The Houston Texans had the best defense in the NFL all regular season. On Sunday, the New England Patriots made them look like they'd never seen a football before.

Five turnovers. Five. That includes a pick-six from Marcus Jones in the second quarter that gave New England a 14-10 lead they never relinquished. Final score: Patriots 28, Texans 16.

The Quick Hit

• Final: Patriots 28, Texans 16
• The story: Five forced turnovers, including a pick-six
• The damage: Texans are now 0-7 all-time in the Divisional Round
• What's next: Patriots at Broncos for the AFC Championship

CJ Stroud Had an Absolute Nightmare

Remember when Stroud had five fumbles and three turnovers in the Wild Card win over Pittsburgh? Yeah, it got worse. The second-year quarterback threw four interceptions on Sunday—four—and put his team in a hole they could never climb out of.

This wasn't just bad luck. Stroud was forcing balls into coverage all game, trying to be a hero when Houston desperately needed him to just be competent. Instead, he gave New England's defense short fields all afternoon.

The Texans playoff drought just got more painful. They're now the only franchise in NFL history to make seven Divisional Round appearances without reaching a single conference championship game. That's a brutal stat to carry into the offseason.

Drake Maye Wasn't Perfect Either

Let's not pretend New England played a clean game. Maye fumbled twice, and there were moments where the Patriots seemed determined to let Houston back in it. But when the game was on the line, Maye delivered a 32-yard touchdown strike to Kayshon Boutte in the fourth quarter that put the game away.

The rookie-turned-MVP-candidate continues to prove he's got ice in his veins when it matters. That connection with Boutte is becoming a problem for opposing defenses.

The Sharps Called This One

Remember those Divisional Round sharp money moves? The pros were hammering New England all week. The Patriots closed as -3 favorites after opening at -2.5, and the under (41.5) hit with room to spare.

If you tailed the sharps, congrats. If you bet Houston because "Stroud's due for a bounce-back game"—we've all been there. Sometimes the bounce-back just never comes.

What's Next: Patriots at Broncos

Here's where things get interesting. The Broncos just lost Bo Nix to a broken ankle, which means Jarrett Stidham will start the AFC Championship Game. Yes, that Jarrett Stidham—the guy who hasn't thrown a regular-season pass in two years.

New England opened as -5.5 road favorites, which is a massive number for a road team in a conference championship. The Patriots are now just two wins away from the Super Bowl, and the path just got a whole lot easier.

The Bottom Line

The Patriots' defense made a statement. Five turnovers in a playoff game isn't just good—it's dominant. Houston's season ends with the same bitter taste it always does: close enough to smell the conference championship, but never able to get there.

For New England, it's on to Denver. And for all you degenerates who had Patriots money, enjoy the ride. This team is for real.