Texans Dominate Patriots, Spoil Drake Maye's Debut with 41-21 Victory

The Houston Texans dominated the New England Patriots, handing rookie quarterback Drake Maye a rough welcome in his first NFL start with a 41-21 victory on Sunday. C.J. Stroud led the way, throwing for three touchdowns as Houston spoiled Maye’s debut and secured their third straight win, moving to 5-1 on the season.

Joe Mixon, returning to the lineup after missing three games with an ankle injury, rushed for 102 yards and added a receiving touchdown from Stroud. “He’s got a great feel for the game and has great vision,” Stroud said of Mixon, who played a key role in balancing the Texans' offensive attack.

Stefon Diggs was another standout for the Texans, hauling in six catches for 77 yards and a touchdown, while Tank Dell contributed seven receptions for 57 yards and a score. Dameon Pierce, coming off the bench, added a late highlight with a 54-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, finishing the game with 76 yards on just eight carries.

The Texans’ defense also stepped up in a big way. Will Anderson Jr. recorded a career-best three sacks, constantly harassing Maye and forcing the Patriots into tough situations. “You’ve got to keep chopping and going and keep getting better,” Anderson said after the game. “I have to give credit to the defensive linemen. Those guys are tremendous in what they do. I love those guys.”

Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in this year's draft, had flashes of promise, completing 20 of 33 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 38 yards but struggled with turnovers, throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble deep in New England territory, which led to a Houston touchdown. Maye was sacked four times, and Houston’s relentless pressure made it difficult for him to find a rhythm.

Houston's defense was opportunistic, forcing four turnovers in total. Calen Bullock intercepted Maye in the first quarter, setting the tone early. “The thing about this team is taking the ball away,” said Anderson. “If you get a lot of turnovers, you win the game.”

Despite the struggles, Maye did give the Patriots some hope. He connected on a 40-yard touchdown pass to Kayshaun Boutte just before halftime and added two more scores in the second half. Maye found tight end Hunter Henry for a 6-yard touchdown in the third quarter, cutting Houston’s lead to 27-14, and later connected with DeMario Douglas for a 35-yard score in the fourth quarter. Douglas finished with six catches for 92 yards, one of the few bright spots for the Patriots.

Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo praised Maye's poise in his first start, saying, “I thought he showed a lot of poise. I thought he went out there and controlled the huddle, got those guys out of the huddle and once again, made some plays. It’s definitely encouraging. From a team-wide perspective right now, we let him down. It was his first game, and I feel like I let him down.”

Both teams were missing key offensive players. The Texans were without top wide receiver Nico Collins, who was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, while the Patriots were without starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson due to a foot injury.

Stroud finished the day 20 of 31 for 192 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Despite Collins’ absence, Stroud emphasized the importance of stepping up. “We knew that we needed everyone to step up. Once everyone took on that challenge, we started rolling. We couldn’t feel bad about Nico not being there. We had to pick up the slack.”

This victory marked the first time in franchise history that Houston won at New England. The Texans had been 0-7 at Gillette Stadium, including playoff losses, but they finally broke through with a complete team performance.

Houston’s run game was particularly effective, with Mixon and Pierce leading a rushing attack that piled up 192 yards. Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans expressed his satisfaction with the ground game, saying, “Those guys bring playmaking ability. Very excited to see those guys continue to do more for us, but very pleased with the run game and how they got after it.”

Penalties once again plagued the Patriots. They were flagged nine times for 50 yards, including critical penalties on third downs that helped set up each of Houston’s first-quarter touchdowns. “It’s the same story over and over again,” Mayo said of the team’s ongoing penalty issues.

While the Patriots reached a season-high in points with Maye under center, they also allowed the most points they’ve given up this season, making for a bittersweet result.

Looking ahead, the Texans (5-1) will travel to Green Bay next Sunday as they look to keep building on their strong start. The Patriots (1-5), who have now lost five straight games, will travel to London to face the Jacksonville Jaguars next week as they try to turn things around.