Drake Maye, Patriots Beat Texans in Snowy Playoff Game as NFL Fans Blast Turnover-Filled Battle

If you're a fan of turnovers, boy did the New England Patriots and Houston Texans have the game for you.

In snowy conditions in Foxboro, the two teams combined for eight turnovers in New England's 28-16 win over Houston in the AFC Divisional Round. The game's two quarterbacks combined for seven of them, as C.J. Stroud threw four interceptions, while Drake Maye threw an interception and lost two fumbles.

Maye did add three touchdown passes, however, aided by fantastic catches from Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte.

And so the Patriots survived, and fans in New England will certainly take it. But one of the main conversations from the game was just how sloppy it was overall:

You could blame the conditions, or a pair of very good defenses (Stroud had pressure in his face constantly, while Maye was sacked five times). But for long stretches, neither one of these offenses was very good.

The difference was that Maye and the Patriots were ultimately able to find just enough of a rhythm to put points on the board, while the Texans and Stroud labored all afternoon. Even Stroud's throws that weren't picked off or deflected were often very inaccurate. Maye was the better quarterback on the afternoon, and that was ultimately one of the main differences in the contest.

But he and the Patriots are going to have a lot to clean up heading into next week, when an equally stout Denver defense awaits at Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos may be without Bo Nix, but that defense will give them a shot.

Houston's defense might have given the team a shot as well if the offense didn't consistently give the ball right back to New England.