Texans Return To Foxborough, With Hopes Of Actually Giving The Patriots A Game This Time

Unlike in the past, I don't have much interest anymore in breaking down what I think will happen next Sunday (4:30 p.m., CBS) since that is mostly a useless task but as your loyal blogger, I'm here to inform you what you already know: the Texans are coming to Gillette Stadium to face the Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round.

Houston held on for an ugly 19-13 win against Cincinnati yesterday to clinch their second trip to Foxborough in less than a month. On December 10, the Texans traveled to Gillette for a showdown with the Patriots on Monday Night Foootball. They were the top team in the AFC but they were humbled 42-14 and had been in a serious tailspin until yesterday.

All I'll say is that don't judge Houston or New England for that matter, on what happened during the regular season. For Patriots fans, two years ago should refresh our memories to how much a blowout win in December matters once the postseason rolls around. New England pasted the Jets 45-3 on December 6, 2010 then lost 28-21 to the same team, on the same field in the divisional round. Apropos of nothing, the Pats opened up as a 10-point favorite.

Denver hosts Indianapolis on Saturday (4:30 p.m., CBS) in the other AFC game. Before the playoffs started, it felt like a Patriots-Broncos AFC Championship was a foregone conclusion. The Texans and Ravens will both give the home teams trouble, I don't expect either game to be a lopsided victory. However, I didn't see anything from Houston or Baltimore this weekend that made me doubt either New England or Denver.

UPDATE 1/8: Today the Pats signed wide receiver Andre Holmes to the practice squad.

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