The Patriots have gotten back ahead of the Texans after scoring a defensive touchdown.
Cornerback Marcus Jones intercepted an ill-advised pass from C.J. Stroud and returned it for a 26-yard pick-six.
On first-and-10 from Houston’s 25, Stroud was heavily pressured and hit by K’Lavon Chaisson. Stroud made a bad decision to let the ball go, and it went straight up before Jones came down with the interception — Stroud’s second of the contest.
From there, Jones darted toward the sideline and got to the end zone for the defensive score.
Stroud is now 9-of-17 for 108 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.
The Texans have used a takeaway to grab a second-quarter lead over the Patriots.
After a Drake Maye fumble, C.J. Stroud hit Christian Kirk for a 10-yard touchdown, putting Houston up 10-7 over New England.
On second-and-5 late in the first quarter, Maye ran up the middle on what looked like a potential broken play but defensive tackle Tommy Togiai punched the ball out before Maye could get a knee down. Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair picked up the loose ball at the New England 27 for a critical extra possession.
It took six plays, but on third-and-4 from the New England 10, Stroud was able to evade the pressure from a Patriots blitz long enough to find Kirk on the right side of the end zone for a go-ahead score.
Maye has now fumbled twice with one lost so far on Sunday. He has also thrown a few new interceptions.
The Texans have a significant injury situation developing on their offense.
Houston tight end Dalton Schultz is questionable to return with a calf injury suffered during the first quarter of Sunday’s matchup with New England.
As shown on the ESPN broadcast, Schultz pulled up while running a route in the end zone during Houston’s second possession.
Schultz went back to the locker room during the first quarter. He’s questionable to return with a calf injury. ESPN’s Laura Rutledge noted that Schultz was briefly examined in the sideline medical tent before he went up the tunnel.
Schultz being out is made more significant given the absence of top receiver Nico Colins, who is inactive with a concussion.
Additionally, Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane is questionable to return with a thumb injury. Jack Gibbens entered the game for him.
UPDATE 4:17 p.m. ET: Schultz has been downgraded to out.
The Patriots have gotten on the board first in Sunday’s divisional round matchup with the Texans.
Quarterback Drake Maye threw a fourth-down touchdown to receiver DeMario Douglas to put New England up 7-0 with 9:35 left in the first quarter.
After the two teams traded punts to open the game, the Patriots started to get going with Rhamondre Stevenson’s 20-yard run to put the club in Houston territory at the 37.
New England then had third-and-14, but made it fourth-and-1 with Maye’s 13-yard completion to Stefon Diggs.
With head coach Mike Vrabel taking an aggressive mindset fourth down from the Houston 28, Maye connected with DeMario Douglas over the middle on a short pass, with Douglas taking it all the way to the end zone for the score.
Maye has started the game against this vaunted Houston defense 5-of-6 for 54 yards with a touchdown.
The Texans will not have their right tackle for Sunday’s divisional round matchup with the Patriots.
Trent Brown is inactive with an ankle injury. While multiple reporters on the scene note Brown tried to test his ankle out pregame, he will not play against New England.
Brown did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday this week before he was limited on Friday.
With Brown out, Tytus Howard is expected to slide over from left guard to right tackle. Jarrett Patterson is expected to play left guard.
The Texans will be shorthanded offensively, as receiver Nico Collins is also out with a concussion suffered in Monday night’s win over the Steelers.
Receiver Braxon Berrios is active with Collins and receiver Justin Watson out.
For the Patriots, linebacker Harold Landry (knee) is active after he was questionable for the contest.
In all for Houston, Brown, Collins, Watson, running back Jawhar Jordan, quarterback Graham Mertz, and cornerback Alijah Huzzie are inactive.
New England’s inactives are quarterback Tommy DeVito, outside linebacker Bradyn Swinson, offensive tackle Marcus Bryant, guard Caedan Wallace, tight end CJ Dippre, cornerback Kobee Minor, and defensive tackle Eric Gregory.
