The New England Patriots punched their ticket to the AFC Championship with a convincing 28–16 win over the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium, continuing a postseason run that felt all too familiar in Foxborough.
Now, a trip to the Super Bowl is on the line against the Denver Broncos. Most fans and analysts quickly leaned toward New England heading into the matchup, trusting the Patriots’ playoff pedigree. But not everyone was on board. A handful of dissenting voices surfaced during ESPN’s NFL Live this week, and the franchise didn’t miss it.
New England Patriots Taunted ESPN Analysts After Victory Over the Texans
To make their point, the Patriots’ official social media shared a screenshot of all five ESPN program members predicting a Texans win.
The predictions were off, as Houston never came close to victory and C.J. Stroud threw four interceptions.
This post from New England, in turn, provoked reactions from ESPN analysts. Dan Orlovsky said, “Picked against Pats while being in Vermont. That’s on me.”
Mina Kimes joked about her facial expression in the screenshot the Patriots shared.
Finally, Marcus Spears acknowledged that he “deserved” to be targeted by the post after the regular season’s best AFC team won.
oh no 😬 pic.twitter.com/gBE55BgtEF
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 18, 2026
After being favored against the Texans, analysts now see the Patriots with an even greater edge over the Broncos, mainly because of their rivals’ injuries. Their biggest loss is Bo Nix, who ranks No. 14 in the PFSN QB Impact metric with a C+ grade, who hurt his ankle and will be replaced by Jarrett Stidham.
Other key Broncos’ offensive players also left the Divisional Round game injured. Wide receivers Pat Bryant (concussion) and Troy Franklin (hamstring), as well as center Alex Forsyth (ankle), may not be available for the AFC Championship.
Center Luke Wattenberg may return after missing time with a shoulder injury, while running back J.K. Dobbins practiced separately last week.
Meanwhile, as the Patriots prepare for the AFC Championship, they continue to rely on Drake Maye to lead them to Super Bowl 60. The young MVP candidate hasn’t been flawless this postseason, with pressure and sacks still a lingering concern, but his impact remains undeniable.
When New England needs a jolt, Maye’s arm provides it. His willingness to push the ball downfield has unlocked explosive plays and momentum-shifting touchdowns, the kind that define January football. If the Patriots are going to reach the Super Bowl, it will hinge on Maye finding the balance between aggression and control when it matters most.
