Kayshon Boutte Stuns Texans With One-Handed Playoff Catch

In a game loaded with playoff pressure, biting cold, and a raucous Foxborough crowd, Kayshon Boutte’s jaw-dropping one-handed touchdown catch lit up Gillette Stadium and sent the New England Patriots to the AFC Championship game. The Patriots’ 28-16 victory over the Houston Texans on January 18, 2026, was punctuated by Boutte’s acrobatic grab—a play that may well be remembered as one of the NFL’s most electrifying moments this postseason.

Heading into the AFC Divisional Playoff, the storylines swirled around Houston’s dominant defense. The Texans had charged into Foxborough riding a 10-game winning streak, their defense having battered the Pittsburgh Steelers in the previous round and boasting a pair of elite cornerbacks in Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter. But Boutte, the Patriots’ third-year wideout, was unfazed by the hype. "I think they’re just physical cornerbacks but at the end of the day, I am physical, too. I mean, that’s a matchup I like every day of the week. So, just ready for Sunday," Boutte declared before the game.

And ready he was. With just over 13 minutes to play in the fourth quarter, the Patriots clung to a 21-16 lead. The offense had sputtered through much of the second half, and the Texans had clawed back into contention with a pair of field goals. On third-and-4 from Houston’s 32-yard line, rookie quarterback Drake Maye dropped back, eyes darting down the slippery, snow-flecked right sideline. Boutte, matched up against Stingley, streaked toward the end zone.

Maye lofted a pass that seemed just out of reach, but Boutte dove, extended his right hand, and somehow pulled the ball in—cradling it to his chest as he tumbled onto the slick turf. The stadium erupted. Officials reviewed the play, but the catch stood. New England, suddenly up 28-16, had seized control of the contest. "He keeps on making them. He keeps on making plays and making me look good," Maye said after the game, beaming. "I’m proud of him, being able to give him some—throwing to him, being able to make a play on it. One-handed catch, there’s not much else to say about it. It was pretty sweet. It’s kind of the same kind of throw as my first one to him. He made an even better catch this time."

Boutte’s touchdown was his seventh of the season and, remarkably, his first postseason score in his three-year NFL career. The 32-yard gain capped a night in which he led all Patriots receivers with 75 yards, cementing his status as New England’s most productive pass-catcher in the divisional round. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, Boutte’s catch was his second touchdown on two targets of 20 air yards or more against Stingley over the last two years—an impressive feat, considering Stingley’s reputation as one of the league’s premier defenders. In that span, all other NFL receivers have managed just two such catches for 86 yards and one touchdown against Stingley.

This game wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Patriots, though. Maye, the rookie signal-caller, finished 15-of-24 passing for 165 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He also lost two fumbles, part of a four-fumble night for New England. The offense, at times, appeared rattled by Houston’s relentless pass rush and the physical play of their secondary. But when it mattered most, Maye and Boutte delivered. "Ups and downs of the game," Maye reflected. "Our mentality as an offense is to go down and score. There’s no mentality. When it is a two-possession game late in the fourth quarter, that becomes a different deal—and I’m proud of the offensive line for being able to run it when they know we’re going to run, that second-to-last drive. … It’s hard to run it in this league when they know you’re gonna run it."

The Texans, for their part, made it a fight. After trailing 21-10 at halftime, they chipped away at the Patriots’ lead with two field goals in the third quarter, narrowing the gap to 21-16. Houston’s defense, as advertised, bottled up the Patriots’ ground game and forced turnovers, but their offense struggled to punch the ball into the end zone. Boutte’s touchdown catch, coming on just the second third-down conversion of the game for New England, proved to be the turning point. The Texans, suddenly down two scores with less than 13 minutes to play, couldn’t mount a comeback.

The significance of Boutte’s catch extends beyond just the scoreboard. For New England, it was a statement play—a reminder of the team’s resilience and knack for big moments. For Boutte, a former sixth-round pick, it was a personal triumph and a highlight-reel moment that will be replayed for years to come. "Catch of the Year" chatter erupted across social media, and even national outlets like ESPN and Sports Illustrated lauded the play as one of the most spectacular grabs of the season.

With the win, the Patriots now turn their attention to the AFC Championship game, where they’ll face the Denver Broncos in Denver. The Broncos, who will be without star quarterback Bo Nix, still boast a defense ranked sixth in the NFL by Pro Football Focus. The Patriots know they’ll need to clean up the turnovers and maintain the offensive composure they showed in the clutch against Houston. But with Maye and Boutte’s chemistry peaking at the right moment, New England fans have plenty of reason for optimism.

As the NFL season barrels toward its dramatic conclusion, one thing is clear: Kayshon Boutte’s one-handed touchdown has etched itself into Patriots lore. The divisional round win over the Texans was, in many ways, a microcosm of New England’s season—ups and downs, adversity weathered, and ultimately, a big play when it mattered most. Next stop: Denver, and a shot at the Super Bowl.