Patriots

The emotional rollercoaster

Fan misery across the game window. Up is worse.

What happened

Three Stroud interceptions, one of them returned 26 yards by M.Jones for a touchdown, did most of the heavy lifting here — Houston's quarterback essentially gift-wrapped the AFC Championship berth. D.Maye's fumbles are a real concern against a defense with actual teeth, but K.Boutte's 32-yard touchdown in the fourth sealed it. The fanbase is allowed to enjoy this one; the Brady-era muscle memory of January football is twitching back to life.

What fans said

• “Just as we all predicted at the start of the year: MAYE VS STIDHAM AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME”

  u/Chad2Badd▲ 2.2kjoy

• “We're going back to the Tom Brady Invitationals”

  u/SprinklesRegular1983▲ 1.4khope

• “Imagine telling us after the raiders game this year that we would make it to the AFC Championship game and have a very good shot at the super bowl?”

  u/YouSawMyReddit▲ 974hope

• “SAY IT WITH ME, LADS: #WE ALL WE GOT!”

  u/Vuish▲ 807joy

• “Fuck the doomers. We're on to Denver!”

  u/GarrySantiago▲ 660rage

• “Yall remember that 1 handed TD catch by Boutte? That was pretty sweet.”

  u/Joe7s▲ 611joy

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