The New England Patriots moved a step closer to the Super Bowl as they saw off the Houston Texans 28-16 in Foxborough to set up an AFC Championship contest against the Denver Broncos.
Drake Maye threw for 179 yards and three touchdowns and Kayshon Boutte made an outstanding touchdown catch, but it was the defense that dominated in snowy conditions, with Houston quarterback CJ Stroud throwing three interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown by Marcus Jones.
It means the Patriots are into their 16th AFC Championship game, and their first since 2018 when Bill Belichick and Tom Brady were still running the show in New england.
New England struck first when Maye hit DeMario Douglas with a short pass and he turned to run into the end zone from 28 yards out, but even though Stroud was picked off by CJ Stroud late in the first quarter, the Texans lead 10-7 after the quarterback found Christian Kirk from 10 yards early in the second.
But when Stroud was intercepted again a couple of minutes later,Jones ran it in to put New England 14-10 up,and they never trailed again,extending the lead with another touchdown before half-time when Stefon Diggs reeled in a seven-yard throw from Maye.
Houston edged their way back with a couple of field goals in the third quarter, but Patriots regained the initiative in outstanding fashion at the start of the fourth.
As a 32-yard pass from Maye dropped over his shoulder in the end zone, Boutte stretched out his right arm to grab the ball and held on as he slid to the ground.
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