slides: What to Watch For: Texans vs. Patriots - AFC Divisional Playoffs

Saturday, January 14, 2017

Joe Calabro, GoLocalWorcester Sports Team

Hightower leads the Patriots defense into the playoffs.

The playoffs are here.

The top-seeded New England Patriots host the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs.

The Patriots beat the Texans 27-0 in week three behind third-string quarterback Jacoby Brissett, but since then Houston has climbed back to win their division and is riding a four-game winning streak into Saturday night's showdown.

"You've got to prepare like you're playing a new team, which we pretty much are. When a team is going through September, it's usually a team trying to find its identity. Around the league, everyone is trying to find where they're at. Completely different teams - this will be the best team we've played all year," said wide receiver Julian Edelman.

The Texans defeated the Oakland Raiders 27-14 last week in the wild card round and come into this game looking for their first ever win at Gillette Stadium.

"They don't beat themselves, don't get penalized, don't turn the ball over. Just a really sound football team. This will be a big challenge for us this week to be able to compete with them. That's a big win that they had in the wild card game. I'm sure they're coming in here with a lot of confidence, as they should," said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick in his press conference earlier this week.

A Patriots win would send them to their sixth straight AFC Championship game.

Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m.

SEE WHAT TO WATCH FOR IN THE SLIDESHOW BELOW

Related Slideshow: What to Watch For: Texans vs Patriots - AFC Divisional Playoff

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First Time in Playoffs

While the Patriots are in the playoffs just about every year, his will be the first ever playoff game for wide receiver Chris Hogan, defensive end Chris Long and others.

"I've kind of picked a couple of guys brains here - Matt, Tom, Josh, Julian. You know, those guys that have been here before and just asked them how to approach this game and it's really the same thing from all of them - just another football game. It's going to be electric with the fans, everyone is going to be really into it. There's going to be a lot of energy but I've just got to approach it like another football game and not get too hyped up and just keep playing good football," Hogan told the media earlier this week.

Long added, "We've tried to treat it just like every other game which is preparing with great intensity and attention to detail, and turning it up just a little bit, turning it up another notch. It's been a good week of practice."

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Vince Wilfork

If the Patriots do beat the Texans, it could mean the last career game for former Patriot Vince Wilfork, who is considering retirement when the season ends.

"I've been thinking about it. I'm not saying I will do it, and I'm not saying that I won't do it. But it's definitely not off the table," Wilfork has told Houston reporters throughout the season.

Now at the age of 35, Wilfork is due to hit free agency in the offseason as his two-year contract that he signed in 2015.

Wilfork played 13 seasons with the Patriots after being drafted by them in 2004 and won two Super Bowls.

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5 Wide Receivers

Danny Amendola is expected to return to the Patriots roster on Saturday night after missing about a month with a high ankle sprain.

His return means that the Patriots will have five wide receivers in the lineup, something they had in 2013 and in 2007.

If all are active, the Patriots will likely sit someone at another position in order to make room on the roster, and it could be tight end Matt Lengel.

The only caveat to all of this is the chance that Malcolm Mitchell may not play as he has been limited all week in practice.

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Jadeveon Clowney

JJ Watt will not be in the lineup for Houston but Jadeveon Clowney has more than accounted for him over the last couple of weeks.

Over the last four weeks, all Houston wins, Clowney has three sacks and seven tackles bringing his season total to six sacks and 40 tackles.

The Texans come in with one of the best defenses in the league, only allowing 300 yards per game and Clowney leads the way.

The Patriots offensive line has been pretty good all season, expect them take Clowney out of the game.

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Patriots Defense

After some ups and down early on in the season, the Patriots defense has emerged as the best defense in the league when it comes to points per game. The Patriots only allow 15 points per game.

"I feel like we've, throughout the year, figured each other out and have continued to just work towards that goal of being a real strength. As we've settled in and learned a lot about each other and what we do well, I think we've just continued to improve week in and week out. That's a great credit to the coaches and players buying in and everybody being unselfish," said defensive end Chris Long.

The Texans come in as one of the worst offenses in the league, averaging only 17 points per game (ranked 29th in NFL) and 314 total yards per game (also ranked 29th in NFL). In fact the Texans have only scored a total of 25 touchdowns on the season, that's offensive touchdowns, defensive touchdowns, and special teams touchdowns all included.

DeAndre Hopkins is their go-to receiver and has hauled in 78 passes for 954 yards and four touchdowns on the year. He has been targeted 151 times.