Takeaways From the Patriots 27-6 Win Over Houston

In other words, business as usual in Bill Belichick’s world, where the Patriots are on to Tennessee, and that sound you heard this morning was a huge yawn coming from the meeting rooms and living rooms of New England. With the win, and the losses by the Bengals and Broncos, the Patriots are back in the top seed spot in the AFC, a critical development for them not just because they are virtually unbeatable in the playoffs in Foxborough, but because they will need the first-round bye to allow their ever-lengthening injury list to heal.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the key players and stats from this game so we can figure out why things happened the way they did.

That pass on the second drive set the Patriots up at the Houston 7.

The cushion was comfortable thanks to the New England defense, which harassed Hoyer relentlessly as the Patriots snapped a brief two-game skid.

After the Patriots produced just a 49-yard Stephen Gostkowski field goal in the third quarter, New England stretched their lead to three touchdowns early in the fourth following yet another sack of Hoyer. “He really toughed it out so I’m proud of him”. Linebacker Jamie Collins also had a solid game, making five tackles and utilizing his speed well whenever he dropped into pass coverage. But with back in his own version of beast mode, Brady found him for a 45-yard tone-setter on their first series and the touchdown pass that mattered most, the one in the final seconds of the first half that gave New England a 17-6 lead in what would be a and a hard exclamation point on an overwhelmingly hopeful Sunday.

The New England Patriots (11-2) defeated the (6-7) Houston Texans 27-6 on Sunday night in Houston.

Gronk caught four balls for 87 yards and had a touchdown grab in the contest.

Gronkowski’s return may get most of the headlines following the win, but the biggest factor in New England’s victory was the play of the defense.

So in Sunday Night Football, the Patriots were able to dominate, topping the Houston Texans 27-6, in the prime time slot. Both tight end Scott Chandler and wide receiver Danny Amendola are questionable with minor injuries, leaving the Patriots with very few truly healthy options on the offensive side of the ball. “It’s always good to make a play, score a touchdown, but the icing on the cake is the win”. Houston starter Brian Hoyer completed 11-of-22 passes for 155 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions for a 73.1 rating.

“That was a great play”.

Texans defensive end J.J.

For the third game in a row, the Patriots committed a major blunder on special teams when Martin muffed a punt in the third quarter.

J.J. Watt managed to play despite the broken hand he suffered in practice this week.

Winning against the Patriots won’t be easy even with all their injuries.

The injury brought an abrupt end to a stellar rookie campaign in which Rawls had 830 yards and four touchdowns filling in for injured starter Marshawn Lynch, who is recovering for surgery for a sports hernia. Sheard finished with five tackles along with two sacks and three quarterback hits and really stepped up in a big way.

Those two teams meet next Sunday in Indianapolis.