Houston Texans vs New England Patriots Match Player Stats (Oct 13, 2024)
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Houston Texans vs New England Patriots match player stats showed a complete mismatch Sunday as Houston hammered the Patriots 41-21 at Gillette Stadium.
The Week 6 victory marked Houston’s first win at the Patriots’ home field in franchise history, while rookie quarterback Drake Maye made his first NFL start for New England.
“It’s a big one for us,” Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans said following the historic win, according to Click2Houston.
Table of Contents
QB Battle: Stroud Efficient, Maye Shows Promise Despite Turnovers
QB Battle: Stroud vs Maye
| Quarterback | Comp/Att | Yards | TDs | INTs | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.J. Stroud (HOU) | 20/31 (64.5%) | 192 | 3 | 1 | 100.5 |
| Drake Maye (NE) | 20/33 (60.6%) | 243 | 3 | 2 | 88.3 |
C.J. Stroud managed the game smartly for Houston despite missing top receiver Nico Collins (hamstring). The second-year QB connected on three scoring passes while keeping mistakes to a minimum.
“We knew that we needed everyone to step up… We had to pick up the slack,” Stroud said postgame, as reported by CBSSports.
Maye’s debut showed plenty of arm talent, as the rookie matched Stroud with three touchdown throws. His second-quarter 40-yard strike to Kayshon Boutte briefly energized the home crowd before halftime.
Patriots coach Jerod Mayo offered a mixed assessment of his rookie’s first start.
“He made some good decisions…extended plays with his legs…but needs to be better,” Mayo said. “We let Maye down,” according to Patriots.com postgame quotes.
Ground Attack: Mixon, Pierce Run Wild on Patriots Defense
Ground Attack Comparison
| Team | Rush Yards | Yards/Carry | Leading Rusher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texans | 192 | 6.9 | Mixon: 13 att, 102 yds, TD |
| Patriots | 82 | 3.2 | Maye: 5 att, 38 yds |
Joe Mixon returned from an ankle injury to torch the Patriots defense. His 13 carries netted 102 yards (7.8 avg), including a 59-yard burst that set the tone early.
Stroud praised his running back after the game: “He’s got a great feel for the game and has great vision,” per CBS Sports game tracker.
Dameon Pierce added 76 yards on just eight attempts (9.5 avg), highlighted by a 54-yard touchdown dash in the fourth quarter that slammed the door on any Patriots comeback hopes.
New England’s ground game struggled without injured Rhamondre Stevenson (foot). Antonio Gibson managed just 19 yards on 13 carries (1.5 avg), forcing Maye to shoulder too much of the offensive load in his debut.
Pass Catchers Step Up Without Collins
Top Receivers
| Receiver | Team | Rec | Yards | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stefon Diggs | HOU | 6 | 77 | 1 |
| Tank Dell | HOU | 7 | 57 | 1 |
| DeMario Douglas | NE | 6 | 92 | 1 |
| Kayshon Boutte | NE | 3 | 59 | 1 |
With Nico Collins sidelined, the Texans spread the ball around. Diggs and Dell both caught touchdown passes, while tight end Dalton Schultz added four grabs for 27 yards.
For the Patriots, DeMario Douglas emerged as Maye’s favorite target, grabbing six passes for 92 yards including a 35-yard score. Douglas mentioned his connection with Maye comes from “extra reps…every day after practice,” according to Patriots postgame quotes.
Boutte made the most of his three catches, highlighted by his 40-yard touchdown grab just before halftime.
Anderson, Hunter Terrorize Patriots O-Line
Defensive Impact Players
| Defender | Team | Tackles | Turnovers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will Anderson Jr. | HOU | 8 | 0 |
| Danielle Hunter | HOU | 1 | 1 FF |
| Davon Godchaux | NE | 4 | 0 |
Will Anderson Jr. went off on Sunday, racking up three sacks, four tackles for loss, and eight total tackles. The second-year edge rusher earned a 91.2 PFF grade for his disruptive performance, according to a Reddit post analyzing PFF grades.
Veteran Danielle Hunter added a sack and forced a crucial fumble. Together, the duo accounted for all four of Houston’s sacks on the day.
Patriots tackle Vederian Lowe exited with an ankle injury during the game, according to CBS Sports, compounding New England’s pass protection woes.
For New England, defensive tackle Davon Godchaux was the lone bright spot, earning an 89.0 PFF grade while allowing no completions when targeted in coverage, per Patriots Football Now.
Turnovers Tell the Tale: Patriots Cough Up Four
Turnover Battle
| Team | INTs | Fumbles Lost | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texans | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Patriots | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Ball security doomed the Patriots, who finished minus-3 in turnover margin. Coach Mayo didn’t mince words postgame: “Can’t win if you lose that battle,” he told reporters.
Maye threw two picks and lost a fumble, while tight end Austin Hooper coughed up another. Each turnover halted momentum when New England desperately needed positive plays.
The rookie QB took ownership of his mistakes, noting the team “hurt ourselves with turnovers” and acknowledging he “wish I could have some throws back,” according to Patriots.com.
How It Happened: Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter (HOU 14, NE 0) Houston struck quickly with two touchdowns. Stroud hit Dell for a 2-yard score at 9:18, then found Mixon from 10 yards out at 3:18 following a 19-yard punt return by Steven Sims that set up great field position, according to Fox Sports game recap.
Second Quarter (HOU 14, NE 7) Fairbairn missed a 40-yard field goal attempt at 14:33. The Patriots got on the board when Maye connected with Boutte on a 40-yard touchdown with just 11 seconds left before halftime, giving New England life heading into the break.
Third Quarter (HOU 27, NE 14) Houston quickly squashed New England’s momentum when Hunter strip-sacked Maye at 13:32, with Edwards recovering at the Patriots’ 22. Stroud immediately capitalized with a 10-yard TD to Diggs. After two Fairbairn field goals, Maye hit Henry for a 6-yard score at 1:05.
Fourth Quarter (HOU 41, NE 21) Any Patriots comeback hopes died when Maye was picked off by Murray early in the quarter, leading to Mixon’s 20-yard TD run at 13:23. Maye connected with Douglas for a 35-yard score at 9:31, but Pierce answered immediately with his 54-yard touchdown sprint at 7:58, making it 41-21.
DVOA Rankings Show Massive Team Disparity
The gap between these teams goes beyond the final score, according to Football Outsiders’ DVOA metrics:
DVOA Team Efficiency Rankings
| Team | Overall | ST |
|---|---|---|
| Texans | 21.1% (6th) | 2.6% (7th) |
| Patriots | -33.8% (29th) | 3.3% (5th) |
Houston’s defense ranks second in the NFL per DVOA, while their offense sits at a respectable 17th. New England’s struggles are reflected in bottom-five rankings on both sides of the ball, with only their special teams unit performing at an above-average level.
What’s Next for Both Teams
For Houston, this win stamps them as legitimate AFC contenders. Their defensive front seven, led by Anderson and Hunter, gives them a chance against any opponent. Offensively, they’ve shown they can produce even without Collins in the lineup.
The Texans will face another test when they take on the Kansas City Chiefs later this season in what could be a playoff preview.
For New England, Maye’s debut showed promise despite the mistakes. His three touchdown passes matched Jacoby Brissett’s entire output from the first five games combined. However, the offensive line issues and defensive lapses show how much work remains in their rebuild.
The Maye-Douglas connection could be something to build on, similar to the passing game progress we’ve seen in other Patriots games this season.
Three Takeaways
- Anderson-Hunter combo might be NFL’s best edge duo: Their four combined sacks and constant pressure disrupted everything New England tried to establish offensively.
- Maye brings higher ceiling to Patriots offense: Despite the turnovers, his three TD passes showed the rookie can make throws Brissett simply couldn’t.
- Houston’s running game traveling well: Rushing for 192 yards at 6.9 per carry on the road shows this ground attack can succeed in any environment.
FAQ’s About Houston Texans vs New England Patriots Match Player Stats
What milestone did the Texans achieve in this game?
This 41-21 victory marked the first time in franchise history that the Texans won at Gillette Stadium against the Patriots, according to the Houston Texans official website.
How did Maye’s stats compare to Stroud’s?
Maye threw for more yards (243 to Stroud’s 192) and matched his 3 TDs, but had 2 INTs to Stroud’s 1, plus a lost fumble. Maye added 38 rushing yards while Stroud had 7. Stroud finished with a higher passer rating (100.5 vs. 88.3).
Who was the defensive standout?
Will Anderson Jr. dominated with 3 sacks, 4 tackles for loss, and 8 total tackles, earning a 91.2 PFF grade. His constant pressure directly contributed to Maye’s turnovers.
How did Houston overcome Collins’ absence?
Multiple players stepped up: Diggs (6 catches, 77 yards, TD) and Dell (7 catches, 57 yards, TD) in the passing game, plus 192 rushing yards between Mixon (102) and Pierce (76).
What caused New England’s defensive problems?
Poor run fits and tackling fundamentals, according to Coach Mayo. The Patriots allowed 192 rushing yards at 6.9 per carry, including explosive runs of 59 and 54 yards.
Did special teams impact the outcome?
While not decisive, Marcus Jones fumbled a punt return for New England, while Texans returner Steven Sims had a key 19-yard punt return that set up Houston’s second touchdown drive from the Patriots’ 45.
The Houston Texans vs New England Patriots match player stats from Week 6 showcase why the Texans are climbing the AFC standings while the Patriots continue rebuilding around their rookie quarterback.
