Drake Maye, Patriots stare down Texans' menacing defense
Wed Jan 14 9:33pm ET
Field Level Media
Drake Maye's first career start came against the Houston Texans and their vaunted defense.
Maye will get another look at perhaps the finest defense in the NFL on Sunday when the New England Patriots battle the Texans in the AFC divisional round on Sunday at Foxborough, Mass.
Maye is an MVP candidate after starring in his second regular season, but the quarterback relishes that first start against Houston. The Patriots lost 41-21 on Oct. 13, 2024.
"It feels like 10 years ago," Maye said Wednesday. "It's been a long journey. Just taking time to reflect on running out there with the team (and having) first-snap jitters was pretty cool. It's fun to look back on."
Maye was intercepted twice that day while throwing for 243 yards and three touchdowns. That provides a hint at the challenge ahead in trying to help the Patriots advance to the AFC title contest.
"We got our hands full," Maye said. "We know it's going to be a tough game. We have to play the game the right way."
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel also is concerned with the Texans, who led the NFL in total defense and finished second in scoring defense and takeaway margin during the regular season.
"They chase the football and they get a lot of hats to the football," Vrabel said. "They create turnovers. They play physical."
Maye helped lead second-seeded New England to a 16-3 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, the franchise's first postseason win since Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams. He passed for 268 yards and one touchdown and was intercepted once.
Maye was sacked five times and this week's matchup features Houston pass rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., known for their speed and relentless style.
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans -- a former two-time Pro Bowl linebacker -- is concerned about the foot speed of Maye, who had 66 yards on 10 rushes against the Chargers.
"Where he's taking that next step is his ability to escape the pocket," Ryans said Wednesday. "I think it really doesn't get talked about much, but his athletic ability, his ability to escape the pocket has been really clutch for them. He's made some big runs to really hurt a lot of defenses, so we have to be conscious of that."
The fifth-seeded Texans advanced with a 30-6 road victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night.
Sheldon Rankins returned a fumble for a touchdown after Anderson's strip-sack of Aaron Rodgers and Calen Bullock intercepted Rodgers' final pass of the game and returned it for a score. The Texans allowed just 175 total yards and 13 first downs.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud passed for 250 yards and a touchdown but was sloppy with three turnovers (one interception, two lost fumbles).
Stroud admitted he must be better with ball protection. He's now focused on notching a second straight playoff win in a tough road atmosphere.
"I think last week was a good test for us," Stroud said. "I think being able to get past that with a ‘W,' this next week is going to be the same type of environment -- loud."
Regardless, Houston has the opportunity to reach the AFC Championship Game for the first time in franchise history.
"I don't take it lightly to be one of the final four teams left in the AFC," Ryans said. "It's where you want to be, it's the position you want to be in if you're a competitor and I'm a true competitor."
It appears Houston won't have Nico Collins on Sunday. The three-time 1,000-yard receiver sustained a concussion during the Monday night game and was one of four Texans to miss practice Wednesday. The others are defensive end Denico Autry (knee), offensive tackle Trent Brown (ankle) and receiver Justin Watson (concussion). Autry has blocked 14 kicks in his career.
Sitting out for New England were offensive tackles Morgan Moses and Thayer Munford Jr., both with knee ailments. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez remains in concussion protocol after being hurt against the Chargers. Vrabel is hopeful Gonzalez will be cleared by Sunday.
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The Paur Report
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Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson hauled in two of three targets for 34 yards and a touchdown in the 34-31 win over the Carolina Panthers. Parkinson was quiet for most of the game, but he reeled in the game-winning 19-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matthew Stafford, sending the Rams to the divisional round. Despite joining a mess of a tight end room this offseason, the former Seahawk has stepped up in a major way this season, scoring nine touchdowns in 16 games. He faces a Chicago Bears defense that has ranked middle-of-the-pack against tight ends this season, despite being close to the bottom in total yards allowed. With only eight teams left and star tight ends injured among those teams, Parkinson ranks as one of the top options at the position this week.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington (knee) was not listed on this week's injury report and appears to be on track to return for the Divisional Round of the playoffs this Sunday against the hosting Chicago Bears, according to Adam Grosbard of the Los Angeles Daily News. Whittington suffered a knee injury in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals and didn't play in the Wild-Card win over the Carolina Panthers last Saturday. The 25-year-old has recovered nicely from his knee injury, but he won't be a recommended fantasy football play in postseason leagues with receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams soaking up most of the targets. Whittington had only 18 receptions the entire regular season on 25 targets for 171 yards and no touchdowns in 17 games. He's too far buried on L.A.'s WR depth chart.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot) remains on the team's injury report and was listed as limited for the walkthrough practice on Wednesday. Odunze missed the final five weeks of the regular season due to a stress fracture in his foot. The 23-year-old returned for the Wild-Card round of the playoffs in the win over the division-rival Green Bay Packers, though, and played 69% of the offensive snaps while securing only two catches on six targets for 44 yards. Odunze was a disappointment for any fantasy managers that rolled with him, but he could have a bigger role in his second game back this Sunday in a Divisional Round matchup against a Los Angeles Rams defense that gave up the 11th-most half-PPR points to WRs during the regular season. Still, Odunze will be a pretty shaky low-end WR option for fantasy playoff lineups since he hasn't really done much since early in the 2025 season.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson (hamstring) was a full participant in the first practice of the week on Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles Daily News' Adam Grosbard. A hamstring injury kept Ferguson from playing in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals and the Wild-Card win over the Carolina Panthers last Saturday. Now that the 22-year-old is practicing in full again, though, he should be ready to play on Sunday against the Chicago Bears in the Divisional Round. For fantasy purposes, managers should be looking in another direction. Ferguson scored in each of his last two games, but that was before Tyler Higbee returned from Injured Reserve. The Rams also have Colby Parkinson, who has been involved since Higbee's return. Ferguson had only 11 catches during the regular season and will most likely struggle to produce this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (knee) was listed as a limited participant during the team's walkthrough practice on Wednesday. Moore was also listed on last week's injury report due to a knee injury, but he was eventually removed and caught six of a season-high seven targets for 64 yards and a touchdown in the Wild-Card win over the division-rival Green Bay Packers. The 28-year-old also led the team's WRs with an 86% snap share. It was a bit of a surprise with Rome Odunze returning from a foot injury that kept him out of the final five regular-season games. Moore and the Bears will face a Los Angeles Rams defense in the Divisional Round that has had trouble slowing down opposing offenses in recent weeks, and they gave up the 11th-most half-PPR points to opposing wideouts during the regular season. However, Moore's role could shrink with Odunze another week removed from his foot injury.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (finger) was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, according to Adam Grosbard of the Los Angeles Daily News. Stafford sprained his right index finger in the Wild-Card win over the Carolina Panthers last Saturday, but the Rams were never concerned about his availability for the Divisional Round this Sunday versus the Chicago Bears. In the win over the Panthers, Stafford went 24-for-42 passing for 304 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. The 37-year-old veteran is the favorite to win the NFL MVP this year after throwing for a league-high 4,707 yards, a league-high 46 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions in 17 regular-season games. His finger injury shouldn't be an issue this weekend in Chicago against a Bears defense that allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to QBs. Stafford is the top QB on the board in fantasy this week.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans wide receiver Justin Watson (concussion) was unable to practice with the team on Wednesday after suffering a concussion in Monday night's Wild-Card victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. On a short week, Watson should probably be considered doubtful to be available in the Divisional Round on Sunday against the hosting New England Patriots. The 29-year-old pass-catcher only played in three games in 2025 in his first year in Houston due to injuries, catching three of four targets for 30 yards. Watson wasn't targeted on Monday night before his head injury. In addition to Watson, Texans' top wideout Nico Collins is in the league's concussion protocol and therefore up in the air to play on Sunday. If both Watson and Collins cannot play, there would be more opportunities in the passing game for rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, Christian Kirk, and Xavier Hutchinson.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans running back Jawhar Jordan (ankle) returned to practice on Wednesday and was listed as a limited participant, according to the team. Jordan suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Indianapolis Colts and didn't play in Monday night's Wild-Card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 26-year-old second-year back being back at practice this week is good news, but it doesn't guarantee that he'll be active as backfield depth for the Divisional Round on Sunday in New England against the Patriots. Even if Jordan were to continue progressing and play this weekend, he wouldn't be a suggested fantasy football lineup option in the RB2 role behind rookie Woody Marks for the Texans. Jordan had only 43 carries during the regular season for 193 yards and no touchdowns on the ground. He added 34 receiving yards.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (knee) is on this week's injury report and was limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday, according to the team. A limited showing early in the week means that Henry should be fine to play on Sunday in the Divisional Round versus the Houston Texans, but we'll keep a close eye on his status going into the weekend. If the 31-year-old veteran is active against the top defense in the league this weekend, he'll be considered a midrange fantasy football option at the TE position. Henry was tied for 13th among tight ends during the regular season with 8.8 half-PPR fantasy points per game, but his stock has been on the rise, as he's found paydirt three times in the last four games while clearing 50 receiving yards twice. Houston allowed 775 receiving yards to TEs this year, the seventh-fewest in the league.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins (foot), who has been on Injured Reserve since Nov. 6 due to foot surgery, was seen doing work on a side field during practice on Wednesday, according to Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette. The 27-year-old is trying to make himself available if the Broncos advance deep into the postseason, but it remains to be seen if he'd be an option for the team if they advanced past the Buffalo Bills during the Divisional Round this weekend to play in the AFC Championship. For now, Denver will stick with a backfield led by rookie RJ Harvey. Dobbins was on pace for a career year in 2025 before his Lisfranc injury, as he had 772 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 153 carries in 10 games. He cannot resume practicing with the rest of the team until the Broncos open his 21-day practice window.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills kicker Matt Prater (quadriceps, calf) was a full participant in practice on Wednesday. Prater played through a right-quad injury in the Wild-Card win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, but he didn't handle kickoffs. He was a non-participant in practice on Tuesday, but all signs point to him being active for the Divisional Round on Saturday against the Denver Broncos now that he's back to a full practice. The 41-year-old veteran made both of his field-goal tries and all three of his extra-point opportunities against the Jags despite being less than 100%. Although Prater will be kicking in the thin air of Denver this weekend, he'll be on the low end of fantasy kicking options in playoff leagues, with his quad injury being a factor.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (foot, knee, finger) was a full participant in practice on Wednesday. Allen has been dealing with a nagging foot injury since late in the regular season, but he popped up on this week's injury report with new knee and finger ailments as well. They obviously aren't too serious, though, as Allen is a full-go in practice leading up to Saturday's Divisional Round game against the Denver Broncos. Denver's defense was one of the best in the league during the regular season and wasn't a friendly fantasy matchup for opposing QBs, but Allen is in a league of his own due to his dual-threat abilities. That remains true, even though Buffalo's receiving corps has been thinned out due to season-ending knee injuries to wideouts Gabe Davis (knee) and Tyrell Shavers (knee). Because of his rushing ability -- he led the NFL with 14 rushing TDs during the regular season and had two more in the Wild-Card round -- Allen is a top-tier fantasy QB in playoff leagues.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee, calf) remained a limited participant in Wednesday's practice. Kincaid played through a knee injury late in the regular season, but he added a calf ailment this week. All indications are that Kincaid will be available for the Divisional Round of the postseason this Saturday against the hosting Denver Broncos, where he could be targeted heavily with receivers Gabe Davis (knee) and Tyrell Shavers (knee) out with torn ACLs. The 26-year-old could take a questionable tag into the weekend if he doesn't upgrade to a full practice on Thursday, but Kincaid should still be considered a top-three fantasy football TE this weekend if he's active. Kincaid is one of quarterback Josh Allen's top targets, and he scored his sixth touchdown of the season in the Wild-Card win last Sunday over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson (ankle) was unable to practice for the second straight day this week on Wednesday due to an ankle injury that he picked up in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the New York Jets. Johnson was inactive in Sunday's Wild-Card win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and is trending toward missing a second straight game. Even if the 28-year-old practices on Thursday and can play on Saturday against the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round, Johnson won't be on the fantasy radar in playoff leagues as the team's RB3 behind James Cook and Ray Davis. Davis only played 32% of the offensive snaps last weekend with Johnson out, failing to record a rushing attempt or a target in the passing game. Davis isn't a standalone fantasy option, either, as long as Cook remains healthy.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) is "optimistic" that he will return in the Divisional Round of the playoffs this Saturday night against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks and plans to be at full speed in practice on Wednesday, according to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. Pearsall practiced in a limited fashion on Tuesday for the first time since Dec. 31 due to an aggravation of a PCL sprain in his right knee. The 25-year-old former first-rounder is also battling an ankle injury. Injuries continued to be an issue for Pearsall in 2025 -- he played in just nine games -- but he appears to be trending in the right direction to be active against Seattle. That would be a big boost to a Niners offense that just lost star tight end George Kittle to a torn Achilles tendon. It would also be bad news for the fantasy upside of both receivers Jauan Jennings and Demarcus Robinson.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen finished Sunday's Wild-Card win over the Jaguars with 273 passing yards, 33 rushing yards, and three total touchdowns despite playing with a banged-up and underwhelming receiving corps. The Bills placed Joshua Palmer (ankle) on Injured Reserve one day before the game and lost Gabe Davis (knee) to a torn ACL early on Sunday. With a receiving depth chart topped by Khalil Shakir and a 32-year-old Brandin Cooks, Allen was able to will the team to victory, and he remains a must-start in fantasy playoff leagues, even as the difficulty of opponents ratchets up. Denver was a top-10 regular-season defense against opposing fantasy quarterbacks, but Allen remains RotoBaller's QB1 heading into the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton saw double-digit targets in four straight games before a Week 18 win over the Chargers that saw many of the team's starters pulled early. Coming off an extended rest, Sutton hopes to pick things up where he left off, after finishing with at least 62 receiving yards in four of five games from Weeks 13 to 17, and scoring three times in that span. Sutton finished the year with his second consecutive 1,000-yard season, and some of his biggest games came against teams that were part of this year's playoff field. The Broncos open their playoff slate against a Bills team that saw Parker Washington get loose for over 100 yards and a score in a Wild Card matchup that came down to the final drive. While Buffalo's defense has been more susceptible on the ground than through the air this season, Sutton is RotoBaller's WR4 for the week and a solid play in fantasy playoff leagues.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (concussion) was not seen during the open portion of Wednesday's practice after leaving Monday night's Wild-Card win over the Steelers with a concussion. The Texans face the Patriots on Sunday, and if he hopes to suit up, Collins will need to clear the league's concussion protocol, which becomes complicated by his prior history of concussions. Collins suffered a concussion earlier this season and was forced to miss time in October. Despite exiting Monday's game early, Collins finished second on the team with seven targets, but was able to gather in only three catches for 21 yards on a night in which quarterback C.J. Stroud was not at his best. If Collins is unable to play on Sunday, Christian Kirk, who led the team with eight catches for 144 yards and a touchdown, will again be tasked with leading an otherwise young and inexperienced receiver room.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (finger) was able to shake off a relatively sluggish start and a minor finger sprain in Saturday's Wild Card win over the Panthers, finishing the day with 304 passing yards and three touchdowns to his one interception. Given that he was inches away from being credited with a fourth passing touchdown, he remains as viable an option in playoff fantasy leagues as he did throughout a brilliant regular season. In the Divisional Round, Stafford and the Rams face a Chicago defense fresh off an exhilarating shootout that saw them allow 323 passing yards and four touchdowns to Jordan Love. Despite the sprained finger, Stafford is RotoBaller's QB2 for the weekend.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Demarcus Robinson caught six passes for a team-high 111 receiving yards and a touchdown in Sunday's Wild Card win over the Eagles. With the injury-stricken status of the 49ers' pass-catching depth chart, he could be tasked with handling a similarly heavy workload in a Divisional Round clash with the Seahawks on Saturday. Tight end George Kittle (Achilles) saw his season come to an end when he ruptured his Achilles tendon on Sunday, and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) began the week as a limited practice participant after missing the playoff opener with knee and ankle injuries. Christian McCaffrey is likely to remain the primary option in San Francisco's passing game, as he has all season, but if Pearsall is unable to suit up on Saturday, the 31-year-old Robinson could be in line for another productive outing.
From RotoBaller
