Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis made one of the plays of the postseason Sunday with an interception of Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud.
But the play went for nought as New England gave the ball back to Houston on a Drake Maye turnover two plays later. That turnover resulted in a Texans touchdown and 10-7 Houston lead in the second quarter.
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The first turnover of the sequence took place late in the first quarter. Stroud threw a first-and-10 pass to the left sideline targeting Christian Kirk. He overthrew Kirk, and Davis made a play on the ball.
Davis laid out and made a diving catch, but appeared initially to land out of bounds. But he got up and celebrated the play immediately.
A sideline angle confirmed that Davis secured the catch and landed inbounds before rolling out of bounds — just barely. Davis’ right knee hit the green just before he rolled out of bounds.
An inch more, and he would have been out.
The interception halted a Texans drive into Patriots territory.
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But the celebration was short-lived. Two plays later, quarterback Drake Maye lost the football at the end of a 4-yard scramble up the middle. Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair recovered the fumble, and Houston took over possession at the New England 27-yard line.
Six plays after that, Stroud found Kirk in the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown and 10-7 Houston lead.
And a game featuring a pair of ball-hawking defenses lived up to its billing early.
