Texans vs New England Patriots Match Player Stats
The texans vs new england patriots match player stats from the AFC Divisional Playoffs tell a much more interesting story than the final 28-16 score alone. New England defeated Houston in a turnover-heavy game at Gillette Stadium, advancing to the AFC Championship Game while the Texans’ offense struggled to overcome five turnovers. C.J. Stroud finished with 212 passing yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions, while Drake Maye produced 179 passing yards and three touchdown passes despite committing three turnovers himself.
The game was played in difficult winter conditions, and that context matters when evaluating the numbers. Neither offense produced a huge yardage total. Houston finished with 241 total yards and New England had 248, yet the Patriots created the decisive difference by turning Houston’s mistakes into points. Marcus Jones returned one interception for a touchdown, while Carlton Davis III recorded two interceptions and Craig Woodson added another. The result was a playoff game where efficiency, field position, defensive pressure, and ball security mattered more than raw offensive volume.
This article breaks down the major player statistics, explains what the numbers actually mean, and identifies the individual performances that shaped the result.
Texans vs New England Patriots Match Player Stats: Game Overview
The Patriots entered the divisional matchup with a 14-3 regular-season record, including a 6-3 home mark. Houston entered at 12-5 and had gone 5-3 on the road.
The final score was:
| Team | Final Score |
| New England Patriots | 28 |
| Houston Texans | 16 |
The scoring pattern is revealing.
| Quarter | Texans | Patriots |
| First | 3 | 7 |
| Second | 7 | 14 |
| Third | 6 | 0 |
| Fourth | 0 | 7 |
| Total | 16 | 28 |
New England built its advantage before halftime, and Houston never fully recovered. The Texans made the game competitive in the third quarter, cutting the Patriots’ lead to five points with a 51-yard Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal. However, New England produced the only fourth-quarter touchdown and closed the game without allowing Houston to score again.
That sequence is important because it shows why looking only at total yards can be misleading. The two teams finished only seven yards apart in total offense, but the Patriots consistently benefited from Houston’s mistakes.
C.J. Stroud’s Passing Performance
C.J. Stroud’s statistics were the most important numbers on the Houston side.
His final passing line was:
- 20 completions
- 47 attempts
- 212 passing yards
- 4.5 yards per attempt
- 1 touchdown
- 4 interceptions
- 3 sacks
- 19 yards lost on sacks
- 22.2 QBR
- 28.0 passer rating
The completion percentage was only 42.6 percent. That is an unusually difficult passing performance, particularly in a playoff game where every possession carries extra importance.
The four interceptions were the central issue.
Stroud did not simply have a low-efficiency passing day. His turnovers directly changed the game’s structure. New England’s defense was able to convert those mistakes into additional possessions and, in the case of Marcus Jones, a defensive touchdown.
The most damaging part of Stroud’s performance was that the interceptions came early. When a quarterback turns the ball over repeatedly in the first half, the offense loses the ability to follow its preferred game plan. Instead of establishing the running game and controlling possession, Houston was repeatedly forced to respond to a scoreboard deficit.
There is also an important distinction between 212 passing yards and effective passing. Stroud averaged only 4.5 yards per attempt. That means Houston needed a very large number of throws to generate modest passing production.
The 47 attempts are especially significant.
Houston was not asking Stroud to throw 47 times because the offense was cruising. The passing volume reflected the Texans’ need to catch up and the difficulty they had generating consistent offensive possessions.
Why Stroud’s Interceptions Mattered So Much
Four interceptions created an enormous statistical disadvantage.
Houston finished with five total turnovers, with Woody Marks losing a fumble in addition to Stroud’s four interceptions. New England committed three turnovers, including two lost fumbles by Drake Maye and one interception.
That produces a turnover margin of:
New England +2
In a playoff game decided by 12 points, a two-turnover advantage becomes especially meaningful.
More importantly, the turnovers were not evenly distributed in terms of impact. Marcus Jones turned one of Stroud’s interceptions into a 26-yard pick-six. A defensive touchdown gives the offense zero yards while still adding seven points to the scoreboard.
That is one reason defensive statistics must be evaluated alongside offensive statistics.
Drake Maye’s Numbers Tell a Different Story
Drake Maye completed 16 of 27 passes for 179 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.
His reported statistical line included:
- 16 completions
- 27 attempts
- 179 yards
- 6.6 yards per attempt
- 3 touchdowns
- 1 interception
- 5 sacks
- 36 yards lost on sacks
- 20.7 QBR
- 100.7 passer rating
Maye was not flawless.
He fumbled four times and lost two of those fumbles. Yet his passing production was considerably more efficient than Stroud’s. He attempted 20 fewer passes and still threw three touchdown passes.
That difference illustrates an important point about quarterback statistics.
A quarterback does not necessarily need to dominate the box score in yardage to have a winning playoff performance. Maye’s 179 passing yards were modest, but his three touchdown passes gave New England exactly the type of scoring efficiency it needed.
His 100.7 passer rating also contrasts sharply with Stroud’s 28.0 rating.
The two quarterbacks faced strong defensive pressure, but Maye managed to create more scoring value from fewer passing opportunities.
Rushing Statistics: Houston’s Ground Game
Houston’s rushing production was extremely limited.
The team finished with:
- 22 rushing attempts
- 48 rushing yards
- 2.2 yards per carry
Woody Marks led the Texans in rushing attempts with 14 carries for only 17 yards.
Nick Chubb recorded four carries for 14 yards, while Stroud had two carries for 11 yards and Cade Stover had two carries for six yards.
The overall rushing average of 2.2 yards per attempt explains why Houston struggled to maintain balance.
Woody Marks
Marks had the largest rushing workload on the Texans, but 14 carries produced only 17 yards.
That works out to approximately 1.2 yards per carry.
His night became even more difficult because he lost a fumble. That mistake contributed to Houston’s five-turnover total.
For a running back, workload is normally a positive sign. In this game, however, the workload did not translate into field-position gains or sustained drives.
Nick Chubb
Chubb averaged 3.5 yards on four attempts, making him Houston’s most efficient listed runner by average among the primary ball carriers.
However, four carries are not enough to reshape a game.
The Texans simply could not establish the rushing attack strongly enough to reduce the pressure placed on Stroud.
New England’s Rushing Attack
New England was much more effective on the ground.
The Patriots recorded:
- 32 rushing attempts
- 105 rushing yards
- Approximately 3.3 yards per carry
Rhamondre Stevenson led the team with 16 carries for 70 yards.
TreVeyon Henderson contributed 12 carries for 25 yards, while Maye rushed four times for 10 yards.
Stevenson’s 70 yards represented two-thirds of the Patriots’ listed rushing production. His workload helped New England maintain offensive balance even though the Texans’ defense created pressure throughout the game.
The Patriots did not need to run for five or six yards every time. Their objective was to remain functional on the ground, avoid becoming one-dimensional, and create enough offensive stability for Maye to make high-value throws.
That strategy worked.
Receiving Leaders for Both Teams
The receiving statistics also show an interesting contrast.
Houston’s leading receiver was Jayden Higgins.
Jayden Higgins
Higgins finished with:
- 6 receptions
- 59 yards
- 9.8 yards per reception
- 0 touchdowns
- 16-yard long reception
- 10 targets
His six catches represented a significant portion of Houston’s completed passes.
Higgins was one of the few Texans pass catchers who consistently produced a reasonable volume of receptions. However, the offense as a whole struggled to convert opportunities into points.
Houston’s receiving group combined for:
- 20 receptions
- 212 yards
- 10.6 yards per reception
- 1 touchdown
- 42-yard long reception
- 45 targets
The 45 targets are important because Houston’s 20 completions accounted for only 44.4 percent of its targets being converted into receptions.
That lack of completion efficiency placed enormous pressure on the offense.
Kayshon Boutte
Kayshon Boutte was the standout receiving performer for New England.
He recorded:
- 3 receptions
- 75 yards
- 25.0 yards per reception
- 1 touchdown
- 32-yard long reception
- 5 targets
Three catches for 75 yards is a remarkably efficient receiving performance.
His 25.0 yards per reception average dwarfed Houston’s team average of 10.6.
The most important play came late in the game when Boutte produced a 32-yard touchdown reception, helping New England move from a five-point advantage to a much safer 12-point lead.
That play is a good example of why explosive plays matter more in the postseason than raw reception totals.
Boutte did not need 10 catches.
He needed three opportunities and made them count.
New England’s entire receiving group finished with:
- 16 receptions
- 179 yards
- 11.2 yards per reception
- 3 touchdowns
- 32-yard long reception
- 26 targets
The Patriots therefore produced a higher receiving average with far fewer targets.
The Defensive Battle Decided the Game
The offensive numbers are important, but the game was fundamentally shaped by defense.
Houston recorded:
- 76 total tackles
- 41 solo tackles
- 5 sacks
- 9 tackles for loss
- 6 passes defended
- 2 quarterback hits
- 0 defensive touchdowns
New England recorded:
- 67 total tackles
- 38 solo tackles
- 3 sacks
- 6 tackles for loss
- 14 passes defended
- 9 quarterback hits
- 1 defensive touchdown
At first glance, Houston actually produced more sacks and tackles for loss.
So why did New England win?
The answer is turnover creation.
The Patriots recorded four interceptions as a team and converted one into a touchdown. Their defense also forced Houston into a total of five turnovers when the lost Woody Marks fumble is included.
The Texans generated only one interception.
This is the central defensive lesson from the game: pressure statistics can show how active a defense was, but turnover statistics often explain who controlled the most important moments.
Carlton Davis III’s Two Interceptions
Carlton Davis III recorded two interceptions for New England.
Both interceptions contributed to the Patriots’ ability to disrupt Houston’s offensive rhythm.
Davis did not return either interception for yardage, but the value of an interception is not measured only by return yards.
An interception immediately ends an opposing possession and gives the offense another opportunity.
In a playoff game where both offenses were struggling to produce sustained drives, those additional possessions were extremely valuable.
Davis’ performance was therefore one of the clearest examples of a defender influencing the game without needing to score.
Marcus Jones and the Pick-Six
Marcus Jones added another interception and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown.
This was arguably the single most valuable defensive statistic of the game.
A pick-six has multiple effects:
- It gives the defense seven points.
- It removes an offensive possession.
- It creates a sudden change in field position.
- It can alter the opposing quarterback’s decision-making.
- It forces the trailing team to become more aggressive.
Houston was already facing difficulty moving the ball. Allowing an interception return for a touchdown made the offensive challenge even harder.
Marcus Jones also contributed in the return game, giving him an influence beyond his defensive statistics.
Craig Woodson’s Interception
Craig Woodson recorded one interception for New England.
His interception did not result in return yardage or a touchdown, but it completed a four-interception performance by the Patriots’ defense.
The four interceptions were distributed across:
- Carlton Davis III: 2
- Marcus Jones: 1
- Craig Woodson: 1
That distribution shows that the Patriots did not rely on a single defensive back to create turnovers. Multiple players made plays against Houston’s passing game.
Houston’s Defensive Standouts
Houston’s defense deserves significant credit despite the loss.
The Texans recorded five sacks, nine tackles for loss, and one interception.
That production indicates the defense was capable of disrupting New England’s offense.
The problem was that Houston’s offense could not consistently capitalize on defensive stops.
This is one of the most important conclusions to draw from the game.
A defense can play well enough to win, yet still lose if the offense repeatedly gives the opponent short fields or wastes possessions.
Houston’s defensive effort kept the score within reach. The offense simply did not produce enough clean possessions to finish the comeback.
Special Teams Statistics
Special teams also played a meaningful role.
Ka’imi Fairbairn
Houston kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn was perfect on field goals.
He made:
- 3 of 3 field goals
- 100 percent field-goal rate
- Long of 51 yards
- 1 of 1 extra points
- 10 total points
Fairbairn was one of Houston’s most reliable performers.
His 51-yard field goal in the third quarter cut New England’s advantage to 21-16, temporarily making the game a one-score contest.
Without those field goals, Houston would have been much further behind.
Andy Borregales
New England’s Andy Borregales attempted no field goals and made all four extra points.
His total was four points.
The difference between the kickers illustrates the different ways the teams produced points.
Houston relied heavily on field goals, while New England converted its offensive opportunities into touchdowns.
In a playoff game, touchdowns generally create a much stronger scoring advantage than settling for three points.
Return Game Comparison
Jaylin Noel led Houston’s kick-return unit with:
- 3 kick returns
- 69 yards
- 23.0 yards per return
- 26-yard long
Braxton Berrios added one return for 19 yards.
Houston’s team total was four returns for 88 yards.
On punts, Noel recorded:
- 3 returns
- 29 yards
- 9.7 yards per return
- 11-yard long
New England’s kick-return production included:
- D’Ernest Johnson: 2 returns for 47 yards
- Kyle Williams: 1 return for 22 yards
- Efton Chism III: 1 return for 20 yards
The Patriots finished with four kick returns for 89 yards.
Marcus Jones was especially productive as a punt returner:
- 4 returns
- 53 yards
- 13.3 yards per return
- 24-yard long
His return performance added another layer to an already influential game.
Punting Comparison
Houston’s Tommy Townsend punted five times for 294 yards.
His average was 58.8 yards per punt, with a long of 72 yards and one punt inside the 20-yard line.
New England’s Bryce Baringer punted eight times for 333 yards.
His average was 41.6 yards, with three punts inside the 20 and a 55-yard long.
The raw average favors Townsend, but punting should not be evaluated only through gross yardage.
Baringer had more punts and placed three inside the 20, which helped New England manage field position during an offense-first game that often stalled.
A Deeper Look at the Turnover Battle
The most important statistic in the game may be the turnover differential.
Houston committed five turnovers:
- 4 interceptions by C.J. Stroud
- 1 lost fumble by Woody Marks
New England committed three turnovers:
- 1 interception by Drake Maye
- 2 lost fumbles by Drake Maye
That gives New England a plus-two turnover margin.
However, the quality of those turnovers matters.
Houston’s turnovers came from its quarterback and running game, affecting both the passing and rushing units.
New England’s turnovers were concentrated around Maye, yet the quarterback compensated by throwing three touchdown passes.
That is the key difference.
Maye’s mistakes were costly, but they did not prevent New England from scoring enough points.
Stroud’s interceptions, by contrast, repeatedly removed Houston possessions and helped the Patriots create scoreboard separation.
Why the Total Yardage Was So Close
One of the most interesting parts of the box score is how close the total offense was.
Houston: 241 total yards.
New England: 248 total yards.
That is a difference of only seven yards.
If someone looked only at total yardage, the final 28-16 result might seem surprising.
But football is not a pure yardage contest.
Houston generated 241 yards while committing five turnovers. New England generated 248 yards while committing three turnovers.
The Patriots also scored a defensive touchdown.
This means New England received scoring value without requiring its offense to produce the corresponding yardage.
That is why a 248-yard offense could score 28 points against a 241-yard offense that scored only 16.
Efficiency Over Volume
The quarterback comparison provides perhaps the clearest example.
Stroud:
20 completions on 47 attempts
212 yards
1 touchdown
4 interceptions
Maye:
16 completions on 27 attempts
179 yards
3 touchdowns
1 interception
Stroud threw 20 more passes and gained only 33 more yards.
Maye produced two additional touchdown passes while attempting far fewer throws.
The raw passing-yard advantage therefore does not tell the full story.
Houston had more passing volume, but New England had more passing efficiency and scoring efficiency.
This is a valuable principle when analyzing player statistics from any football game: volume and value are not always the same thing.
The Importance of Third-Down and Possession Context
The supplied box score does not include every drive-level statistic needed to perform a complete third-down analysis, so it would be misleading to invent a precise third-down percentage or time-of-possession figure.
What can be established from the available data is that Houston repeatedly lost possessions through turnovers.
That creates a direct relationship between offensive efficiency and defensive workload.
When an offense turns the ball over, its own defense must return to the field. Over time, that can reduce the team’s ability to maintain pressure.
New England avoided the same level of damage despite its own mistakes.
This is another reason the final score should not be interpreted simply as “New England’s offense dominated Houston.”
It did not.
The Patriots won because they combined enough offensive production with superior turnover creation.
What the Player Stats Say About New England
The Patriots’ statistical profile was not based on one enormous offensive performance.
Instead, several smaller advantages worked together.
The key factors were:
- Drake Maye threw three touchdown passes.
- Kayshon Boutte averaged 25.0 yards per reception.
- Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 70 yards.
- The defense intercepted Stroud four times.
- Marcus Jones returned an interception for a touchdown.
- New England defended 14 passes.
- The Patriots converted limited offensive production into 28 points.
This is the profile of a team that won through situational football.
New England did not need 400 yards.
It needed to win the important possessions.
What the Player Stats Say About Houston
Houston’s statistical profile was almost the opposite.
The Texans had:
- 212 passing yards
- 48 rushing yards
- 241 total yards
- 5 turnovers
- 16 points
- 3 field goals
- 1 offensive touchdown
There were positive individual performances.
Higgins caught six passes for 59 yards.
Fairbairn made all three field-goal attempts.
The defense recorded five sacks and nine tackles for loss.
Yet the offense could not combine those contributions into enough touchdowns.
The biggest issue was not a lack of effort or defensive talent. It was the failure to protect possessions.
The Most Important Player Performances
If the game is reduced to the players who had the largest statistical impact, several names stand out.
Drake Maye
Maye finished with 179 yards and three touchdowns. His three passing touchdowns were the foundation of New England’s offensive scoring.
His three turnovers prevent this from being described as a flawless performance, but the quarterback still made enough high-value plays to win.
C.J. Stroud
Stroud’s 212 yards were not enough to offset four interceptions.
His 28.0 passer rating reflects how dramatically the turnovers affected his statistical output.
This was the most difficult individual performance among the two starting quarterbacks.
Kayshon Boutte
Boutte produced 75 yards on only three catches.
His 25.0 yards per reception and touchdown made him New England’s most explosive receiver.
Rhamondre Stevenson
Stevenson carried 16 times for 70 yards.
His rushing workload helped prevent the Patriots from becoming completely dependent on Maye.
Jayden Higgins
Higgins caught six passes for 59 yards and led Houston in receptions and receiving yards.
His production was useful, but Houston needed more explosive plays and more scoring opportunities from its passing game.
Carlton Davis III
Davis recorded two interceptions.
His contribution was a major part of New England’s defensive advantage.
Marcus Jones
Jones combined defensive and special-teams impact.
He recorded an interception, returned it 26 yards for a touchdown, and added 53 punt-return yards.
That type of multi-phase production is extremely valuable in a playoff game.
Ka’imi Fairbairn
Fairbairn converted all three field-goal attempts, including a 51-yarder.
His kicking kept Houston within striking distance into the third quarter.
What the Numbers Reveal About the Game Plan
The statistics suggest that Houston needed to play a cleaner, more controlled offensive game.
With a defense capable of producing five sacks and nine tackles for loss, the Texans did not necessarily need to win a shootout.
They needed to avoid giving New England easy scoring opportunities.
The offense could have benefited from:
- More effective early-down rushing.
- Shorter, higher-percentage passing concepts.
- Better protection against pressure.
- Greater emphasis on ball security.
- More efficient red-zone execution.
These are not claims that a different strategy would automatically have produced a victory. They are conclusions supported by the statistical shape of the game.
New England, meanwhile, benefited from playing complementary football.
Its defense generated turnovers while its offense converted enough of those opportunities into touchdowns.
That combination is particularly effective in poor-weather playoff conditions.
Why the Weather Context Matters
The game took place in difficult winter conditions, including snow and rain.
Weather does not excuse turnovers, but it can influence offensive efficiency.
Cold and wet conditions can affect:
- Ball handling
- Quarterback grip
- Receiver footing
- Route timing
- Long-distance passing
- Snap exchanges
- Fumble risk
That context is particularly relevant when analyzing Maye’s four fumbles and Houston’s five total turnovers.
However, it is still important not to use weather as a blanket explanation.
Both teams played under the same conditions.
The better conclusion is that New England handled the conditions more effectively when the most important opportunities arrived.
What Fantasy Football Readers Can Learn
Although this was a playoff game rather than a regular-season fantasy matchup, the statistics provide useful lessons for evaluating players.
A high target total does not guarantee a strong fantasy performance.
Houston’s receiving group had 45 targets but only 20 completions.
A quarterback can accumulate passing yards while producing a poor overall performance if turnovers are excessive.
A receiver can have only three catches and still create a major impact when those receptions generate 75 yards and a touchdown.
And a defensive player can have enormous fantasy value through turnovers even without recording huge tackle totals.
The game is therefore a useful example of why box-score categories need to be interpreted together rather than separately.
How to Read These Player Stats Correctly
When evaluating a playoff box score, use a five-step process.
1. Start With the Score
The score tells you the result, but not the reason.
2. Check Total Yardage
This shows whether one team created a broad offensive advantage.
Here, the answer was no. The yardage difference was only seven yards.
3. Check Turnovers
This is where the game changed.
Houston committed five turnovers compared with three by New England.
4. Look at Explosive Plays
Boutte’s 32-yard touchdown and Jones’ 26-yard interception return were major scoring plays.
5. Separate Volume From Efficiency
Stroud threw 47 passes. Maye threw 27.
Stroud had more passing yards, but Maye produced more passing touchdowns with far fewer attempts.
This method produces a much more accurate understanding than simply listing the top yardage leaders.
Final Statistical Takeaways
The most important numbers from the game can be summarized as follows:
| Category | Texans | Patriots |
| Final Score | 16 | 28 |
| Total Offense | 241 | 248 |
| Passing Yards | 212 | 179 |
| Rushing Yards | 48 | 105 |
| Passing TDs | 1 | 3 |
| Interceptions Thrown | 4 | 1 |
| Total Turnovers | 5 | 3 |
| Team Sacks | 5 | 3 |
| Tackles for Loss | 9 | 6 |
| Defensive Interceptions | 1 | 4 |
| Defensive TDs | 0 | 1 |
| Field Goals Made | 3 | 0 |
The table makes the game’s central contradiction clear.
Houston gained almost the same number of total yards as New England but scored 12 fewer points.
The reason was not a massive offensive difference.
It was the turnover and scoring efficiency difference.
The Biggest Lesson From Texans vs New England Patriots Match Player Stats
The biggest lesson from the texans vs new england patriots match player stats is that playoff football is often decided by the value of individual possessions rather than the amount of total production.
Houston’s defense created pressure.
Fairbairn made every field goal.
Higgins led the receiving group.
Stroud still produced 212 passing yards.
But five turnovers prevented those contributions from becoming a winning performance.
New England had its own problems. Maye fumbled four times and lost two, while the Patriots managed only 248 total yards.
Yet the Patriots’ defense created four interceptions, Marcus Jones produced a pick-six, Maye threw three touchdowns, and Boutte delivered an explosive scoring reception.
That combination was enough.
The final 28-16 score therefore should not be interpreted as a simple offensive victory for New England. It was a victory built around defensive disruption, turnover creation, timely passing, and better scoring efficiency.
For Houston, the numbers point toward one central issue: the offense needed to protect possessions better. For New England, the numbers show how a team can overcome modest yardage totals when its defense consistently creates high-value plays.
That is what makes this box score worth studying. The teams were separated by only seven total yards, but the quality of their possessions was dramatically different.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Texans vs Patriots playoff game?
The New England Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 28-16 in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.
What were C.J. Stroud’s stats against the Patriots?
C.J. Stroud completed 20 of 47 passes for 212 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions. He was also sacked three times for 19 yards.
What were Drake Maye’s stats against the Texans?
Drake Maye completed 16 of 27 passes for 179 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He was sacked five times for 36 yards.
Who led the Texans in receiving?
Jayden Higgins led Houston with six receptions for 59 yards on 10 targets.
Who was the Patriots’ leading receiver?
Kayshon Boutte led New England with three receptions for 75 yards and one touchdown. He averaged 25.0 yards per reception.
How many turnovers did each team have?
Houston committed five turnovers, including four interceptions and one lost fumble. New England committed three turnovers, including one interception and two lost fumbles.
Conclusion
The texans vs new england patriots match player stats show that the Patriots won through a combination of defensive playmaking, timely offensive execution, and superior turnover results rather than overwhelming offensive yardage.
New England finished with only 248 total yards compared with Houston’s 241, but the Patriots scored 28 points because four defensive interceptions, including Marcus Jones’ pick-six, dramatically changed the value of individual possessions.
Drake Maye’s 179 passing yards were modest, yet his three touchdown passes provided the scoring efficiency New England needed. Kayshon Boutte added 75 yards and a touchdown on just three receptions, while Rhamondre Stevenson supplied 70 rushing yards.
Houston’s best statistical contributions came from Jayden Higgins, Ka’imi Fairbairn, and a defense that recorded five sacks. But C.J. Stroud’s four interceptions and Woody Marks’ lost fumble resulted in five Houston turnovers, making it extremely difficult for those positive performances to translate into a victory.
The clearest statistical takeaway is simple: the two teams were close in yardage, but not in possession value. New England made more of its opportunities, created more turnovers, and produced the decisive plays when the game was still within reach.
That distinction is essential when using player statistics to understand playoff football. Numbers become meaningful when they are connected to game situation, efficiency, field position, turnovers, and scoring impact.
