Sunday’s divisional-round showdown between the New England Patriots and the Houston Texans isn’t just about two teams chasing a spot in the AFC Championship-it’s also a family affair. On one sideline, you’ve got Josh McDaniels, New England’s offensive coordinator and a seasoned play-caller with playoff pedigree. On the other, his younger brother Ben McDaniels, who’s been instrumental in shaping Houston’s aerial attack as their passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach.
And if you think the sibling rivalry is staying off the field, think again.
According to Patriots quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant, quarterback Drake Maye has been stirring the pot a bit in the meeting rooms this week, playfully needling his OC about the upcoming McDaniels Bowl.
“There’s some friendly banter going on between Drake and Josh and the McDaniels war,” Grant said. “But we try to make it about us and what we’re going to do.”
That kind of locker room energy might seem lighthearted, but it speaks volumes about the dynamic between Maye and his offensive coordinator. Since the fall, Josh McDaniels has played a critical role in shaping Maye into one of the league’s breakout stars. The second-year quarterback has gone from promising rookie to legitimate MVP candidate under McDaniels’ guidance, and the chemistry between the two has been a key driver in New England’s offensive resurgence.
In last week’s 16-3 wild-card win over the Chargers, Maye didn’t light up the stat sheet, but he delivered when it mattered. He finished 17-of-29 for 268 yards, throwing one touchdown in the fourth quarter and one interception.
It wasn’t a perfect outing, but it was a poised performance in his first career playoff start. Now, he’ll need to take it up a notch.
The Texans defense isn’t just opportunistic-it’s aggressive and dangerous. Just ask the Steelers.
Houston’s defense put an exclamation point on their 30-6 wild-card rout of Pittsburgh by scoring two defensive touchdowns in the fourth quarter. That’s not just closing out a game-that’s slamming the door shut and locking it twice.
Maye knows he’ll need to be sharp, decisive, and efficient if he wants to crack that unit.
“He’s trying to get Josh riled up,” Grant said with a smile. “Josh is a very competitive person himself, so I think Drake tries to nudge him a little bit, which is fun for the room.”
It’s a fascinating wrinkle in an already compelling playoff matchup. On one hand, you have a rising star quarterback and his veteran OC trying to out-scheme a defense partially orchestrated by the OC’s own brother. On the other, you have a Texans team that’s peaking at the right time, with a defense that’s been making game-changing plays when it matters most.
Josh McDaniels, for his part, kept things level when asked about facing off against Ben. No trash talk, no bulletin-board material-just a healthy respect for the competitiveness that’s long defined their relationship.
“We’re looking forward to the opportunity,” Josh said. “He’s trying to beat us like we’re trying to beat him. We compete in almost anything we do, honestly, which is kind of fun, and this will be no different.”
The stakes are high, the film rooms are buzzing, and the McDaniels brothers are set to square off in one of the most intriguing chess matches of the postseason. For Drake Maye and the Patriots, it’s about staying focused and building on their momentum.
For the Texans, it’s about keeping that defensive fire lit. And for the rest of us?
It’s a front-row seat to a playoff battle with a family twist.