The Divisional Round brings a high-leverage matchup between New England and Houston, with roster decisions shaping both teams’ matchups. The New England Patriots’ week focused on edge and backfield availability and confirming secondary alignment, while Houston managed receiver health and tackle depth alongside a defense that has been one of the year’s most efficient units.
Official inactives will be available approximately 90 minutes before kickoff to finalize participation for listed questionables, confirm any elevations, and clarify special teams roles. In a January window that typically swings on field position, turnover margin, and red-zone execution, personnel clarity close to kickoff will drive sub-packages and early scripts.
Inactive List for Patriots vs. Texans
Christian Gonzalez is available for the Patriots tonight, but the Texans will be without Nico Collins, who suffered a concussion last week. According to PFSN’s WR Impact Metric, Collins is the 12th-ranked receiver in the league, and his absence will be felt by the Texans’ offense, which is coming off a tough outing against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Here are the confirmed inactives for today’s game:
New England Patriots
- QB Tommy DeVito
- TE CJ Dippre
- OT Marcus Bryant
- OL Caedan Wallace
- DT Eric Gregory
- OLB Bradyn Swinson
- CB Kobee Minor
Houston Texans
- QB Davis Mills
- RB Jawhar Jordan
- WR Justin Watson
- OT Trent Brown
- CB Alijah Huzzie
- WR Nico Collins
Starters for Patriots vs. Texans
New England Patriots
- QB Drake Maye
- RB Rhamondre Stevenson
- WR1 Kayshon Boutte
- WR2 Steffon Diggs
- FB Jack Westover
- TE Hunter Henry
- LT Will Campbell
- LG Jared Wilson
- C Garrett Bradbury
- RG Mike Onwenu
- RT Morgan Moses
Defense:
- NT Khyiris Tonga
- DT Christian Barmore
- DE Milton Williams
- ROLB K’Lavon Chaisson
- LOLB Harold Landry III
- LILB Robert Spillane
- RILB Christian Elliss
- LCB Carlton Davis III
- RCB Christian Gonzalez
- FS Jaylinn Hawkins
- SS Craig Woodson
Special teams:
- LS Julian Ashby
- H Bryce Baringer
- K-FG Andy Borregales
- K-KO Andy Borregales
- P Bryce Baringer
- KR Kyle Williams
- PR Marcus Jones
Houston Texans
- QB C.J. Stroud
- RB Woody Marks
- WR1 Christian Kirk
- WR2 Jayden Higgins
- WR3 Jaylin Noel
- TE Dalton Schultz
- LT Aireontae Ersery
- LG Tytus Howard
- C Jake Andrews
- RG Ed Ingram
- RT Blake Fisher
Defense:
- LDT Sheldon Rankins
- RDT Tommy Togiai
- LDE Will Anderson Jr.
- RDE Danielle Hunter
- SLB Henry To’oTo’o
- WLB Damone Clark
- MLB Azeez Al-Shaair
- LCB Derek Stingley Jr.
- RCB Kamari Lassiter
- FS Calen Bullock
- SS Myles Bryant
Special teams:
- LS Austin Brinkman
- H Tommy Townsend
- K-FG Ka’imi Fairbairn
- K-KO Ka’imi Fairbairn
- P Tommy Townsend
- KR Tremon Smith
- PR Jaylin Noel
The Patriots’ defensive plan centers on front integrity and coverage communication, with Christian Gonzalez aligned to reduce explosives and Robert Spillane organizing at the second level. Offensively, Drake Maye’s rhythm, Rhamondre Stevenson’s early-down consistency, and Hunter Henry’s red‑zone work are focal points against a unit that has limited yardage all season.
Elsewhere, the Texans counter with C.J. Stroud’s timing to Christian Kirk and Jayden Higgins, Dalton Schultz’s chain-moving targets, and an edge duo of Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter to compress pockets. With Nico Collins ruled out, receiver rotation and third‑down spacing adjust accordingly.
January conditions amplify special teams: directional punting, long‑range kicks, and hidden yards will matter. Inactives will finalize edge, tackle, and backfield availability, shaping protections, run fits, and sub‑packages for a possession‑driven divisional matchup.
