The Houston Texans are on the verge of more history tomorrow afternoon, as they could become the first team in franchise history to advance to the AFC Championship game if they defeat the New England Patriots.

(Note: It would be the first Houston-based football team to advance to that round since the Oilers in 1979.)

They would also become the first team in NFL history to start 0-3 while doing so. 

Since first making the AFC playoffs in 2011, the Texans have made it to the Divisional round six times.

In those six games, they are 0-6, with a combined margin of defeat of 203-112 (-91). The Texans did not have home-field advantage in any of those games, and always took on the #1 seed in the conference (Ravens, Patriots, Chiefs). 

This is now the third meeting between the Texans and Patriots at this stage, with New England up 2-0 in the all-time series (2012, 2016). 

NFL legends in former quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick were at the helm for both games, and they guided their Patriots to a 41-28 win in 2012 and a 34-16 win in 2016 (Matt Schaub was Houston's quarterback in 2012, and then Brock Osweiler led the offense in 2016). 

Additionally, the Texans were outscored by a combined 75-44 (-31) in those games.

That's important to note, because it lets us know where the primary issue has been in those two situations in the past. Besides Brady being the greatest quarterback of all time at the moment, it's been the defensive performances that have cost Houston. 

In 2012, the Texans were a top-10 defense in both yards (323.3, 7th) and points per game (20.7, 10th). In response, the Patriots fielded the NFL's best offense in both yards (427.9) and points per game (34.8).

Something had to give, and unfortunately, it was Houston's defense.

In 2016, the Texans' defense was the best in yards per game (301.3), but 11th in points per game (20.5). The Patriots entered that postseason with an offense ranked fourth-best in yards per game (386.3) and third-best in points per game (27.6). 

Again, two top-tier units had to decide each other's ending for the playoffs, and unfortunately, Houston came out on the short end of the stick (again). 

This time around, the Texans have the NFL's best defense in yards per game (277.2) and second best in points per game (17.4). 

(Note: The Texans had the best scoring defense until week 18 vs. the Colts happened, where the Texans pulled many of their defensive starters after the first half en route to a 38-30 victory.)

In response, quarterback Drake Maye and the Patriots have fielded an offense that is third-best in yards per game (379.4) and second-best in points per game (28.8). 

Houston will enter Gillette Stadium with their best defense in franchise history. On the other side, New England has a quality offense, but it would rank third-best overall in comparison with their predecessors from 2012 and 2016.  

All things considered, this is the best chance that Houston has had going into a playoff game against the Patriots. 

While the Texans do have an offense that finished the regular season as the 13th-best scoring unit (23.8), the name of the game will be to limit the Patriots' offense as much as possible and advance in whatever way the offense can leverage.

This is made much more feasible when Houston has multiple All-Pros in defensive ends Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, as well as cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. Not to mention having a secondary littered with Pro-Bowl caliber defensive backs in Jalen Pitre, Calen Bullock and Kamari Lassiter. 

If the Texans can shut down Maye and the Patriots, Houston's offense could take advantage and help finally break through to the Conference Championship game. 

Do you think Houston finally achieves a Conference Championship game? Let us know in the comments section below and by mentioning us at @Texans_RTB on X and @Texans.Roundtable on TikTok!