The Patriots heard the chatter about Houston's defense leading up to the Divisional Round bout. New England defenders took the one-sided chatter about the Texans' defense personally.
"We were hearing them talk all week," defensive tackle Milton Williams said following New England's 28-16 victory, via the Boston Globe. "Ain't nobody talking about our defense. We're going to see if they're going to talk about our defense now. Them boys are going home."
The Pats defense did its talking on the field, forcing five takeaways for the fifth time in club postseason history, and for the first time since the 2003 AFC Championship Game. New England intercepted C.J. Stroud four times in the first half Sunday afternoon, tied for the most in team postseason history.
Mike Vrabel's defense played complementary football, pressuring Stroud on 16 dropbacks, while the secondary played on a string, giving Texans targets little room to breathe, and the Pats smothered the rushing attack. Every time it seemed like Houston might be gaining some traction, the New England D shut the door with a turnover or big negative play.
"That's what I live for, to shut people up," Williams said.
K'Lavon Chaisson generated a team-high six pressures and one sack on 40 pass rushes in the Divisional Round win, including four quick pressures, matching a career-high mark.
Marcus Jones became the first Patriots player with a pick-six in a playoff game since Asante Samuel in the 2006 AFC Championship Game loss at the Colts. Carlton Davis became the first Pats player with two INTs in a playoff game since Alfonzo Dennard in the 2013 Divisional Round win over Indianapolis. Rookie safety Craig Woodson snagged a pick and recovered a key fumble on a Christian Gonzalez strip of running back Woody Marks deep in their own end.
"We got a lot of guys over here with a chip on their shoulder," Williams said. "We go out there every time we step on the field and try to prove that."
The Patriots' defense has proved its mettle, holding its two playoff opponents to a combined 19 points with a single touchdown. A New England defense that entered the postseason with questions about whether it could get red zone stops bowed up, allowing Houston to convert just 1 of 4 opportunities, holding Houston to two chip-shot field goals, and forcing a fumble.
The Texans came in with the best defense in the NFL, and they got after Drake Maye all game, recording five sacks and four fumbles (two lost). But Vrabel's defense proved it can be the difference-maker in January.
"They're playing well together," the coach said. "I feel like they're complementing each other, and our turnovers are created by more than one guy. There's some great efforts. But it's somebody tipping a pass or it's somebody that's putting pressure that's usually helping -- or (defensive play caller) Zak (Kuhr) is dialing something up that kind of changes the look. We're taking advantage of our opportunities. And that's what it's going to take in the playoffs, is you've got to take care of the ball and turn it over."
The Patriots' defense now heads to the AFC Championship Game to face the Denver Broncos, who will start backup quarterback and former New England fourth-rounder Jarrett Stidham, for the right to play for a Lombardi Trophy.
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