The Houston Texans are heading into Foxboro this weekend for a heavyweight divisional-round clash with the New England Patriots, and they’ll likely be doing it without one of their biggest offensive weapons. Nico Collins, the Texans’ leading receiver and a Pro Bowler this season, is expected to miss Sunday’s game after suffering his second concussion of the year during Houston’s wild-card win over Pittsburgh. He didn’t practice on Thursday, and all signs point to him being sidelined.
That’s a tough blow for a Texans offense that’s been inconsistent this season. While their defense has been lights out - arguably the best in the league - the offense has had its share of ups and downs.
Collins has been the go-to guy in the passing game for the third straight year, but unlike last season, when Stefon Diggs was still in Houston, rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud doesn’t have a deep stable of proven targets to lean on.
Now, Diggs is lining up on the other side for New England, and the Texans are turning to a mix of youth and experience to fill the void. Christian Kirk, the eight-year vet, stepped up in a big way against the Steelers, hauling in a franchise playoff-record 144 receiving yards - a breakout performance considering he had just 239 yards during the entire regular season. Houston will be hoping for more of that from Kirk on Sunday.
Rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are also expected to play bigger roles. The former Iowa State teammates put together a strong debut season, combining for 817 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. They’ve shown flashes, and now the Texans need them to deliver under the bright lights of playoff football.
Tight end Dalton Schultz is another piece Houston would like to get more involved. He was quiet in the wild-card round, finishing with just 12 receiving yards. But he’s a reliable target, especially in the red zone, and could be a key safety valve for Stroud in a hostile environment.
Speaking of Stroud, the rookie quarterback has already made some history, becoming just the fourth QB in NFL history to start and win a playoff game in each of his first three seasons. But his performance against Pittsburgh was a mixed bag.
Stroud fumbled five times - after just two fumbles in 14 regular-season games - and two of those led to turnovers. He also threw a pick.
Still, Stroud isn’t rattled. He’s keeping perspective, pointing out that mistakes are part of the playoff grind.
“Everybody made mistakes,” he said after watching the rest of the wild-card action. “The teams who find a way to fight through that and keep going were the teams that came out on top.”
He’s focused on bouncing back and not letting one bad play snowball into another.
On the other side of the field, Patriots rookie left tackle Will Campbell is gearing up for a tough assignment. He took heat on social media after allowing six pressures and two sacks - including a strip-sack - in New England’s wild-card win over the Chargers.
But Campbell isn’t fazed by the criticism. “I don’t give a s*** what anyone says,” he said bluntly.
“These are the best teams with the best defenses... They’re in the playoffs for a reason.”
He’s not wrong - and Houston’s defensive front is no joke. All-Pro Will Anderson Jr. and veteran Danielle Hunter have been a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks all season. Campbell’s ability to hold up in pass protection could be a swing factor in this game.
This matchup is loaded with storylines. The Patriots are aiming for their first AFC title game appearance since the 2018 season - the year they won their sixth Super Bowl.
Meanwhile, the Texans are still chasing their first trip to the conference championship. They’ve been knocked out in the divisional round the past two years under head coach DeMeco Ryans, but this year feels different.
After starting 0-3, Houston has ripped off 10 straight wins and is playing with serious confidence.
Stroud believes the team has learned from past postseason heartbreak. “We’ve been in this position before,” he said. “Now it’s time to go put it on tape.”
The Patriots, for their part, have been one of the league’s biggest surprises. They went from worst to first in the AFC East and come into Sunday’s game averaging an AFC-best 28.8 points per game. That offense, led by rookie quarterback Drake Maye, will face its toughest test yet against Houston’s No. 1-ranked defense.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has a deep appreciation for what the Texans bring to the table. “They’re not only talented,” he said, “but they have a play demeanor that I can appreciate.”
Ryans returned the respect, pointing to Maye’s development under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as a key reason for New England’s offensive success. Maye, the league’s most accurate passer this season, has grown into a quarterback who can both make smart decisions and extend plays with his legs - something Ryans believes doesn’t get talked about enough. “His ability to escape the pocket has been really clutch for them,” Ryans said.
Then there’s Stefon Diggs, who now finds himself in a familiar spot - preparing to face his former team. After being traded from Buffalo to Houston following the 2023 season, Diggs played just eight games for the Texans in 2024 before a knee injury cut his season short.
He signed with New England in the offseason and led the team in both receptions (85) and receiving yards (1,013). Now, he’s got a chance to make a statement against the team that once counted on him.
“He’s very explosive after he catches the football,” Ryans said. “Another guy we’ve got to make sure we have eyes on.”
Sunday’s game has all the makings of a classic: a battle-tested Patriots squad with a red-hot offense against a Texans team riding a wave of momentum and led by a defense that’s been suffocating opponents. Both teams have something to prove, and only one will take the next step toward the AFC title game. Buckle up.