On paper, the 1-4 Patriots have little in common with the AFC South-leading Houston Texans squad (4-1) they’ll face on Sunday.
New England is rebuilding with a new head coach, struggling through offensive line issues, and not playing its young quarterback Drake Maye. The Texans, meanwhile, have built a budding monster under second-year QB and reigning Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud, who looks like one of the best passers in football after starting wire to wire in 2023.
But former Patriots QB Brian Hoyer says the Patriots might not be as far away from that kind of success as it seems.