FOXBORO -- Here are some quick-hit thoughts from the Patriots' 34-16 victory over the Texans in the AFC Divisional Round . . .
-- In his first-ever postseason performance, Dion Lewis did something no one has ever done in the Super Bowl era: He caught a touchdown pass (with the help of of a James Develin block on the outside), returned a kick for a touchdown (98 yards, with blocks from Develin, Geneo Grissom and Matthew Slater), and ran for a score (a short run in the fourth quarter that put the Patriots ahead, 31-16). He's the first player since the Super Bowl was instituted to have a receiving touchdown, a rushing touchdown and a kick-return touchdown in a playoff game.
PATRIOTS 34, TEXANS 16
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- Lewis harps on fumbles after otherwise historic night: 'My worst game ever'
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- Wilfork: I think I've played my last NFL game
- Bennett on injury scare: 'I watch a lot of House, but I'm not a doctor'
- Dan Koppen: Every time Patriots get questioned, they step up
- Ray Lewis and Earl Thomas take Twitter jabs at Tom Brady
-- It wasn't all good for Lewis: He fumbled a kick return that led to a Texans touchdown in the second quarter and coughed up a hand-off in the fourth. But all in all, not a bad playoff debut for the shifty back. He's the fifth Patriots player to score three times in a playoff game. His buddy LeGarrette Blount holds the franchise record with four scores against the Colts in the AFC title game two seasons ago.
-- Julian Edelman continued his strong end-of-the-season surge with an impressive performance. He caught 8 passes for 137 yards on 13 targets to put him in a tie for seventh place on the all-time playoff receptions list, tied with Thurman Thomas (76 catches).
-- Chris Hogan left the game with a thigh injury in the third quarter. He eventually emerged from the locker room with his helmet on, but he did not see another target in the game. His status bears watching as Brady relied on Hogan's deep-play ability, especially early in the game. He caught all four passes sent his way for 95 yards.
New England Patriots
-- Martellus Bennett gave the Patriots a scare in the fourth quarter when he went down with an apparent knee injury late in the fourth quarter. He appeared to twist his left knee after trying to avoid stepping on a Texans offensive lineman. He remained on the turf for several moments before eventually making his way to his feet . . . and then jogged off the field. The Gillette Stadium crowd roared at the sight. He returned to the game soon thereafter.