New England’s Drake Maye era is here and the Patriots are throwing the rookie quarterback in at the deep end with a debut against the Houston Texans, a legitimate Super Bowl contender. The Texans are a touchdown favorite on the road and have a chance to improve to 5-1 on the season.

Despite Houston’s strong record, the Texans have not yet reached the team’s full offensive potential due to some inconsistent plays. What’s even more concerning is that wide receiver Nico Collins was just placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Collins was by far the Texans’ best pass catcher and big-play threat, averaging more than 17 yards per catch and three touchdowns. Without him, Stefon Diggs could have a breakout game. Diggs has 31 receptions on the year and has become a major threat in the passing game over the last two weeks.

As for Maye – he might get a rude welcome in the NFL.

The Patriots don’t offer much help around him, with few impact players and a struggling offensive line. Additionally, he debuts against a Texas defense that allowed the fourth-fewest yards per game through the first five weeks.

The Patriots were patient with Maye and hoped not to pressure him into trading. But after averaging just 12.4 points per game through five weeks and showing few — if any — signs of improvement, New England reached a breaking point that made it necessary to give the rookie quarterback a chance.

While the Texans should be the favorites to win, Houston is just 1-4 against away favorites since the start of the 2023 season. New England, on the other hand, is just 1-4-2 against the team as a home underdog.

All odds from BetMGM. Looking for NFL tickets? Find them here.

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Houston Texans and New England Patriots odds

How to watch Texans vs. Patriots

• Venue: Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, Mass.
• Time: 1 p.m. ET
• TV: CBS
• Streaming: Fubo (try for free)

Expert tips for Texans vs. Patriots

Read more about NFL Week 6

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2024 NFL Playoff Predictions: The Athletic’s model predicts the field

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(Photo by Drake Maye: Neville E. Guard / Imagn Images)