Lamar Miller is tackled by the New England Patriots defense. (Getty)
The New England Patriots are once again the top seed in the AFC playoffs, and began their postseason for the 2016-17 season with a 34-16 victory over the Houston Texans. While the history of games between these two teams is brief, there have been some entertaining contests between the two franchises.
In the regular season, New England has owned Houston. The Patriots are 6-1 against the Texans all-time in the regular season, and 3-0 in home games, which is the case for Saturday night’s playoff game. Over the last two regular season contests, New England has outscored Houston 54-6.
Here’s a list of all the regular season contests between the two teams, with the home team in each game listed second.
Regular Season Scores
2016: Texans 0, Patriots 27
2015: Patriots 27, Texans 6
2013: Patriots 34, Texans 31
2012: Texans 14, Patriots 42
2009: Patriots 27, Texans 34
2006: Texans 7, Patriots 40
2003: Patriots 23, Texans 20 OT
As far as the postseason goes, Saturday night was just the second time that these two teams have met up. The first instance was in the 2012-13 season, when the Patriots hosted the Texans and rode a big third quarter to a 41-28 win.
The game was an aerial assault, as Houston quarterback Matt Schaub and New England quarterback Tom Brady combined for a total of 687 yards in the game while tossing a combined five touchdowns.
If the Texans had came into Gillette Stadium and left with a win, it would have started to balance the scales that currently lean heavily in the Patriots’ favor. Postseason and regular season contests combined, New England is now 8-1 against Houston and has still has never lost at home to the Texans.
