Potential 2025 NFL MVP quarterback Drake Maye was able to get his playoff debut out of the way last week and struggled a bit. However, the team did enough to win and advance to the AFC Divisional Round against the Houston Texans and their vaunted defense.

FOXBOROUGH - Drake Maye offered a compelling reason to be smart about when to take off and run with the football in Sunday’s AFC Divisional Round game against the Houston Texans. Their linebackers show no mercy. Maye said they fly around and make sure to punish any and all ball carriers, including the quarterback.

Drake Maye's New England Patriots will lock horns with the Houston Texans in the divisional round of the playoffs on Sunday.

Houston and New England set off the early afternoon portion of the two divisional Sunday matchups. The Texans are playing on a short week, having eliminated the Steelers on Monday night, 30-7. New England is coming off a dominant 16-3 victory over the Chargers last week and the first playoff win of the Mike Vrabel Patriots era.

The Patriots have had a huge breakout season, including their first playoff win since Tom Brady led a Super Bowl win over the Los Angeles Rams. They went 14-3 after winning just four games each of the past two seasons. For those who were reveling over the Patriots’ decline after a long dynasty, their dip didn’t last long.

The New England Patriots and Drake Maye are going to be shown on ESPN on Sunday, January 18, 2026 where they will take on the Houston Texans. Prop bets start at 22 pass completions, 32 pass attempts, and 255 passing yards for Maye.