Texans vs. Patriots: Three must-know storylines for Sunday's Divisional Round game

The New England Patriots and Houston Texans are set to face off in a critical playoff matchup, with the winner advancing to the AFC Championship Game. Both teams have shown significant improvement since their slow starts, with the Patriots at 2-2 and the Texans at 0-3 at the end of September. New England is led by emerging quarterback Drake Maye, while Houston relies on its strong defensive performance. The Texans will look for a rebound from quarterback C.J. Stroud after a challenging game against Pittsburgh. The Patriots' defense demonstrated its strength by sacking Justin Herbert five times and conceding only three points in their Wild Card victory over the Chargers. If the Buffalo Bills defeat the Denver Broncos, the Texans-Patriots winner will host the AFC Championship.