Fansided

New England Patriots 2020 NFL schedule: 5 must-win games

By Mike Phillips

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 1: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans runs the ball during the first half of a game against the New England Patriots at NRG Stadium on December 1, 2019, in Houston, Texas. The Texans defeated the Patriots 28-22. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 1: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans runs the ball during the first half of a game against the New England Patriots at NRG Stadium on December 1, 2019, in Houston, Texas. The Texans defeated the Patriots 28-22. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

3. Away: Houston Texans

There were a few strange losses for the Patriots last season, but few were as stunning as their defeat in Houston. New England had owned the Houston Texans for years, winning eight straight matchups entering Week 13, but Houston returned the favor in a 28-22 win.

Bill O’Brien toppled the Patriots with some trickery, notably using DeAndre Hopkins to throw a touchdown to Deshaun Watson in the win. Those are the kind of gadget plays that Bill Belichick has used to great effect, so seeing one of his former assistants use the tactic on him was definitely humbling.

The two teams are scheduled to meet again as the AFC East and AFC South face off, but this is a much different Texans’ team than the one New England saw in Week 13. Hopkins is gone, having been dealt to the Arizona Cardinals in one of the worst trades in recent memory, leaving Watson with a much-weaker supporting cast.

The Texans aren’t even the toughest matchup in their own division, with both Indianapolis and Tennessee fielding more complete squads than Houston. This is the kind of game that New England simply has to win if they want to stack up the victories necessary to win their division.

This game also carries a significant revenge factor and you can bet that Belichick will be replaying that footage of the trick play touchdown in meetings prior to the matchup. Expect New England to go all out to topple the Texans and re-establish their supremacy in that rivalry.

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