Patriots’ Win, Stroud Struggles
New England beat Houston 28‑16 in a game that had C.J. Stroud notably off‑form, fueling chatter about Houston’s inconsistencies and New England’s defensive adjustments. Fans on X highlighted Stroud’s turnovers and the Patriots’ ability to control field position. (x.com)
C.J. Stroud threw four interceptions — all in the first half — and finished 20-of-47 for 212 yards, one touchdown and a career-low 28.0 passer rating. (espn.com: ) Marcus Jones returned one of those interceptions 26 yards for a pick‑six, Carlton Davis III recorded two interceptions, and Craig Woodson added the other interception and a fumble recovery. (patriots.com: espn.com: ) New England’s defense forced five takeaways (four INTs plus a Houston fumble) while the teams combined for eight turnovers — the most in a playoff game since 2015. (espn.com: ) Those four picks, combined with Stroud’s five fumbles in the Jan. 12 wild‑card win over Pittsburgh, made him the first player ever to total at least five interceptions and five fumbles in a single postseason, per NFL researchers. (si.com: ) Texans coach DeMeco Ryans publicly backed Stroud after the loss, saying the team would regroup, while national analysts flagged decision‑making errors on the Marcus Jones pick‑six. (nfl.com: on3.com: ) New England moves on to the AFC Championship at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, and Denver will start Jarrett Stidham after Bo Nix suffered a season‑ending ankle injury. (espn.com: denverbroncos.com: )
