The New England Patriots are set to extend their two-game home stand as they prepare to host the AFC North-leading Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium this week. Historically, the Patriots have excelled against Houston, boasting a flawless 5-0 record in the regular season and a perfect 2-0 in the postseason when facing them at home. The last three encounters have taken place in Houston, but this week’s match marks the first time since the 2018 season opener, where New England triumphed 27-20 on September 9, 2018, that the Texans will visit Gillette Stadium.

Adding to the atmosphere, the Patriots will don throwback uniforms for the first time this season, inspired by the attire from 1984-1992, which saw sporadic use as an alternate from 1994-2012. This nostalgic ensemble features striking red jerseys paired with white pants and a white helmet adorned with the “Pat Patriot” logo, complemented by white facemasks. Historically, the Patriots have fared well in these throwback uniforms, holding a 7-3 record at home when sporting them. Since transitioning to their current logo in 1993, New England has worn the old “Pat Patriot” design ten times at home.

The upcoming matchup represents the first regular season clash between the Texans vs Patriots since New England’s 25-22 victory in Houston on October 10, 2021. With the last three regular season contests occurring in Houston, this Sunday’s game is especially significant for the Patriots, as it marks the first face-off on their turf since that 2018 opener.

In terms of historical performance, the Patriots are a remarkable 7-0 at home against the Texans, showcasing a 5-0 regular season record alongside two postseason victories. The overall series tilts in New England’s favor with an 11-3 lead, which includes a 9-3 record in regular season games and 2-0 in playoff matchups. Notably, the Patriots secured two divisional playoff wins against the Texans at Gillette Stadium, with scores of 41-28 on January 13, 2013, and 34-16 on January 14, 2017.

Before the Texans joined the NFL, the Patriots had a longstanding rivalry with the Houston Oilers, facing off twice each year during the American Football League era from 1960 to 1969, culminating in 33 encounters before the Oilers relocated to Tennessee in 1996.

This season, the Patriots have demonstrated consistent prowess in the ground game, with both Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson proving to be effective when given the chance to establish a run-first strategy. In their recent Week 5 loss to Miami, Stevenson averaged 7.4 yards per carry, while Gibson was even more effective with 8.7 yards per attempt. Conversely, the Texans have struggled to contain opposing running backs, allowing an average of 120.2 yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry, ranking them 17th and 25th in the league in those respective categories. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt is likely to exploit this vulnerability with a steady diet of runs from his two top backs. Despite their current struggles, the Texans possess the personnel—such as defensive tackles Mario Edwards, Folorunso Fatukasi, Tim Settle, and Khalil Davis—alongside linebackers Henry To’oTo’o and Azeez Al-Shaair—to improve their run defense.

On the passing front, the Patriots face a steeper challenge. This area has been notably lackluster for New England this season, resulting in increasing calls for rookie quarterback Drake Maye to take the reins. Veteran Jacoby Brissett has struggled to find a rhythm, completing only 58.5% of his passes while averaging a meager 119.4 yards per game, ranking last in the league. Brissett has only managed two touchdowns over five starts, a reflection of significant issues in pass protection, which was evident even against a depleted Dolphins defense. The Patriots have made adjustments, shifting Mike Onwenu to guard and welcoming Vederian Lowe back from injury at left tackle, but improvements will be crucial if Maye is to connect effectively with his receiving corps, including DeMario Douglas, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Kendrick Bourne, who made his return against Miami. The Texans, boasting talented edge rushers like Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, will undoubtedly present a formidable challenge in this department.