Christian Kirk drops an absolute clanger that's almost turned into a Patriots interception after CJ Stroud floated a nice ball right into his bread basket but the Houston receiver somehow drops it.

A diving Christian Elliss almost picks it off for New England but he too can't secure it - maybe that sleet is worse than we thought?

The Patriots get stopped right away so have to punt it away after a quick three and out forced by the rampant Houston defence.

A steady flow of what I believed is called 'wintry mix' falling in Foxbourgh - that's sleet to you and me - and whatever it's called it's making the field and the football pretty slick.

There was a time not too long ago when the name New England Patriots was synonymous with this stage of the post-season - and beyond.

Six Super Bowl triumphs this century cemented them as the dominant force of this age.

But they've been in the doldrums for a few years, with only one play-off appearance since 2020. Now, with 2024 number two pick Drake Maye under centre, and a 15-2 season record, are they back?

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New England Patriots Robert Kraft on Sky Sports: "We've had a rough few years but I genuinely feel we're back."

On how quarterback Drake Maye compares with ex-Patriot Tom Brady: "Drake has a lot of similarities to Tom and what he was early in his career. They are both humble, wonderful human beings, but super comptitive. To combine the humility and competitiveness with being physically and mentally tough, they're very special."

On head coach Mike Vrabel: "When he was a player, he won three Super Bowls with us and he has come in and changed the culture in the locker room. The players are subjugating their egos and putting the team first. If you want to exceed in any business, you need that. He's doing a great job."

And we're off in Foxborough, sadly no repeat of the opening kick-off in Seattle last night...

Who's winning this?

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Rob Staton: Patriots

The Texans' defence is legit and can win them any game, but Drake Maye's mobility and playmaking is the perfect counter. Pats get it done.

Phil McGeoghan: Patriots

The Texans have changed games, ruined games, so you must have a protection plan for the Houston Texans. They will ruin your weekend. In my mind, though, just looking at the way Drake Maye is playing at this particular point and the way that they're just kind of moving, I think it's the Patriots, right?

I am from Boston. So I think if I go home and I don't say the Patriots, I might be in the 'harbour' or something. So I will say I think it's going to be the Patriots.

Mike White: Patriots

This is likely to be a tight affair with very few points in the game. The Patriots offence matching up against that forceful Texans defence feels like the match-up to keep an eye on. And with CJ Stroud set to be without his best receiving option in Nico Collins (concussion), Houston's chances just reduced considerably.

Mike Vrabel's already a strong coach of the season candidate, and returning the Patriots back to their once-familiar surroundings of the AFC Championship game will only enhance those credentials. Pats take it by six.

Paul Higham: Texans

Houston's first road play-off win last week was a statement win for this terrifying defence, but the Pats have won a league-leading eight straight Divisional games.

Drake Maye's mobility can slow Houston down but I just can't see him doing enough to keep them off his case enough throughout the game. As long as CJ Stroud cleans things up and doesn't have another five fumbles, I'm backing the Texans to make their first AFC Championship game.

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The easy schedule has been thrown at Drake Maye but you can only beat who's in front of you and he's done that with surgical precision as the most accurate passer in the league.

He's taken a few too many sacks this season though, and that is a massive worry against these Texans, but he has also shown to be pretty handy running the ball too. He'll need to tonight.

CJ Stroud has had a bit of a down year and last week wasn't pretty from him in Pittsburgh as he had a bad case of the fumbles - he'll need to clean that up but he's shown before to be a tidy game manager but with some added juice as a closer.

Defence might rule the day but one of these two will likely have to win the game.

Easy schedule? Yes of course, you can't deny the Patriots have had an easier time of things than Houston with how the fixtures worked out, but Drake Maye was still superb in how he dealt with them.

And winning 14 games is no accident in the NFL, nor is winning 13 of 14 games after a 1-2 start so Mike Vrabel still deserves a huge amount of credit.

Beating Josh Allen's Buffalo Bills to the AFC East title also takes some doing and that's given them home advantage for two play-off games - which they used last week to edge out the Chargers in a physical battle.

That was New England's first post-season win since winning their last Super Bowl in February 2019. Is the dynasty back?

Jason Bell
Former NFL cornerback on Sky Sports

Coming into this, nobody really understood who the frontrunners were.

It's all about the match-ups, making plays when your back is against the wall and that's what we're eeing.

This has been one of the best play-offs I've ever seen.

The Texans hammered Pittsburgh last week in the Wildcard round to earn their first road play-off win in team history.

They have to hit the road after being pipped to the AFC South by the Jacksonville Jagaurs mainly because of Houston starting the season 0-3.

After getting to 3-5 things then clicked into gear for DeMeco Ryans' side as they reeled off nine straight wins, including victories over the Jags, Bills, Chiefs and Chargers - so they're the real deal.

They now head to Foxborough riding a 10-game winning streak, which brings with it a whole load of confidence.

Two pretty tough teams with stingy defences clash in Foxborough tonight, with Houston in particular boasting one of the best defences in the league - you'd probably but the Texans and Seahawks in joint first.

CJ Stroud has been inconsistent but Drake Maye has been attracting MVP calls for most of the season thanks to his accuracy and poise - although the schedule has been kind to the Patriots.

Tonight is the acid test though, the Pats have a superb home record in the play-offs thanks to a certain Tom Brady and Bill Belichick partnership, can Maye and Mike Vrabel start to emulate their success?

Or will the old 'defence wins championships' mantra hold true and Houston prove to be just too big a problem for New England?

Josh Allen fans say he's the reason Buffalo get to the play-offs every year, Josh Allen critics say he's the reason they never get to the Super Bowl.

There's probably a bit of truth to both in some way, as shown in Denver as he was largely brilliant but also gave away some costly turnovers - and he cut an emotional figure after another heartbreaking loss.

Here's how the road to the Super Bowl is shaping up...

Whoever wins out of the Rams and Bears will have to go to Seattle for the NFC Championship game - and the way the Seahawks bullied the Niners that will be one tough game.

Watch highlights from last night's emphatic victory.

A tearful Josh Allen said he "let my team-mates down" after Buffalo Bills lost in overtime at the home of the AFC's top seed Denver Broncos last night.

The reigning NFL MVP experienced five turnovers - he had never previously had any in six play-off matches - but still almost got Sean McDermott's side over the line.

Instead, it was the Broncos who advanced to the Championship game and they will host either the Texans or the Patriots next week.

But they'll do it without quarterback Bo Nix, who broke his ankle three plays before Wil Lutz kicked the winning field goal.

We've got two huge games coming up, but we also had two monster ones last night too, let's catch you up on the highlights...

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Hello again NFL fans and thanks for joining us on this Divisional Sunday with two more games being played to find two more teams going through to the Championship games next week.

First up we've got the New England Patriots looking to start a new dynasty with Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel as they host the dangerous Houston Texans and the most feared defence in the league.

Then we'll head to the Windy City which is set to be a freezing cold battle between the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams.

Matthew Stafford is the big MVP favourite and he'll have to play like one in what will be tough conditions battling a tough crowd and in Caleb Williams a young QB with a young team who never know when they're beaten.

So who goes through and who goes home? Stay right here to find out...