Patriots Return to AFC Championship After 6-Year Drought

After six long years away, the New England Patriots are returning to where they once felt right at home: the AFC Championship Game.

The Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 28-16 in Sunday's divisional playoff round at Gillette Stadium, forcing five turnovers in heavy winter weather to punch their ticket. From 2001 to 2018, New England appeared in 13 AFC Championship Games, including eight straight seasons to close that stretch.

Young quarterback Drake Maye is filling some legendary shoes in just his second season. He may not have posted eye-popping numbers with 179 yards and three turnovers, but he made the throws that mattered when his team needed them most.

The Patriots came out aggressive, converting a fourth-and-1 into a 28-yard touchdown pass to Demario Douglas. After Houston briefly took a 10-7 lead, the momentum swung back when C.J. Stroud threw a pick-six, his second of four first-half interceptions.

Maye connected with Stefon Diggs before halftime to make it 21-10. The Texans clawed back with two third-quarter field goals, but the Patriots sealed it when Maye hit Kayshon Boutte for a spectacular diving touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.

Stroud struggled throughout the snowy conditions, completing just 42.6% of his passes in a tough ending to what had been an MVP-caliber season. The Patriots defense delivered when it counted most, creating opportunities that their offense converted into points.

The Ripple Effect

Next week brings a rematch steeped in history: the Patriots will face the Denver Broncos for a Super Bowl berth, echoing their 2016 AFC Championship showdown. That game featured Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, who had 33 combined seasons of NFL experience between them.

This time, it's Drake Maye and Bo Nix (or possibly backup Jarrett Stidham) in just their second seasons. The passing of the torch from one generation to the next shows how football dynasties can rise again with fresh talent and renewed determination.

For Patriots fans who waited through six seasons without a conference championship appearance, this feels like a homecoming worth celebrating.