Before Williams was hurt in Week 11, the Patriots ranked eighth in defensive rushing success rate. In the six games he missed, they ranked 31st. The Patriots need Williams to be a stalwart for their run defense against a Texans offense that wants to run the ball on early downs and reduce risk.

FOXBORO, Mass. — In what became one of the sloppiest defensive slugfests you'll ever see in the National Football League, the Patriots took down the Texans 28–16 on Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium and—behind a suffocating defensive performance—clinched their first AFC Championship Game appearance since 2018.

The New England Patriots are heading back to the AFC Championship Game after beating the Houston Texans, 28-16.

For the first time since 2021, the New England Patriots have clinched a spot in the NFL playoffs. The Patriots did so after playing the Baltimore Ravens in a tightly-contested game on Sunday, Dec. 22, ending with the Patriots winning by a score of 28-24.

The New England Patriots managed to clear their first postseason hurdle, now its is time for the second. On Sunday, the last AFC East team standing will welcome the Houston Texans to Gillette Stadium in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. Here is all the information you need to follow the Patriots’ divisional round game.

Maldonado's pick: Rams 38, Bears 30 Moody's pick: Rams 30, Bears 24 Solak's pick: Bears 33, Rams 31 Walder's pick: Rams 33, Bears 28 FPI prediction: LAR, 61.8% (by an average of 4.5 points)

Live text and score updates from Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears after New England Patriots beat Houston Texans in divisional round of NFL play-offs.