The New England Patriots will face the Houston Texans in the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs. The winner will go to the AFC Championship game. The Texans have a terrific coach in DeMeco Ryans, and he knows that one asset of the Patriots' offense is a potential game-changer.
It's the running ability of the Patriots' brilliant MVP-caliber quarterback, Drake Maye. And Ryans acknowledges that aspect will have to be addressed when the Texans visit Foxborough.
The Texans have the NFL's top-rated defense, surrendering a mere 277.2 yards per game and only 35 total touchdowns in 2025. It will be the sternest challenge the young Maye and his rebuilt offense will face all season, and it's in the biggest game so far.
A downside to facing the Texans is that they have two top sack artists: Danielle Hunter with 15 sacks and Will Anderson with 12. Conversely, the Patriots' offensive line has allowed 52 sacks in 18 games. That's not exactly a match of strength vs. strength. If the O-line surrenders five sacks as they did against the Chargers, this will be the final game of the Patriots' season.
But there is hope, and it lies in the dual-threat capability of Drake Maye.
Drake Maye has to be used effectively to counter the Texans' pass-rush
Texans' Coach DeMeco Ryans is acutely aware of the Patriots' deficiencies in their rebuilt offensive line. He also knows that both Maye's pinpoint passing and his ability to run, whether as a result of a broken play or by some miracle on programmed quarterback runs, can be game-changers.
Either on a scramble or otherwise, these plays (along with the explosiveness of his rookie running back, Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate, TreVeyon Henderson) can be game-changers.
DeMeco Ryans on #Patriots QB Drake Maye:
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) January 15, 2026
“Drake is doing a really good job of not making bad decisions... He’s doing a really good job of utilizing where his playmakers are open… Josh [McDaniels] is calling it really well for him to give him easy plays.”
(🎥 @HoustonTexans) pic.twitter.com/GzAEbR2YMe
Mistakes can't be made against a defense like the Texans, who have a quarterback like C.J. Stroud, who buried the Steelers with 23 points in the fourth quarter of their Wild Card game. Yet, the vanilla offense that's been run by the Patriots, mired in the past, Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels isn't likely to be effective against the NFL's best defense either
The Patriots need innovation and Drake Maye's running to beat the Texans
The 2025 Patriots offense has been as predictable as it has been successful. This contradiction exists because of the pinpoint passing of Maye, and his impromptu running, along with solid years from his running backs, TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson.
Maye's ability to improvise and run (he led the team in rushing against the Chargers) compensates for an offensive line that still allows sacks at an alarming rate.
McDaniels' play calling hasn't helped. If Maye is under center in a one or two-back set, bet the house that it will be a running play. Conversely, if he's in the shotgun, expect a pass, period. The play-calling has called for far too few innovative plays using a seemingly foreign concept - deception - against opposing defenses.
Play-action is seldom used. Programmed quarterback runs are few. Reverses and flea-flickers are anomalies. Meanwhile, as mentioned, runs are telegraphed so clearly that they may as well be broadcast on the massive jumbotron before the play, to announce them to the few in the stands who haven't caught on.
Yet, you can bet Coach Ryans has.
All this leads to an inescapable conclusion: when your offensive line, which surrenders far too many sacks, faces a defense with two terrific sack artists, you'd better game plan innovatively to deceive. Maye has to be unleashed on programmed runs, e.g., a quarterback draw or two, perhaps? RPO has to be employed more than just a handful of times this season. And use play-action often. A split second can allow a receiver time to get open.
Deception has to be the catchword of the day. Unless the offensive staff devises a plan to confuse and deceive (if they are even capable of doing so), the Texans' defense will subdue the Patriots' offense, knock them out of the playoffs, and end their season. The unambiguous message to the New England Patriots offense is this: it's time to innovate now, or it will almost certainly be too late.