Why New England had a chip on its shoulder before the Divisional Round against the Texans

The New England Patriots revealed the chip they had on their shoulders following their own A 28-16 win over the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Round on Sunday afternoon.

Entering the game, New England was 14-3 in the regular season. They secured the No. 2 seed after defeating the Los Angeles Chargers 16-3 in the Wild Card round at home to advance to the next round. The team understood the importance of their preparation, going up against one of the best defensive teams in the NFL in the Texans.

Coach Mike Vrabel took the challenge personally, overwhelming Houston’s offense while exposing holes in the defense. He even he said that after the gamereporter Evan Lazar.

“HK #Patriots Mike Vrabel says he’s sure the Pats defense took it personally that Houston’s defense got all the love this week,” Lazar wrote.

How the Patriots played against the Texans

The Patriots continue to prove themselves against the odds, punching their ticket to the AFC Championship Game after sending the Texans home.

New England turned in an incredible defensive performance against Houston, forcing four interceptions from CJ Stroud. Meanwhile, May made the big plays he needed to make to give his team a solid lead and not look back.

May had a solid game as Houston couldn’t get him out of the game. He completed 16 of 27 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns and one interception.

Rhamondre Stevenson had a decent day on offense. He led the way with 16 catches for 70 yards while making four catches for 11 yards. Kaishon Boutte shined in the receiving offense with three receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown. Stefon Diggs was next with four catches for 40 yards and a touchdown, while DeMario Douglas caught two passes for 36 yards and a touchdown.

The Patriots will be looking forward to their next adventure in the AFC Championship Game. They hit the road to face the Denver Broncos on January 25th at 3:00 PM ET for the right to represent the AFC in Super Bowl 60.