Patriots clinch playoff berth with win over Texans

sharonorn

*The (11-2) clinched their seventh straight playoff berth and moved back into the AFC's top spot with over the (6-7) on Sunday night. The can clinch the AFC East with a lo s on Monday night. Here's what you need to know: * looked flummoxed all evening,  Los Angeles Rams Jersey thanks to the ' swarming defensive line. New England collected six sacks of Hoyer who sat like a deer in the headlights behind his offensive line. dominated right tackle to the tune of two sacks and two forced fumbles, while tallied two sacks of his own. Despite the in-game lo ses of (thigh) and (hand), the ' front seven picked up steam as the game wore on and the deficit grew larger. This week in large, loud football players heroically returning from injuries: tight end -- who just two weeks ago on Sunday night suffered what looked like a season-ending knee injury -- was listed as active following a week of speculation. Of course, he put up ma sive numbers per usual -- four catches, 86 yards, TD -- and made his presence felt on New England's second drive with a . On the other side of the ball, returned from his broken hand, sporting a club on his left arm. However, the star defensive end had a quiet night, totaling just three total tackles and one for lo s. Has anyone seen Nuk? Houston's go-to wideout went mi sing Sunday night, finishing with just three catches on six targets for 52 yards, 40 of which came on one garbage-time play. Hoyer tried to spread the ball around to other playmakers -- had one impre sive 49-yard grab early -- but without Hopkins in the mix, Houston's offense stalled in the second half. Credit cornerback with shutting down the ' main man. One light at the end of that dark tunnel in Houston was the emergence of . With Watt taking numerous double teams, the ' second-year defensive end posted seven total tackles and two sacks in what was certainly his most dominant game as a pro. Another week, another traffic jam around the ' X-ray machine. In a season full of setbacks, New England continued to lose bodies on Sunday night, most notably (ankle) and (hip). As always, the Pats' backup backs picked up the slack -- and combined for 91 total yards and a touchdown. On Houston's sideline, Hoyer left in the fourth quarter to undergo concu sion protocol after taking his fifth sack of the evening. The ' quarterback position continues to be a revolving door of horror. In losing Sunday night, the blew another major opportunity to take hold of the AFC South -- the fell to 6-7 after getting blown out by the , 51-16, earlier on Sunday. With returning in Indianapolis soon, this was  Bobby Brown III Jersey likely the ' last chance to create some breathing room between them and the before their crucial Week 15 matchup.