NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (2-0) vs. HOUSTON TEXANS (2-0)
Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 at 8:25 p.m. ET. Gillette Stadium (66,829)
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TEXANS: **Roster** | **Depth Chart **| **Scouting Report**
The New England Patriots will return to the field this Thursday night when they host the Houston Texans. Both teams are off to 2-0 starts. The teams played last season in a Sunday Night football game at Houston with the Patriots taking a 27-6 victory on Dec. 13, 2015.
The Patriots will be playing on Thursday for the 16th time in team history and enter this week with six straight wins when playing on Thursday.
In 2015, the Patriots played two games on Thursday night. As the defending Super Bowl Champions, the Patriots opened the season at home against Pittsburgh on Thursday night with a 28-21 win (09/10/15) and then beat Miami, 36-7 on Thursday night (10/29/15).
PATRIOTS ON THURSDAY
The Patriots will play on Thursday for the 16th time in team history, including five times on Thanksgiving. New England enters this week with a six-game winning streak on Thursdays. The Patriots were 2-0 in 2015 on Thurday.
SERIES HISTORY
The Patriots and Texans will meet for the seventh time in the regular season and for the eighth time overall since Houston entered the NFL in 2002.
The Patriots and Texans met last season in a Sunday Night Football gaame in Houston, with the Patriots pulling out a 27-6 victory on Dec. 13, 2015.
The Patriots and Texans met in the 2012 postseason in an AFC Divisional playoff game that was won by the Patriots, 41-28, on Jan. 13, 2013 at Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots are 3-0 overall against the Texans when playing at home.
The Patriots only loss against Houston was in the final game of the 2009 regular-season when Houston defeated the Patriots 34-27. The Patriots had already clinched the division prior to that game and Tom Brady was relieved for portions of that game by then backup QB Brian Hoyer.
Before the Texans joined the league, the Patriots and the Houston Oilers were foes dating back to the days of the American Football League, playing twice a year from 1960-69 and 33 times overall before the Oilers moved to Tennessee following the 1996 season.
TALE OF THE TAPE
| **2016 Regular Season** | **New England** | **Houston** |
| Record | 2-0 | 2-0 |
| Divisional Standings | 1st | 1st |
| Total Yards Gained | 828 | 695 |
| Total Offense (Rank) | 414.0 (5) | 347.5 (20) |
| Rush Offense | 133.5 (7) | 113.0 (11) |
| Pass Offense | 280.5 (9) | 234.5 (24) |
| Points Per Game | 27.0 (12t) | 21.0 (17t) |
| Total Yards Allowed | 803 | 549 |
| Total Defense (Rank) | 401.5 (25) | 274.5 (3) |
| Rush Defense | 81.0 (9) | 96.0 (11) |
| Pass Defense | 320.5 (28) | 178.5 (4) |
| Points Allowed/Game | 22.5 (15) | 13.0 (3) |
| Possession Avg. | 35:23 | 35:09 |
| Sacks Allowed/Yards Lost | 4/29 | 4/30 |
| Sacks Made/Yards | 3/19 | 9/45 |
| Total Touchdowns Scored | 6 | 3 |
| Penalties Against/Yards | 15/134 | 11/113 |
| Punts/Avg. | 6/36.2 | 10/49.2 |
| Turnover Differential | +1 (7t) | +1 (7t) |
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY
The Patriots have an all-time record of 91-47-1 (.658) against the teams that make up the AFC South. It is the only division in the NFL where the Patriots own winning records against each team. New England owns winning marks against Tennessee (24-16-1), Indianapolis (51-29), Jacksonville (10-1) and Houston (6-1).
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TELEVISION:This week's game will be broadcast by CBS and can be seen locally on WBZ-TV Channel 4 in Boston. Jim Nantz will handle play-by-play duties with Phil Simms as the color analyst. Tracy Wolfson will work the sidelines. The game will be produced by Lance Barrow and directed by Mike Arnold. The game will also be streamed live on Twitter.
NATIONAL RADIO:This week's game will be broadcast to a national audience on Westwood One Radio. Ian Eagle and Tony Bosselliwill call the game.
LOCAL RADIO:98.5 FM, The Sports Hub, is the flagship station for the Patriots Radio Network. Play-by-play broadcaster Bob Socci will call the action along with former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, who will provide color analysis. Produced by Marc Cappello.
