Greg Brady
NFL pundit on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Texans won 10 straight games, turned their season around and had an unbelievable run going into the play-offs.

They won on the road in the Wildcard game and it was not even close.

This offence was able to put a lot of points up and be clean.

So maybe it's has been this Patriots defence, forcing mistakes on the Texans tonight. Maybe two streets are moving parallel to each other, and one is that the Patriots have an unbelievable defence.

It might be one of the best in all football.

How good was this catch by the way? Kayshon Boutte with a worldie.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

CJ Stroud goes down on third down and Houston decide to punt it away. Hmm, not sure about that call with just over four minutes left and the Texans down two scores.

Yes, it's fourth and 18 so I suppose it's highly unlikely that they'd have converted it, but how likely is it that they'll be able to win it from here?

Bookmark this post for later....

It's a kick away from New England but that's not a bad drive you know - it started just outside their own end zone and after the punt the ball is down on the Texans 14.

That drive also took just over six minutes off the clock as well so there's less than six left in the game - so good situational football from New England sitting on a 12-point lead.

They'll hope the defence can dial something big up again now.

Image source, Getty Images

Drake Maye hits Stefon Diggs for a 14-yard completion that moves the chains on third down. Diggs enjoyed that one as he looks to dump his former team out of the play-offs.

Four straight runs for Rhamondre Stevenson who gains a total of 25 yards - he's averaging 5.7 yards per rush so no wonder Mike Vrabel is happy to keep feeding him.

Nothing fancy about this, just handing the ball off, running it right up the gut and imposing their will on the Texans - it's got coach Vrabel written all over it.

Houston have to kick, but Tommy Townsend hits a bomb and Tremon Smith does a tremendous job of chasing it down then diving and flicking it back before it hits the end zone to down it inside the five.

Even in this day and age I still think special teams play is underrated - there's so much yardage to be had for well-drilled units.

I'm not joking here, CJ Stroud should probably have thrown six or seven (don't say it) interceptions tonight - including one here on a short flick to Cade Stover that's well behind him but right at a Patriots defensive back who just fails to gather it.

That wasn't pass rush pressure, just sloppy from Stroud.

Image source, Getty Images

What about this nugget Texans fans?

CJ Stroud is the second quarterback this century to throw four interceptions in the first half of a play-off game - the only other was Trevor Lawrence for the Jaguars in 2022.

And here's the punchline - Lawrence went on to win that game, against the Chargers, after coming from 27-0 down to claim an epic 31-30 wildcard victory...

Greg Brady
NFL pundit on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Image source, Getty Images

That's big right there, given how the snow is picking up and players on both sides of the ball are getting a bit tired.

I think they saw a defensive back who has been thrown at a lot and decided to go for a big play.

The Texans worked so hard to get back within one score, but now that's the biggest play of the game.

The Texans defence did everything they were asked to - held the Patriots to two touchdowns over three quarters.

New England get across midfield courtesy of a pass interference penalty worth 17 yards. PI penalty yards are probably the leading source of offence in this game so far.

The stats just make for crazy reading - I've seen plenty of play-off games with dominant defences wrecking the game, but it's rare to have one where both offences make so many mistakes.

Defences dominated that third quarter but the Texans were able to trim New England's lead thanks to two field goals.

Can they maintain their upward momentum? Or will the Patriots score again?

Will Anderson tackles a scrambling Drake Maye for a sack as we reach the end of the third quarter, just after they earned just a seventh first down of the game.

The Pats badly need some sort of drive here, the Texans have done almost everything wrong on offence but New England have been unable to do anything much to kill them off.

And now we head to the fourth quarter, which has been pretty eventful in the play-offs so far...

Field goal - Texanspublished at 22:33 GMT 18 January

22:33 GMT 18 January

Houston Texans 16-21 New England Patriots - third quarter

Houston edge closer as Ka'imi Fairbairn drills a long 51-yard field goal with ease to drag the Texans back to within five points.

A short third-down catch by Xavier Hutchinson proved crucial there as those five yards make a big difference when kicking in these conditions.

A big penalty flag comes flying in for pass interference against Carlton Davis that gives Houston a first down and 21 yards - two of their top three plays today have been via penalties.

It looks like the only way Houston will make any serious yards right now - and Davis is the man CJ Stroud is targeting. It's all or nothing with Davis who has been called for a couple of penalties now but also has two interceptions.

Image source, Getty Images

What's going on!? CJ Stroud almost gets intercepted again with a dangerous throw into traffic in the middle of the field, with four Patriots surrounding on Texans but luckily enough for the visitors the ball drops dead.