Texans’ Defense Faces Defining Test vs. Patriots in Bid for First-Ever AFC Title Game Berth
The Houston Texans are knocking on history’s door - again. And this time, they might just have the firepower to break through it.
When Houston takes the field tomorrow afternoon against the New England Patriots, they’ll be playing for a chance to reach the AFC Championship Game for the first time in franchise history. That’s not just a milestone - it’s a mountain they’ve been trying to climb for over a decade.
And if they pull it off, they’ll become the first team in NFL history to start 0-3 and still make it this far. Not bad for a team that looked dead in the water just a few months ago.
To put it in perspective, the last Houston-based football team to reach this stage was the Oilers back in 1979. That’s 47 years of waiting - and counting.
A Familiar Roadblock: The Patriots
This isn’t Houston’s first rodeo in the Divisional Round. Since their playoff debut in 2011, the Texans have reached this stage six times.
The result? Six losses.
The combined score in those games: 203-112. That’s a -91 point differential.
And in every one of those matchups, Houston was the underdog - facing the AFC’s No. 1 seed on the road.
This weekend marks the third time the Texans and Patriots will meet in the Divisional Round. New England holds a 2-0 edge in the series, thanks to wins in 2012 and 2016.
Back then, it was the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick machine humming at full speed. The Patriots dropped 41 points on Houston in 2012 and 34 more in 2016, outscoring the Texans by a combined 75-44 in those two games.
In both matchups, Houston entered with a highly ranked defense - and in both matchups, that defense got overwhelmed.
Defense Wasn’t Enough - Until Now?
Let’s rewind for a second.
In 2012, the Texans had a top-10 defense - seventh in yards allowed, 10th in points. But they ran into the league’s top-ranked offense.
New England was putting up 427.9 yards and 34.8 points per game that year. Something had to give, and it was Houston’s defense.
Fast forward to 2016. The Texans had the No. 1 defense in yards allowed (301.3 per game).
But again, they were facing a Patriots offense that ranked top-four in both yards and points. Once more, Houston’s defense couldn’t keep up.
Now, in 2026, the Texans are back - and this might be their best shot yet.
Houston enters this game with the NFL’s top-ranked defense in total yards allowed (277.2 per game) and second in scoring defense (17.4 points per game). Until Week 18 - when they rested several starters in a win over the Colts - they were the league’s stingiest scoring unit.
On the other side, New England’s offense, led by rookie quarterback Drake Maye, is no slouch. The Patriots rank third in yards per game (379.4) and second in scoring (28.8). But compared to the Brady-led juggernauts of the past, this version is a step behind.
That’s what makes this matchup so compelling - and so different.
Houston’s Best Shot
This isn’t just the best defense the Texans have ever brought into a playoff game - it’s arguably one of the best defensive units the NFL has seen in recent years. And it’s loaded with talent.
Up front, Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter have been game-wreckers all season, both earning All-Pro nods. On the back end, Derek Stingley Jr. has emerged as one of the league’s premier shutdown corners.
And he’s not alone. The secondary features a trio of versatile, playmaking defensive backs in Jalen Pitre, Calen Bullock, and Kamari Lassiter - all of whom have played at a Pro Bowl level.
That depth and balance on defense give Houston the kind of flexibility they’ve never had in previous playoff runs. They can rush the passer, stop the run, and cover in space - all while disguising looks and creating confusion for opposing quarterbacks.
And that’s exactly what they’ll need against Maye, who’s shown poise and explosiveness as a rookie but hasn’t faced a defense quite like this one.
Offense Just Needs to Do Enough
Let’s be clear: Houston’s offense doesn’t need to light up the scoreboard. It just needs to complement the defense.
The Texans finished the regular season ranked 13th in scoring (23.8 points per game). That’s not elite, but it’s enough - especially if the defense can do its job. The formula here is simple: keep Maye and the Patriots under wraps, take advantage of short fields, and avoid mistakes.
If Houston can do that, they’ll be playing for a conference title next weekend - something that’s never happened in franchise history.
Final Word
The ghosts of playoff past are real for the Texans. They’ve been here before, and it hasn’t gone well.
But this time feels different. This time, they’re not just hoping to hang with the Patriots - they have the tools to beat them.
A dominant defense, a rising offense, and a shot at rewriting the narrative.
History’s on the line in Foxborough. Let’s see if Houston’s ready to make it.