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The 2026 NFL playoffs has featured plenty of new faces looking to make deep postseason runs.
The New England Patriots enjoyed a resurgent season, winning the AFC East at 14-3 and earning the No. 2 overall seed behind MVP candidate Drake Maye. On Sunday night, Maye played in his first playoff game against a worthy opponent, the Los Angeles Chargers.
It was Maye who came out on top, as the Patriots advanced in the AFC bracket with a 16-3 victory. New England's Super Bowl hopes remain alive as it heads for Round 2.
Here’s a breakdown of which team the Patriots will play next in the divisional round.
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Who will the Patriots play next?
With the Houston Texans securing their victory in Pittsburgh, the AFC Divisional Round field is set. The Patriots now know they will host the Texans at Gillette Stadium next Sunday.
Because the NFL reseeds the playoffs after the first round, the No. 1 seed always hosts the lowest remaining seed. With the No. 6 seed Buffalo Bills advancing past the Jaguars, they became the lowest seed in the AFC and were automatically funneled to face the top-seeded Denver Broncos.
That left the No. 5 seed Houston Texans as the opponent for the No. 2 seed Patriots, setting up a highly-anticipated showdown in Foxborough on Sunday.
NFL playoff bracket 2026
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