handful in all to go without restrictions on Thursday. And so was Tonga. The all-purpose nose tackle has not played a down since Week 16 and hadn’t returned to practice until sights set on the divisional round.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...rell-jennings-khyiris-tonga-full-participants

 

[New England Patriots]

Josh McDaniels, Patriots confident in Drake Maye ahead of tough task

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has been quick to correct mistakes this season.

In his playoff debut, the mistakes included Maye losing a fumble — while putting another ball on the ground — despite a 16-3 win. As the attention has turned to correcting those for round two, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is confident that his quarterback will bounce back.

“There’s a lot we’ve talked about this all year, the balance of, we love that he ran for 66 yards and handled the ball in those situations and converted on third and short and all the rest of it. I’ve tried really hard not to talk out of both sides of my mouth, where I’m saying, ‘Hey, don’t do this, but do that.‘ Or clap when it goes good and be upset when it doesn’t,” McDaniels said.

“He knows the priority. He knows the importance of taking care of the football and ending every drive with some form of a kick would be ideal for us this week. He understands that. So I trust him implicitly to do the right thing for our football team. I know he’s prepared. I know he’s preparing his butt off right now, and he’ll be ready to go.”

Maye’s preparation is centered on a Texans defense that McDaniels called the best and fastest across all three levels that they’ve faced all season.

That unit is led by the “best duo” in the league along the edge in Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, who will look to get the ball out of Maye’s hand for the second straight week.

“They have length, they have speed, they have power. I think the thing nobody talks enough about is the effort they play with. That’s elite,” McDaniels said. “The effort that they play with is elite and we’re going to have to match the effort and play to the whistle on every play because they make a lot of plays because they play harder than you do. They play longer than you do. We’ve seen that. It’s clear to see — put on any Texan game.”

To walk out of Gillette Stadium Sunday with a win, McDaniels said the Patriots will need to play their best game of the season offensively. With Drake Maye under center, the offense is confident that will happen.

“With him at quarterback anything is possible,” Kayshon Boutte said.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...-mcdaniels-confidence-drake-maye-nfl-playoffs

 

[New England Patriots]

Texans’ top wide receiver ruled out for divisional round against Patriots

The Houston Texans will take on the New England Patriots on Sunday without star wide receiver Nico Collins.

After suffering a concussion in Houston’s wild card victory, Collins was officially ruled out Friday after missing the entire week of practice.

A Pro Bowler each of the last two seasons, Collins led Houston in 2025 with 71 receptions and 1,117 receiving yards — the third straight year he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark. Quarterback C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense will now be without their top pass catcher in the divisional-round matchup.

“What Nico has done – go back to his pre-draft visit, meeting with him and watching his growth as a pro, he’s a very good player,” Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said of Collins.

Without Collins last Monday night, veteran Christian Kirk paced Houston’s pass catchers with a season-high eight receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers.

“Well, they’re not afraid to go inside. They run a lot of inside breaking routes in play action. They all block. I think they have a great mixture,” Vrabel said of the Texans’ receiver group. “[Xavier] Hutchinson has got a combo platter. Kirk’s played at a high level for a lot of years, a lot of inside slot production and not just option routes, stuff down the field, the vertical stuff down the field.”

Houston also drafted a pair of rookies receivers — both from Iowa State — with two of their first three selections in this year’s draft, including using their first pick (No. 34 overall) on the 6-foot-4 Jayden Higgins.

“I liked [his draft evaluation] a lot,” Vrabel said Friday. “I’ve known [Iowa State head coach] Matt Campbell for a long time and some of the coaches at Iowa State. They spoke highly of both him and Jaylin Noel. Long, athletic, productive, really good catch radius, willing to block. Those are all the same things that you see from his tape now, and the more he plays, I think the better he’s gotten.”

As the Patriots will look to slow down Houston’s pass catchers, they will have cornerback Christian Gonzalez available. After suffering a head injury of his own last weekend, Gonzalez practiced in full on both Thursday and Friday before clearing the league’s concussion protocol.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...led-out-for-divisional-round-against-patriots

 

[New England Patriots]

5 questions and answers about Patriots vs. Texans NFL divisional game

The Houston Texans were the first team Drake Maye faced as an NFL starting quarterback, but a lot has changed since Week 6 of the 2024 season. Maye is a legitimate MVP candidate now, who has helped the New England Patriots recapture the AFC East and return to the postseason. The Texans, meanwhile, have taken another step forward on defense and are now arguably the best in the league at throwing a wrench in other teams’ offensive aspirations.

With that said, let’s find out more about the Patriots’ divisional round opponent. To do so, we spoke with Scott Barzilla of Pats Pulpit’s sister site Battle Red Blog, the SB Nation community for all things Texans.

Here is what he told us about the upcoming game and opponent.

1. What are the keys to moving the ball against this Texans defense?

Obviously, no defense is perfect and the Texans defense isn’t perfect either. The Pats will be tempted to keep their tight ends in to block, but that would play into the Texans hands. Defensively, they have shut down wide receivers most of the season, but they usually have more issues with tight ends. Their corners are the best in the NFL, but after Jalen Pitre and Calen Bullock they are pretty thin at safety.

Additionally, the Texans can get caught overpursuing the quarterback and they are usually good to allow one 20+ yard scramble per game. Those have come at terrible times this year. Drake Maye is certainly more than capable of doing that, so those two elements concern me.

2. There are plenty of studs on the Texans’ defense, but which players may be flying under the radar?

Pitre got absolutely robbed of a Pro Bowl berth. He was the highest rated safety in the NFL for several weeks according to Pro Football Focus. He and Bullock are solid safeties in the run and pass game. Derek Stingley Jr. was a first-team All-Pro at corner, but Kamari Lassiter actually had a better season.

I think the most impressive thing about this defense is the sheer depth they have on the defensive line. Everyone focuses on Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson, but they can rotate four or five solid edge rushers throughout the game and all of them (including Derek Barnett and Denico Autry) can get to the quarterback. Sheldon Rankins and Tommy Togai have been solid on the inside. There isn’t quite as much interior DL depth, but overall all of the guys they do have are proficient at getting to the quarterback.

3. How has the Texans offense grown and overcome injures this season? What’s the strength of this unit?

The biggest injury has been Joe Mixon. We still aren’t quite sure what happened to Mixon, but he was missed particularly early in the season. The Texans relied more heavily on Woody Marks in the second half and that has made a huge difference. None of the Texans backs will blow you away with their numbers, but they have been effective during the 10-game winning streak.

No one is going to confuse the Texans with the “Greatest Show on Turf” Rams teams or the 49ers of the 1980s, but they have been effective simply by not making mistakes. They had the fewest turnovers in the NFL in the regular season. Obviously, C.J. Stroud had a rough day on Monday night, but normally they do a very good job of taking care of the football.

4. How did the Texans get their ground game going against the Steelers? Do you think they can replicate that success against a healthy Patriots defense?

I think in general, the Texans offensive line has been getting stronger as the season has gone on. A large part of that is shuffling some key guys in the lineup and replacing guys that were less effective. The combination of Marks and Nick Chubb was strong on Monday night. Overall, the running game has been inconsistent from week to week, so I’m not sure what we will see on Sunday. I’m certainly hopeful that we will see more of the same, but I can’t necessarily bank on that.

During the regular season, the line was ranked 30th in the NFL in pass block win rate and 32nd (we call that dead ass last in these parts) in run block win rate. Obviously, Monday night was better than that and if they are better than that again they will have a good chance.

5. Who do you see coming out on top and why?

I am picking the Patriots 17-14. Houston NFL teams are 0-12 in divisional round playoff games in my football viewing lifetime (since 1980). I cannot pick them to win a divisional round game until I see them do it. I feel like they have a better chance this season than in years past.

The Texans have been huge underdogs in seemingly every other instance playing in this round. I certainly think they could win this game and I could even elevate that to should, but I cannot predict it until I see it happen. The over/under is at 41.5, so I would pound the under and never look back. These were the two best defenses in the gcard round. I see at least one of these teams if not both struggling to score.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...ional-round-expert-questions-answers-chargers

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots rooting guide for NFL divisional round

Only eight teams remain standing in the 2025 NFL season, and the New England Patriots are among them. The AFC East champions will play hosts to the Houston Texans on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, trying to advance past the divisional round for the first time since 2018.

Our full focus this week is on that particular game, but the other three are also worth paying close attention to. With that said, welcome to the latest edition of our Patriots rooting guide.

Saturday​

4:30 p.m. ET​

Buffalo Bills (6) at Denver Broncos (1): Go… Bills? Rooting for a divisional rival who handed the Patriots their most recent loss seems counterintuitive, but the pick also answers the question: would you rather play a hypothetical AFC Championship Game at home or in Denver. For Patriots fans, the answer is clear: 74% would prefer the Bills to visit Foxborough than the Patriots to visit the Broncos. Of course, there are arguments in the other direction as well, e.g. rather going against the team with the worse quarterback over one who has shown that he can play winning football in high-stakes situations on a consistent basis. | CBS, Paramount+

8 p.m. ET​

San Francisco 49ers (6) at Seattle Seahawks (1): Go Seahawks! The Patriots own the 49ers’ sixth-round draft pick from the Keion White trade, and an early playoff exit would help with the position and value of that particular selection. | FOX, FOX One, FOX Deportes

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Sunday​

6:30 p.m. ET​

Los Angeles Rams (5) at Chicago Bears (2): Go Rams! The same thing we talked about on Saturday with the 49ers and Keion White. The Patriots are the owners of the Bears’ third-round pick in the 2026 draft following a subsequent trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. The earlier Chicago leaves the tournament, the better for New England’s draft portfolio. | NBC, Peacock, Telemundo, Universo

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This article also serves as an open thread for this weekend’s games. Please head down to the comment section to discuss and share your thoughts on the games as they unfold.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-opinion/119465/rooting-guide-nfl-divisional-round

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots playoff schedule: Pats the last AFC East team standing

The first of two AFC divisional playoff games is in the books, and it saw the top-seeded Denver Broncos fend off the visiting Buffalo Bills in overtime with a final score of 33-30.

This means that the division champion New England Patriots are the last AFC East team left standing in the postseason.

It also means that the team of head coach Mike Vrabel would have to go on the road next week should they beat the Houston Texans and advance to the AFC Championship Game. The Patriots will host the Texans at Gillette Stadium in the divisional round on Sunday.

Denver got off to a slow start, but three fumbles by the Bills — one by running back James Cook and two by quarterback Josh Allen — contributed to them going up 23-10 by the early third quarter. However, the visitors eventually rebounded to score back-to-back touchdowns and regain the lead in the fourth quarter. Even though Denver moved up 30-27 with 55 seconds left, Buffalo scored a late field goal to send the contest to overtime.

There, the two teams exchanged possessions before Denver marched down the field to win on a 23-yard Wil Lutz field goal.

As a result, the Broncos are now waiting to find out who will visit them at Mile High with a Super Bowl berth on the line. Should the Patriots beat the Texans on Sunday, they would travel to Denver with a perfect 8-0 road record in hand.

The two teams have not squared off against each other since the 2023 season, when the Patriots celebrated a 26-23 win in Denver. Since then, however, both franchises have dramatically changed from the head coach and quarterback spots down.

Before that game can happen, however, the Patriots will need to take care of business against the Texans. Kickoff between the second and fifth seeds in the AFC is set for 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...19488/playoff-schedule-afc-east-bills-broncos

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots X-factors against the Texans in NFL divisional playoffs

The New England Patriots may have a successful postseason history against the Houston Texans, but it will not matter come Sunday. These are not your dad’s (or your younger self’s) Patriots, and these are certainly not the same Texans that were blown out in each of their previous playoff trips to Gillette Stadium.

With what is arguably the best defense in football leading the way, Houston is a legitimate contender in the AFC and capable of giving Mike Vrabel’s team all it can handle. The Patriots, on the other hand, have shown their ability to play successful and complementary football all year, albeit mostly against competition not on the Texans’ level.

And yet, there is reason for optimism heading into Sunday — that is, if the Patriots can play a cleaner game than they did at times last week. With that said, here are our X-factors for the divisional playoffs, using numbers from NFL Next Gen Stats.

Offensive X-factors​

Let Drake Maye cook: The Texans defense is as good a unit as any in the NFL, but that does not mean it is without weakness. In fact, some of those correlate precisely with what Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is doing well: stressing defenses deep and making plays with his legs.

Houston enters Sunday ranked 18th in the NFL in expected points added on throws of at least 20 air yards, compared to a first-place ranking on shorter passes than that. The team also ranks 14th in explosive pass play rate, which is still above average but not as high a ranking as others. Maye, on the other hand, has been the best deep-ball thrower in football this year and will get his chances to stress the unit especially when it goes to the single-high man looks it likes to incorporate on late downs.

Both Kayshon Boutte and Kyle Williams could be actively involved on Sunday. Yes, cornerbacks Derek Stingley and Kamari Lassiter are a potent duo on the outside, but that should not prevent the Patriots from testing them or the soft spots in the Texans’ coverage.

As far as scrambling is concerned, Houston is ranked second-to-last in the league in both EPA (+1.02) and yards per carry (9.6) in such situations. Maye, meanwhile, has been willing and able to make plays with his feet. Just last week against a solid Chargers defense, he scrambled five times for 60 yards and 0.7 expected points added per such play.

Turn the Texans’ aggressiveness against them: The Texans’ vulnerability against quarterback scrambles is a byproduct of their defensive play style. They are aggressive at everything they do, which can lead to some uneven gap integrity and openings to exploit. And while they have at times countered by employing spies against mobile QBs like Drake Maye, Houston treating the game as a true 11-on-11 matchup takes an extra defender away form patrolling underneath.

The aggressiveness does not only show up in the scramble numbers, but on select play designs as well. One of those that will likely be utilized by offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is screen passes. Houston has struggled defending screens, ranking as the third-worst defense in the league in EPA per play. It makes sense: they try to dictate how a down goes, but screen passes quickly force them into reactiveness.

Another area where this shows up is missed tackles. On the year, Houston has whiffed on 13.5% of its tackle attempts for an average of almost 8 missed tackles per game.

Win on first down: The Texans’ defensive strategy starts with their ability to dictate a series from the first snap on. That is only natural given that every subsequent call is influenced by the one that preceded it. In the end, Houston wants to find itself in favorable distances on third down, so that it can allow not just its pass rushers to pin their ears back and disrupt the opponent but also to become more aggressive with blitz and coverage calls.

The Patriots, naturally, want to avoid finding themselves in such a position as much as possible. They are not bad on third down by any means, ranking sixth in the NFL in the regular season with a 42.9% conversion rate. However, living in third down and especially third-and-long is not a sustainable way to play football versus this Texans defense: it allows the group to play to its strengths and aggressive tendencies, and by extension increases the pressure on New England and the likelihood of the team shooting itself in the foot one way or another.

Defensive X-factors​

Do not ‘switch the macaroni’: Earlier this week, acting Patriots defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr spoke about finding the right balance in regards to his unit’s aggressiveness. One of the factors impacting said balance is the opponent; not every offense is as susceptible to blitzes and heavy pressure as the Chargers’ was last week.

The Texans, however, might just be. While superior up front relative to the banged up unit L.A. had to rely on for much of the season, including the wild card round, neither they nor quarterback C.J. Stroud have lit the world on fire versus the blitz. In total, Stroud has gone 109-for-161 (67.7%) for 1,257 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions when facing extra rushers; he also has taken 13 sacks on the year.

With top wideout Nico Collins out and right tackle Trent Brown nursing an ankle injury, Kuhr might try to challenge Stroud and his supporting cast early to get a feel for what to expect. And given that his unit is clearly comfortable being used in such a fashion, it would not be a surprise if he kept the foot on the gas.

Be opportunistic: Houston has done a very good job in the turnover department this season. Besides the defense ranking third with 29 takeaways, the offense only gave the ball away on 12 occasions during the regular season. The resulting +17 turnover margin — second best in football — took a slight hit last week versus the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, with Houston turning the ball over three times versus two takeaways.

Those takeaways all came courtesy of the team’s QB: C.J. Stroud lost two fumbles and threw an interception. In total, he was credited with five fumbles on the day, with three of those the result of an insufficient exchange with center (and ex-Patriot) Jake Andrews.

The Patriots cannot directly force the issue on Sunday, but muddying the waters up front might help put some additional pressure on Andrews and Stroud before and during the snap; the more they will have to process, the easier their technique might break down. Defenders, meanwhile, need to be aware of the potential vulnerability and able to jump on the ball quickly if it does come out.

For a Texans team whose 10-game win streak is in large part powered by limiting mistakes and winning the field position battle, any such miscues could prove costly.

Adjust to the conditions: With snow in the forecast, defenses in particular will be impacted. Pass rushers won’t be able to get off as quickly, pursuit angles become even more important, and strong footwork will be rewarded. The team to adjust best will be the team to win, and for the Patriots the alternative could be damaging particularly in the tackling department.

The Texans, after all, are a dangerous team when allowed extra opportunities. Just last week, led by wide receiver Christian Kirk, the team’s skill players averaged 4.2 yards after the catch as well as 2.5 yards after contact. After a rough start this year, New England has been generally solid completing tackles, but that ability will be put to the test not just by the opponent but also by the conditions on Sunday.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...9385/x-factors-texans-nfl-divisional-playoffs