The turnaround for the New England Patriots has been a sight to behold over the course of this season. An MVP-caliber season from sophomore quarterback Drake Maye paved the way for them to emerge as the second-seed in the AFC, losing just three games on the season. However, Maye wasn’t the only reason for their dramatic turnaround.
A strong supporting cast helped him reach his true potential, and they now stand a chance to make it to the AFC Championship game with a win over the Houston Texans. Unfortunately, a defense-dominated first half saw one of Maye’s biggest supporting pieces, Hunter Henry, have a quiet start.
What Happened to Hunter Henry?
One of the most consistent tight ends in the league today, Hunter Henry has ranked inside the top-30 of PFSN’s TE Impact every year since 2019. This year was no exception, as he finished at number 11 after posting career highs with 768 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
However, in the game against the Texans to determine the other side of the AFC Championship game against the Denver Broncos, Henry had virtually no impact on the field. Targeted just once, he hadn’t hauled in a catch yet, as his stat line remained at zeroes across the board.
The story of the game, though, has been entirely about the defense. A shaky outing from Maye against the second-highest-ranked unit on PFSN’s Defense Impact has forced an interception and four fumbles on him for a total of three turnovers.
Somehow, he has still been the better quarterback in the game, with Stroud throwing four interceptions, including a pick-six, which has allowed the Patriots to maintain a 21-13 lead into the third quarter.
However, with the defense still as stingy as ever in Houston, the hope for New England has to be that they can get more production from their quarterback and his receiving corps.
For the moment, Kayshon Boutte leads the group in receiving yards with 43, while Stefon Diggs and DeMario Douglas have both accounted for a touchdown apiece. On the other hand, a fumble on Woody Marks has added to the Texans’ woes.
With Nico Collins out for the game and Dalton Schultz leaving early in the first quarter, Stroud has had to rely on the likes of Jayden Higgins and Xavier Hutchinson to keep the offense afloat.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.
