Carlton Davis makes incredible sideline interception of C.J. Stroud, but Patriots give the ball right back to Texans
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 naught 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.
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.
.@Carlton_Lowkey comes down with the pick
- New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 18, 2026
ESPN pic.twitter.com/PNzb7vAbqM
A sideline angle confirmed that Davis secured the catch and landed in bounds 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.
WOWWWW WHAT A BEAUTIFUL INTERCEPTION BY PATRIOTS CORNERBACK CARLTON DAVIS III pic.twitter.com/w4CoyrjRSd
- Harmz2k (@Harmz2kk) January 18, 2026
The interception halted a Texans drive into Patriots territory.
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.
MASSIVE
- Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 18, 2026
: @nflonespnpic.twitter.com/PCySqj94PD
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.