Houston Texans vs New England Patriots Match Player Stats (Oct 13, 2024)
Houston dominated New England 41-21 at Gillette Stadium on October 13, 2024. C.J. Stroud threw three touchdown passes while Joe Mixon rushed for 102 yards and scored twice in his return from ankle injury. Drake Maye threw for 243 yards with three touchdowns in his first NFL start but couldn’t overcome four turnovers and constant pressure from Will Anderson Jr., who posted three sacks. The Texans moved to 5-1 while snapping their 0-7 all-time streak at this venue.
Table of Contents
Game Leaders
| Category | Houston Texans | New England Patriots |
|---|---|---|
| Passing Leader | C.J. Stroud: 20/31, 192 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT | Drake Maye: 20/33, 243 YDS, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing Leader | Joe Mixon: 13 CAR, 102 YDS, 1 TD | Drake Maye: 5 CAR, 38 YDS |
| Receiving Leader | Stefon Diggs: 6 REC, 77 YDS, 1 TD | DeMario Douglas: 6 REC, 92 YDS, 1 TD |
| Defensive Leader | Will Anderson Jr.: 3 SACKS, 8 TKL | Davon Godchaux: 8 TKL, 4 SOLO |
Team Statistics
| Statistic | Texans | Patriots |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 368 | 291 |
| First Downs | 20 | 17 |
| Third Down Efficiency | 4/11 (36.4%) | 3/13 (23.1%) |
| Fourth Down Efficiency | 0/0 | 2/2 (100%) |
| Turnovers | 1 | 4 |
| Penalties | 4-38 | 9-50 |
| Time of Possession | 30:47 | 29:13 |
Houston entered Week 6 leading the AFC South with a 4-1 record. The Texans could maintain their division advantage while ending their historic futility at Gillette Stadium. New England came in at 1-4, already facing long odds in the AFC East. Head coach Jerod Mayo’s decision to start Maye over veteran Jacoby Brissett signaled the organization was prioritizing development over short-term wins.
The Texans controlled field position, converting New England’s mistakes into points. The Patriots committed nine penalties that repeatedly stalled drives, while managing just three third-down conversions in 13 attempts.
Passing Performance
Houston Texans Passing
| Player | Comp | Att | Yards | TD | INT | Sacks | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.J. Stroud | 20 | 31 | 192 | 3 | 1 | 2-16 | 100.5 |
| Davis Mills | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 39.6 |
Stroud operated without his top weapon, as Nico Collins landed on injured reserve before the game with a hamstring injury. Collins led the NFL with 567 receiving yards before going down. The second-year quarterback responded by spreading the ball around, connecting with Tank Dell (7 catches, 57 yards, TD), Stefon Diggs (6 catches, 77 yards, TD), and tight end Dalton Schultz (4 catches, 27 yards).
New England Patriots Passing
| Player | Comp | Att | Yards | TD | INT | Sacks | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drake Maye | 20 | 33 | 243 | 3 | 2 | 4-34 | 88.3 |
Maye’s debut showcased the arm talent and mobility that made him a top prospect. With 11 seconds left in the first half and New England trailing 14-0, Maye dropped back from the Houston 40-yard line under pressure. He stepped up in the pocket and launched a deep ball down the right sideline, dropping it perfectly into Kayshon Boutte’s hands in stride for a 40-yard touchdown. The throw energized the crowd of 64,628 and cut the deficit to 14-7 heading into halftime.
Maye also connected with DeMario Douglas for a 35-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, rolling left under pressure and finding Douglas crossing over the middle. But the rookie took four sacks behind an overmatched offensive line and threw interceptions to Calen Bullock and Eric Murray that killed potential scoring drives.
Rushing Performance
Houston Texans Rushing
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Mixon | 13 | 102 | 7.8 | 1 | 59 |
| Dameon Pierce | 8 | 76 | 9.5 | 1 | 54 |
| C.J. Stroud | 3 | 7 | 2.3 | 0 | 8 |
| Dare Ogunbowale | 2 | 8 | 4.0 | 0 | 4 |
| Cam Akers | 2 | -1 | -0.5 | 0 | 1 |
| Team Total | 28 | 192 | 6.9 | 2 | 59 |
Mixon returned from a three-game absence due to ankle injury and immediately reminded everyone why Houston missed him. On his 59-yard run in the second quarter, Mixon took a handoff to the left side, burst through the line of scrimmage, and accelerated past the second level before safety Jaylinn Hawkins finally dragged him down at the Patriots 22-yard line.
Pierce delivered the backbreaker late in the fourth quarter. With Houston leading 34-21 and 7:47 remaining, Pierce took a handoff around the right end, found a seam, and exploded through it for 54 yards and a touchdown that put the game out of reach. Houston averaged nearly seven yards per carry against a Patriots defense that entered ranked 13th against the run.
New England Patriots Rushing
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drake Maye | 5 | 38 | 7.6 | 0 | 15 |
| Antonio Gibson | 13 | 19 | 1.5 | 0 | 7 |
| Terrell Jennings | 5 | 13 | 2.6 | 0 | 5 |
| JaMycal Hasty | 3 | 12 | 4.0 | 0 | 5 |
| Team Total | 26 | 82 | 3.2 | 0 | 15 |
Rhamondre Stevenson’s absence with a foot injury forced Gibson into the lead role. He managed just 19 yards on 13 attempts as Houston’s defensive front controlled the line of scrimmage. Maye’s scrambling ability provided most of New England’s rushing production, though his 38 yards came more from desperation than design.
Receiving Statistics
Houston Texans Receiving
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Average | TD | Long | Targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tank Dell | 7 | 57 | 8.1 | 1 | 20 | 9 |
| Stefon Diggs | 6 | 77 | 12.8 | 1 | 26 | 7 |
| Dalton Schultz | 4 | 27 | 6.8 | 0 | 9 | 8 |
| Joe Mixon | 2 | 30 | 15.0 | 1 | 20 | 3 |
| Dameon Pierce | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Diggs and Dell combined for 13 catches, 134 yards, and two touchdowns, filling the void left by Collins. Stroud targeted eight different receivers, never allowing New England’s defense to focus on shutting down one option.
New England Patriots Receiving
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Average | TD | Long | Targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeMario Douglas | 6 | 92 | 15.3 | 1 | 35 | 9 |
| Kayshon Boutte | 3 | 59 | 19.7 | 1 | 40 | 3 |
| Hunter Henry | 3 | 41 | 13.7 | 1 | 30 | 5 |
| Antonio Gibson | 3 | 24 | 8.0 | 0 | 12 | 4 |
| Kendrick Bourne | 2 | 9 | 4.5 | 0 | 8 | 2 |
| JaMycal Hasty | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 | 9 | 2 |
| Austin Hooper | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| Ja’Lynn Polk | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
Douglas posted 92 yards, the most by a Patriots receiver in over a year, establishing himself as Maye’s most reliable target. The connection with Boutte on the deep touchdown gave the crowd something to cheer about late in the first half.
Defensive Statistics
Houston Texans Defense
| Player | Total Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | PD | QB Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Anderson Jr. | 8 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Neville Hewitt | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mario Edwards Jr. | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Henry To’oTo’o | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eric Murray | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jalen Pitre | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Danielle Hunter | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Anderson Jr. tormented tackle Vederian Lowe throughout the afternoon. According to Pro Football Reference, he posted a career-best three sacks and four tackles for loss. The second-year edge rusher lived in the Patriots backfield, constantly forcing Maye to speed up his reads.
Danielle Hunter contributed the most devastating play of the game early in the third quarter. He beat his man off the edge and sacked Maye for a 12-yard loss, jarring the ball loose in the process. Mario Edwards Jr. recovered the fumble at the New England 10-yard line, setting up Houston’s third touchdown two plays later.
Calen Bullock grabbed an interception in the first quarter and returned it 28 yards. Eric Murray added another pick in the fourth quarter, reaching around Austin Hooper to snatch the ball away for one of the more impressive interceptions of the afternoon.
New England Patriots Defense
| Player | Total Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | PD | QB Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davon Godchaux | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jahlani Tavai | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Anfernee Jennings | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Marte Mapu | 5 | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Kyle Dugger | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Keion White | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Christian Elliss | 4 | 2 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jaquelin Roy | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Marcus Jones provided one of New England’s few highlights, intercepting Stroud in the end zone after Mixon’s long run had put Houston in scoring position. Jones returned the pick 35 yards, temporarily keeping the game from becoming a blowout. The defense battled throughout but couldn’t prevent the two explosive rushing touchdowns that proved decisive.
Special Teams
Kicking
| Team | Player | FG Made/Att | Long | XP Made/Att | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texans | Ka’imi Fairbairn | 2/3 | 46 | 5/5 | 11 |
| Patriots | Joey Slye | 0/0 | 0 | 3/3 | 3 |
Fairbairn connected on field goals of 39 and 46 yards within 90 seconds of each other in the third quarter, extending Houston’s lead to 27-7 just as New England threatened to make things interesting.
Punting and Returns
| Team | Player | Punts | Yards | Average | Inside 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texans | Tommy Townsend | 4 | 185 | 46.3 | 1 |
| Patriots | Bryce Baringer | 6 | 299 | 49.8 | 2 |
Beyond the offense and defense, special teams contributed to Houston’s field position advantage. JaMycal Hasty handled six kick returns for New England, averaging 23.2 yards. Steven Sims managed punt return duties for Houston with four returns averaging 7.5 yards. The real difference, though, came in how each offense capitalized on their opportunities.
Four Turnovers Buried New England
The Patriots simply couldn’t protect the football. Calen Bullock picked off an overthrown deep ball intended for DeMario Douglas in the first quarter, giving Houston possession at the New England 27-yard line. The Texans converted the turnover into their second touchdown, going up 14-0.
The killer turnover came early in the third quarter with New England trailing 14-7 and trying to build momentum. Danielle Hunter’s sack knocked the ball loose from Maye at the Patriots 22-yard line, and Mario Edwards Jr. pounced on it at the 10. Two plays later, Stroud hit Stefon Diggs for a 10-yard touchdown that pushed the lead to 21-7.
Austin Hooper fumbled on the first play of another Patriots possession, handing Houston the ball at the New England 31-yard line. Ka’imi Fairbairn converted the opportunity into three points with a 39-yard field goal.
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo didn’t sugarcoat the turnover issues postgame: “Had three or four turnovers in the game. Can’t win if you lose that battle.”
Explosive Runs Put the Game Away
Two long touchdown runs broke New England’s resistance. Mixon’s 59-yarder in the second quarter gave Houston prime field position, though Marcus Jones’ end zone interception temporarily kept the Texans from padding their lead.
The decisive blows came in the fourth quarter. Mixon found the end zone on a 20-yard run, pushing the lead to 34-14. Then Pierce delivered the final dagger. Taking a handoff around the right end with 7:47 remaining, he hit the edge, cut upfield, and raced 54 yards untouched for a touchdown that made it 41-21.
Houston averaged 6.9 yards per carry, consistently gashing the Patriots front seven. The difference came down to talent at the running back position, as Ryans explained: “Those guys bring playmaking ability. Not just getting what the run is blocked for. When your backs are special, they get more than what is blocked for.”
Maye’s Debut Mixed Highs with Harsh Lessons
Maye showed why he was the third overall pick in the 2024 draft. His 40-yard touchdown to Boutte just before halftime cut Houston’s lead to 14-7 and gave the Gillette Stadium crowd reason to believe. He displayed poise in the pocket, arm strength on deep throws, and mobility when extending plays under pressure.
His 35-yard touchdown to Douglas in the fourth quarter came on a play that should have resulted in a sack. Rolling left under pressure, Maye kept his eyes downfield and found Douglas crossing over the middle, fitting the ball into a tight window for the score.
The negatives included four sacks against Houston’s aggressive pass rush. Anderson Jr. beat Lowe repeatedly off the edge, while the interior struggled to pick up stunts and twists. Maye took four sacks and made two crucial mistakes with interceptions that stalled potential scoring drives.
C.J. Stroud, who went through similar growing pains as a rookie the previous season, offered encouragement after the game: “I gave him a little word, you know, tried to give him a little word of encouragement. I thought he played really solid, you know. Definitely feel like he’ll get better and better as he keeps going.”
Historic Win, Continued Struggles
Houston’s victory carried significant weight beyond the standings. The Texans had never won at Gillette Stadium, going 0-7 at the venue including painful playoff defeats in 2012 and 2016. DeMeco Ryans emphasized what the win meant to the organization: “This is an organization, our first time winning here in New England, so it’s a special game for everyone.”
At 5-1, the Texans maintained control of the AFC South despite missing their top receiver. Stroud’s ability to spread the ball around and Mixon’s immediate impact provided optimism heading into a Week 7 trip to Green Bay.
New England fell to 1-5, extending their losing streak to five games and firmly placing them in the AFC’s basement. While Maye showed enough promise to justify the move from Brissett, the roster deficiencies around him became painfully obvious. The offensive line contributed to nine penalties for 50 yards that repeatedly killed drives.
Mayo didn’t hold back when addressing the penalty problems. “The penalties in the first half, just too many. It’s the same story over and over again.”
The Patriots headed to London for a Week 7 matchup against Jacksonville, another struggling AFC team sitting at 1-5. For comprehensive series history and additional matchup data between these franchises, detailed records are available at Match Player Stats.
Week 6 showed where both teams stood. Houston proved they’re a legitimate AFC contender capable of winning in multiple ways. New England found their quarterback of the future but faces a long road ahead building a competitive roster around him. The performance gap was evident across every phase of the game.
Complete game coverage and additional statistics available through ESPN’s game recap, Patriots.com reporting, and Texans.com coverage.
