The Patriots beat the Houston Texans in Sunday’s AFC Divisional Round matchup, 28-16, and will head to their first AFC Championship game since the 2018 season.The Patriots scored first on their second drive of the first quarter, with a touchdown pass to DeMario Douglas for 28 yards. A second touchdown, this time by the defense, came on an interception by Patriots Marcus Jones, who returned it for six points in the second quarter. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud threw another two interceptions in the quarter, and the half ended with the Patriots up 21-10.In the middle of the third quarter, Maye lost a fumble, which in turn led to another fumble by the Texans, recovered by the Patriots. The snowy conditions may have had an impact on the game, as both teams committed a combined 8 turnovers.At the top of the fourth quarter, wide receiver Kayshon Boutte made an acrobatic one-handed catch, scoring the Patriots’ fourth touchdown of the game. The snow started falling more heavily, and conditions grew worse by the fourth quarter, but the Patriots held on, beating the Texans.The last time the Patriots were in the AFC Championship was in 2019 when they beat the Kansas City Chiefs to advance to the Super Bowl.New England will now turn its attention to the Denver Broncos, who held off the Bills Saturday in a Saturday night overtime win. The Broncos’ offense will potentially look much different after starting quarterback Bo Nix broke his ankle late in the overtime period. Backup Jarrett Stidham, who is 1-3 as a starter in six seasons, will start the AFC championship game next weekend.Payton said Nix got hurt on a keeper where he lost 2 yards and was tackled by safety Cole Bishop. Nix was limping after the play, but there was no indication that he suffered such a serious injury.The Patriots and Broncos have met five times in the postseason, with the Broncos winning four times, most recently in the 2016 AFC Championship, a highly-anticipated showdown between elite quarterbacks Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.Previous game updates are below:

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. —

The Patriots beat the Houston Texans in Sunday’s AFC Divisional Round matchup, 28-16, and will head to their first AFC Championship game since the 2018 season.

The Patriots scored first on their second drive of the first quarter, with a touchdown pass to DeMario Douglas for 28 yards. A second touchdown, this time by the defense, came on an interception by Patriots Marcus Jones, who returned it for six points in the second quarter.

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud threw another two interceptions in the quarter, and the half ended with the Patriots up 21-10.

In the middle of the third quarter, Maye lost a fumble, which in turn led to another fumble by the Texans, recovered by the Patriots.

The snowy conditions may have had an impact on the game, as both teams committed a combined 8 turnovers.

At the top of the fourth quarter, wide receiver Kayshon Boutte made an acrobatic one-handed catch, scoring the Patriots’ fourth touchdown of the game.

The snow started falling more heavily, and conditions grew worse by the fourth quarter, but the Patriots held on, beating the Texans.

The last time the Patriots were in the AFC Championship was in 2019 when they beat the Kansas City Chiefs to advance to the Super Bowl.

New England will now turn its attention to the Denver Broncos, who held off the Bills Saturday in a Saturday night overtime win.

The Broncos’ offense will potentially look much different after starting quarterback Bo Nix broke his ankle late in the overtime period.

Backup Jarrett Stidham, who is 1-3 as a starter in six seasons, will start the AFC championship game next weekend.

Payton said Nix got hurt on a keeper where he lost 2 yards and was tackled by safety Cole Bishop. Nix was limping after the play, but there was no indication that he suffered such a serious injury.

The Patriots and Broncos have met five times in the postseason, with the Broncos winning four times, most recently in the 2016 AFC Championship, a highly-anticipated showdown between elite quarterbacks Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

Previous game updates are below: