The Houston Texans are 11-2 -- the best team in the AFC, according to the standings. But it's an empty claim after they were thoroughly beaten by the New England Patriots, 42-14, in the teams' much-hyped Monday night meeting at Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots improved to 10-3 with their seventh consecutive win. They currently hold the No. 2 spot in the AFC, but are within striking distance of a Texans team that has three difficult games remaining -- two against the Colts and one at home against Minnesota. The Patriots still have one very challenging game on its schedule -- at home on Sunday night against San Francisco -- before closing out the season with games that they'll be heavily favored to win, against Jacksonville and Miami.
Tom Brady was 21 of 35 for 296 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Brandon Lloyd had his best game since September, catching seven balls for 89 yards and a touchdown, and picking up another score when he fell on a teammate's fumble in the end zone. Aaron Hernandez also had a pair of touchdown receptions, and Stevan Ridley carried 18 times for 72 yards and a score.
Led by Vince Wilfork, the Patriots' defense controlled the line of scrimmage and held the Houston running game in check. Andre Johnson had eight catches for 95 yards, but did not make any high-impact plays.
The Pats took control of the game early, scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions.
Wes Welker set the Patriots up at their own 44-yard line for their first drive with a 31-yard punt return. He drew a holding penalty on cornerback Brandon Harris to continue the drive on a third-down play, and followed that up with a 25-yard reception of a pass from Tom Brady to put the ball near the goal line. Aaron Hernandez then took over. The tight end saved the drive by recovering a Ridley fumble on second down, then caught a 7-yard touchdown pass to put the Pats ahead, 7-0.
The Texans looked set to answer quickly, driving to the Patriots' 21-yard line on their next drive, but Devin McCourty, playing the safety spot, made an outstanding play to intercept Matt Schaub at the goal line. McCourty returned the ball to the 18-yard line.
The Pats then ripped off an impressive 82-yard drive, with Brady completing passes to Lloyd, Danny Woodhead and Hernandez before finding a wide-open Lloyd for a 37-yard touchdown pass off a play-action fake. It was the longest reception of the season for Lloyd.
After another Texans drive stalled, with Wilfork sacking Schaub on third down, the Pats moved the ball another 70 yards for a third touchdown. Danieal Manning committed an ill-advised pass-interference penalty on Welker on third down, colliding with Welker on a pass that looked to have been overthrown. Hernandez scored his second touchdown of the night on a 4-yard reception.
The Patriots' offense slowed down from there, going three and out on its final three possessions of the half. Houston, on the other hand, twice advanced into New England territory. Both times they ended up turning the ball over on downs.
On the Pats' second possession of the second half, Brady found Donte' Stallworth for a 63-yard touchdown to put the Pats on top, 28-0.
Houston finally got off the mat after that, marching 88 yards in a drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by Arian Foster.
But the Pats extended their lead early in the fourth quarter on a play that summed up the night. Brady, who just moments earlier had scrambled for a first down, pumping his fist to the delight of the crowd, threw a short pass to Woodhead from the Houston 26. Woodhead shook off one tackler and spun away from another, but J.J. Watt came from behind to punch the ball free at around the 10-yard line. It popped into the end zone, but no one was close to it except Lloyd, who recovered for his second touchdown of the night.
The Pats and Texans each added a running touchdown in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring.