Texans vs Patriots: 2 teams these frenemies love to hate
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Hi, we're rabid Patriots fan Bill Kole and diehard Texans supporter Russell Contreras, and there's something we need to make clear right at the top: We love each other. We just don't like one another that much.
Why it matters: Russell, a former Texas native who covers race and religion for Axios, is a long-suffering Houston fan. Bill, an Axios copy editor, grew up in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where New England fandom is in the drinking water, or it's the law, or both.
- On Sunday, the Texans will meet the Patriots in an AFC divisional round playoff showdown at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
Context: Our good-natured rivalry dates to the early 2010s, when we worked together in the Boston bureau of The Associated Press — and the multiple Super Bowl-winning Patriots were the dynasty everyone loved to hate.
What they're saying: Bill's last text from Russell was from August, when he gloated: "Red Sox and Pats still suck!"
- Can't you just hear the referee? "Taunting. 15-yard penalty. Automatic first down."
- Plus Russ' snarky pre-season text didn't age well: The Patriots finished the regular season 14-3 and grabbed the No. 2 seed in the AFC. His 12-5 Texans, who have the NFL's best defense, are the No. 5 seed.
Zoom in: Pats' past legendary teams led by Tom Brady have always been a problem for the Tejano Russ, who believes true football is played in Texas and that New Englanders should just stick to hockey or ice skating.
- Bill sticks to the facts: Houston has never won a Super Bowl, either as the Oilers or Texans. The Dallas Cowboys, well... Meanwhile, New England has six since 2002.
Here's how each of us sees Sunday — and the road to the Super Bowl — playing out.
Why the Texans will win
💭 Russ's thought bubble: Texans QB C.J. Stroud will hold on to the ball and not fumble or throw many interceptions.
- Receiver Christian Kirk will fill the gap left by Nico Collins, who will probably be out because of a concussion.
- But it's the Texans' defense, led by Will Anderson and Sheldon Rankins, that will overwhelm the Pats. The Texans' defense this season has forced three former MVP QBs into multiple turnover games, and this should continue.
- Texans 20, Pats 3.
Why the Patriots will win
💭 Bill's thought bubble: Second-year rookie QB Drake Maye, who's already being compared to Brady, will overcome Houston's fearsome pass rush and make key plays with his feet.
- But it's the intangibles that will win this matchup, the AFC Championship and Super Bowl LX. After back-to-back 4-win seasons, the Patriots under Maye and new head coach Mike Vrabel have something electric going on. The slogan on the big screens at Gillette — "We All We Got. We All We Need" — captures the mood in Patriots Nation.
- Maye, who's been dominating the MVP conversation, is all winsome "aw shucks" energy, and his wife, Ann Michael, bakes cookies for the locker room. These Pats are America's team. Why do you hate America, Russ?
- Pats 17, Texans 14.
