Preview: Houston at New England
When: 8:15 PM ET, Saturday, January 14, 2017
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
The Houston Texans visited the New England Patriots in Week 3 and were demolished 27-0, a loss that was more eye-opening given that they were up against a rookie third-string quarterback making his first career start. So it's hardly a surprise that the top-seeded Patriots are overwhelming favorites in Saturday night's AFC Divisional Round matchup against visiting Houston.
The Texans won the AFC South with a 9-7 record and knocked off fifth-seeded Oakland 27-14 in the first round of the playoffs, but they are more than two-touchdown underdogs against New England. “It’s OK if we’re called the underdogs, I kind of like it,” Houston linebacker Whitney Mercilus told reporters. “Definitely get to shock a whole lot of people, so we’re looking forward to that.” The Patriots closed the season with a seven-game winning streak and have outscored Houston 54-6 in two matchups over the last 13 months, but quarterback Tom Brady dismissed the idea that they are looking past the Texans. “I don’t see any letdown from us. That’s ridiculous to think that," Brady told reporters. "I’m preparing like this is the hardest game we’ve faced all season, which it will be, and it means the most."
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, CBS.
LINE: Patriots -15.5.
O/U: 44.5
ABOUT THE TEXANS: Houston's top-ranked defense limited Oakland to 203 total yards and ranked second in the league with 193.3 passing yards allowed, but coach Bill O'Brien -- a former Patriots offensive coordinator -- admitted the unit won't show Brady "anything that he hasn't already seen." Former No. 1 overall draft pick Jadeveon Clowney had a sack in each of the final three regular-season games and added a pivotal interception in last week's playoff victory. Quarterback Brock Osweiler, who reclaimed his starting job when Tom Savage suffered a concussion in Week 17, threw for 168 yards and a touchdown against the Raiders and 196 yards in Week 3 at New England. Lamar Miller gained 80 yards on 21 carries versus the Patriots but managed only 73 on 31 rushes a week ago.
ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (14-2): With the untested Jacoby Brissett under center in the early-season matchup, New England leaned on the running game as LeGarrette Blount produced 105 yards and two scores, part of his NFL-leading 18 rushing touchdowns. Brady missed the first meeting while serving a four-game suspension, but he put up spectacular numbers upon his return with 28 touchdown passes against only two interceptions while averaging 296.2 yards per game. Julian Edelman made a team-high 98 catches for a receiving corps that has been bolstered by waiver-wire acquisition Michael Floyd and expects to have Danny Amendola back on Saturday. For all the talk about their offense, the Patriots permitted a league-low 15.6 points and held six of their last seven opponents to 17 or fewer.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The Patriots are 7-1 all-time against Houston, including 4-0 at home.
2. Mercilus, who recorded a team-high 7.5 sacks during the regular season, has five in two career postseason contests
3. A win on Saturday will make New England the first team since the merger to advance to six straight conference title games.
ATS Trends
Houston |
- Texans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
- Texans are 2-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Texans are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 vs. AFC.
- Texans are 4-11-1 ATS in their last 16 games on fieldturf.
- Texans are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 road games.
- Texans are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
- Texans are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Texans are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Texans are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
- Texans are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
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New England |
- Patriots are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Patriots are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.
- Patriots are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. AFC.
- Patriots are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Patriots are 6-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Patriots are 9-2-1 ATS in their last 12 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Patriots are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Patriots are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games overall.
- Patriots are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Saturday games.
- Patriots are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win of more than 14 points.
- Patriots are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Divisional Playoffs games.
- Patriots are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Patriots are 24-9-2 ATS in their last 35 home games.
- Patriots are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games on fieldturf.
- Patriots are 35-17-4 ATS in their last 56 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Patriots are 78-38-2 ATS in their last 118 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
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OU Trends
Houston |
- Over is 4-0 in Texans last 4 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 5-1 in Texans last 6 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1 in Texans last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Under is 4-1 in Texans last 5 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Texans last 5 games on fieldturf.
- Under is 5-2 in Texans last 7 games overall.
- Under is 5-2 in Texans last 7 games in January.
- Under is 12-5-1 in Texans last 18 vs. a team with a winning record.
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New England |
- Over is 6-0-1 in Patriots last 7 Divisional Playoffs games.
- Over is 4-0 in Patriots last 4 playoff home games.
- Over is 6-1-1 in Patriots last 8 Saturday games.
- Under is 5-1 in Patriots last 6 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Patriots last 5 playoff games.
- Over is 4-1 in Patriots last 5 games following a straight up win of more than 14 points.
- Under is 4-1 in Patriots last 5 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Patriots last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 6-2 in Patriots last 8 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Over is 9-3 in Patriots last 12 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 5-2 in Patriots last 7 games overall.
- Over is 12-5 in Patriots last 17 games in January.
- Over is 41-18 in Patriots last 59 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Over is 57-28 in Patriots last 85 games on fieldturf.
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Head to Head
- Home team is 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 meetings.
- Favorite is 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
- Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.
- Texans are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
- Texans are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 meetings in New England.