In a thrilling Week 15 matchup, the New England Patriots narrowly defeated the Houston Texans, 28-21, solidifying their playoff position as the season heads into its final stretch. The stakes were high for both teams, with the Patriots looking to maintain their momentum and the Texans striving to stay in contention. Drake Maye led the Patriots' offense, throwing for 264 yards and contributing significantly to the team's scoring efforts. While C.J. Stroud found the end zone twice through the air for the Texans, it was not enough to overcome Maye's efficiency. Houston's Isaac Brown rushed for 51 yards, and Nico Collins was a standout receiver with 87 yards, but the Patriots' balance on offense ultimately proved decisive. Defensively, the game turned in favor of New England largely due to Korie Black's exceptional performance, as he intercepted two passes, stifling the Texans' offensive momentum. While Will Anderson Jr. recorded a sack for Houston, the consistent pressure from the Patriots' secondary kept Stroud from finding a rhythm. The combination of timely turnovers and strong tackling, particularly from the Texans' Kamari Ramsey, highlighted a fierce battle, but it was the Patriots' defensive play that sealed the victory.