The New England Patriots’ decision to sign a player right before the Divisional Round quickly thrust their playoff matchup with the Houston Texans into the center of controversy. By adding a player who had recently been part of the Texans’ roster just days before kickoff, the Patriots ignited intense debate across the NFL — and this time, the fire was fueled further when one of Houston’s most iconic figures spoke out publicly.
Texans legend J.J. Watt did not stay silent. Appearing on national television, Watt bluntly accused the Patriots of “crossing the line” in the strategic chess match of playoff football. “When you sign a player from your opponent right before the playoffs, don’t call it a coincidence. That’s doing whatever it takes to gain an advantage,” Watt said, his tone both cold and visibly frustrated. The remarks spread rapidly throughout the NFL community.
Earlier, the Patriots had secured a 16–3 victory over the Chargers in the Wild Card round, marking their first playoff win since the 2018 season. That win set up a showdown with the NFL’s top-ranked defense at Gillette Stadium. According to Ian Rapoport, New England signed Darrell Taylor to its practice squad, with a strong possibility of elevating him to face his former team.
Taylor had been released by the Texans just two days earlier after spending most of the season on injured reserve with an ankle issue. He appeared in only four games for Houston and recorded no sacks or quarterback hits. The Texans moved on from Taylor to clear roster space for Jaylen Reed’s return from IR. Despite limited production this season, Taylor still carried internal knowledge that left many Texans fans uneasy.
Head coach Mike Vrabel dismissed all accusations, insisting the move was purely a legitimate football decision. Analysts noted that the Patriots simply took advantage of waiver order to add pass-rush depth. But amid the intensity of playoff week, J.J. Watt’s accusations transformed a minor roster move into a major psychological storyline — one powerful enough to heat up Patriots–Texans well before the opening kickoff.
The New England Patriots’ decision to sign a player right before the Divisional Round quickly thrust their playoff matchup with the Houston Texans into the center of controversy. By adding a player who had recently been part of the Texans’ roster just days before kickoff, the Patriots ignited intense debate across the NFL — and this time, the fire was fueled further when one of Houston’s most iconic figures spoke out publicly.
