Drake Maye threw his first career touchdown in his first career start, hitting Kayshon Boutte for a 40-yard touchdown with 11 seconds left in the half.

The Patriots had just 51 yards rushing before their final drive of the half, but managed five plays and 84 yards in just 48 seconds to make it a game. New England entered the locker room trailing 14-7 at halftime.

Maye went 8 of 14 for 105 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while Boutte caught two for 46 yards.

The Texans totaled 183 yards, with CJ Stroud going 11 of 17 for just 104 yards and two touchdowns. He threw a 2-yard score to Tank Dell and a 10-yard score to Joe Mixon. Mixon had 59 yards and 75 yards rushing on 10 carries and two catches for 30 yards in his comeback from a high ankle sprain.

Dell has four catches for 36 yards and Stefon Diggs has three for 29.

The Texans did not take advantage of Calen Bullock's pick of Maye as he started at the New England 27. The Patriots' defense allowed just 5 yards and stopped the Texans three times on third down as Jerod Mayo inexplicably accepted an illegal substitution penalty for Houston for an incompletion on third-and-5. After an offside penalty against New England and another incompletion by Stroud, Ka'imi Fairbairn missed a 40-yard field goal wide of the right net.

Stroud was picked off by Marcus Jones in the end zone after a pass tight end Dalton Schultz was unable to handle on another possession that ended at the New England 22.

Texas edge rusher Will Anderson had two sacks and six tackles in the first half.

Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair went to the locker room early with a knee injury and it is questionable whether he will return.