Houston Texans vs New England Patriots Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Sunday, January 18, 2026
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The Houston Texans visit the New England Patriots on Sunday in the AFC Divisional Playoffs at Gillette Stadium. Houston finished the regular season 12-5 and won 30-6 road over Pittsburgh on Monday in the wildcard round. New England was 14-3 during the regular season, won the AFC East, and beat the Chargers 16-3 at home in their wildcard game. Cash in with our free NFL picks.
Texans vs Patriots Game Information
- Kickoff: 3:00 PM ET
- Date: Sunday, January 18
- Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
- TV: ESPN, ABC
Houston Texans Outlook
Houston’s wildcard win at Pittsburgh was a balanced effort by both its offense and defense. Quarterback C.J. Stroud went 21-of-32 for 250 yards with one touchdown and one interception, and Houston avoided third-and-long plays by producing well on first and second downs. Woody Marks led the ground game with 19 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown. Houston’s passing game relied on Christian Kirk, who had 8 catches for 144 yards and a touchdown.
The Texans’ defense came up big, applying plenty of pressure on Pittsburgh´s Aaron Rodgers, finishing with four sacks and a pick-six by Calen Bullock. Houston held Pittsburgh to just 175 total yards. Injuries: Nico Collins (concussion) and Justin Watson (concussion) are questionable, Jaylen Reed (knee) is questionable, and Juice Scruggs and Graham Mertz are inactive.
New England Patriots Outlook
A steady offense and tough defense led New England’s wildcard win over the Chargers. Drake Maye threw for 268 yards on 17-of-29 passing with one touchdown and one interception, and Maye added 66 rushing yards on 10 carries to extend drives through scrambles that picked up first downs. New England’s scoring included three field goals from Andy Borregales, while tight end Hunter Henry was on the receiving end of the game’s only touchdown.
Once New England took a lead, its defense held Los Angeles’ offense in check. The Patriots’ defense dictated the matchup with six sacks and kept the Chargers to three points, forcing long-yardage situations. New England held Los Angeles to just 207 yards of total offense. Injuries: Christian Gonzalez (concussion) is questionable, Khyiris Tonga (foot) is questionable, and Alex Austin, Mack Hollins, and Joshua Farmer are on Injured Reserve.
Houston Texans vs New England Patriots Prediction
New England’s pass rush and ability to move the ball well on offense, even against tough defenses, will be the difference makers in this matchup. Houston’s defense will keep the game close and low scoring, but New England’s offense will score enough, while the defense will hold the Texans’ offense from sustained drives and force field goal attempts. Final Score Prediction: Patriots win and cover ATS, 20-16.
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Bruce Marshall | +8,742.00 |
| 2 |  Bryan Power | +3,958.00 |
| 3 |  Sean Higgs | +2,820.00 |
| 4 |  David Hess | +1,870.00 |
| 5 |  Steve Seagrave | +1,832.00 |
Best Picks
- New England Patriots -3
- Under 41.5
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