The New England Patriots are heading back to the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 2018, and let’s just say the celebration isn’t limited to the locker room. Stefon Diggs played a key role in Sunday’s divisional round win over the Houston Texans, and while his stat line-40 yards and a touchdown-might not jump off the page, his impact went far beyond the box score. And if you needed any more energy around this Patriots team, Cardi B brought it in full force.
The rapper, who shares a child with Diggs, was fired up after New England pulled off the upset. She took to social media with the kind of postgame passion usually reserved for locker room speeches.
In one video, Cardi called out ESPN analysts who had unanimously picked the Texans to win. Her message?
Loud, proud, and unmistakably Boston: “THEY DIDN’T BELIEVE IN US !!! I LIKE US!!!!!
WE ALL WE GOT!!!!! WE ALL WE NEED !!!!”
she posted, tagging it with #PatsNation.
She didn’t stop there. In another clip, Cardi name-checked Mina Kimes, Ryan Clark, Hannah Storm, Dan Orlovsky, and Marcus Spears-essentially the entire ESPN panel that had written off the Patriots.
“What are y’all talking about? Nothing!”
she shouted, doubling down on her support for a team that’s suddenly looking like a legitimate contender.
And look, it’s not just noise. This Patriots team has found something.
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye continues to impress, and Diggs has quickly become his go-to weapon in big moments. Diggs’ touchdown against Houston wasn’t just another six points-it was a tone-setter, the kind of play that shifts momentum and signals to the rest of the league: New England is back.
Now, the Patriots turn their focus to the Denver Broncos, who, despite being the top seed, are dealing with a brutal twist of fate. Starting quarterback Bo Nix is out with a fractured ankle, and Denver will have to lean on a backup to try to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl. That’s a massive blow for a team that had been rolling all season and earned home-field advantage for a reason.
But injuries change everything in January. The Patriots, who opened as 4.5-point favorites, are now in a position they haven’t been in for a while-favored, dangerous, and playing with house money. The defense is humming, Maye is growing up fast under center, and Diggs is doing what he does best: showing up when it matters most.
There’s still a game to be played, of course. But if you're in Foxborough, or anywhere within earshot of a Cardi B video, you know this much-the Patriots believe. And right now, that belief is contagious.