Patriots (10-1) at Texans (7-4)
Patriots schedule
W ....... Pittsburgh ....... 33-3 W ......... at Miami ......... 43-0 W ........ N.Y. Jets ........ 30-14 W ....... at Buffalo ....... 16-10 W...atWashington...33-7 W ...... N.Y. Giants ...... 35-14 W ...... atN.Y.Jets ...... 33-0 W ...... Cleveland ...... 27-13 L ..... at Baltimore ..... 37-20
BYE
W ...at Philadelphia... 17-10 W ........... Dallas ........... 13-9 Dec. 1 ... at Houston ... 8:20 Dec.8 ..KansasCity ..4:25 Dec.15...atCincinnati...1 Dec. 21 or 22 Buffalo TBD Dec. 29 ......... Miami ......... 1
Texans schedule
L .... at New Orleans .... 30-28 W ...... Jacksonville ...... 13-12 W...atLAChargers...27-20 L .......... Carolina .......... 16-10 W ........... Atlanta ........... 53-32 W .... at Kansas City .... 31-24 L .... atIndianapolis .... 30-23 W ......... Oakland ......... 27-24 W at Jacksonville (Lon.) 26-3
BYE
L ........ at Baltimore ........ 41-7 W ...... Indianapolis ...... 20-17 Dec. 1 ... New England ... 8:20 Dec. 8 ............ Denver ............ 1 Dec. 15 ..... at Tennessee ..... 1 Dec. 21/22 at Tampa Bay TBD Dec. 29 ....... Tennessee ....... 1
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. Stadium, Houston
TV: NBC
Danny Sheridan’s line: by 31⁄2
Patriots’ keys to victory: New England must stifle the Texans’ run game with LBs Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower. DL Adam Butler has to get interior penetration and affect the quarterback. The Patriots’ secondary also has to curtail the Texans’ dynamic passing game. QB Tom Brady is a master at controlling the tempo of a game and the Texans should struggle if he gets a lead and Houston is in chase position throughout. RB Sony Michel has to be used in the red zone to cash in on trips inside the Texans’ 20-yard line.
Texans’ keys to victory: Houston has to start fast and execute soundly against a team that allows little margin for error. QB Deshaun Watson must protect the football and use his legs if the coverage is blanketing his receivers. RB Carlos Hyde has to get going and provide another means of attack so the onus isn’t solely on Watson, whom the Patriots will solve without running help. OLB Brennan Scarlett had two sacks against Jacksonville in Week 9 but has none since. The edge defender will need to make his presence felt to keep the Patriots’ certain Hall of Fame quarterback off balance.
Matchup to watch: Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore vs. Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins. If Hopkins is able to beat Gilmore on key third downs, he will sustain Houston’s drives and give them an edge over the Patriots.
Who wins? Houston is 4-1 at home while New England is 5-1 on the road. Patriots coach Bill Belichick is 14-10 against former assistants, and Texans coach Bill O’Brien is 0-5 against his old boss.
Patriots, 30-24
ET, NRG
Patriots