By Marie Torto, Boston.com Staff

With their bye week over and the Houston Texans on their way to New England, quarterback Tom Brady knows the Patriots have their work cut out for them this week.

“It’s a great time of the year for football players to watch the best teams in the league compete and we’re going to be out there next weekend,” Brady said during his weekly appearance on WEEI’s Dennis and Callahan program. “I watched the Houston game … Once they won on Saturday, all the focus was on them.”

Brady said that although the Patriots beat the Texans 42-14 in December, this weekend will be a completely different game.

“I don’t think that game is going to have any bearing on what happens next week,” Brady said. “That was a big win for our season, it was a big win at that time, but this game is going to be entirely different and I think we need to put just as much preparation into the game as we did before … We know these guys. I think that’s the part that I enjoy, that I’ve already spent a lot of time preparing for them, so to have another week to do it, you feel like you’re going to know them that much better, so we still have to go out and execute against it. I know they felt like they didn’t play their best game against us, which they didn’t, and in a lot of ways, I think we can play better too and we need to play better, it needs to be our best week.”

The last time the Patriots played the Texans, tight end Rob Gronkowski was out because of a broken forearm. Brady said the team hopes Gronkowski is able to play.

“He’s working hard,” Brady said. “Nobody wants to be out there more than him on a full-time basis. He’s never really missed any games for us, so it’s been really hard for him to sit on the sideline. He’s working hard to do his rehab and get back out there. That’s what we’re all hoping. Whether that’s the case, who knows? Regardless, we still have to go out there and play great. We’ve won a lot of game with him not out there too, so we have to be prepared to do whatever it is we need to do.”

Brady said that with all the intensity that comes with the playoffs, the postseason is the most fun.

“This is what we play for,” Brady said. “This is what its all about. This is why you work hard. It’s more fun when you’re challenged more and when there’s more at stake and there’s definitely more at stake than there was two weeks ago.”

The Patriots will take on the Texans at Gillette Stadium on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. for a chance to advance to the AFC Championship game on Jan. 20.

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff

Last month's 42-14 shellacking at the hands of the Patriots was such an ugly defeat for the Houston Texans that the team can hardly stomach looking back upon the game.

Texans running back Arian Foster told the Houston Chronicle after Saturday's wild card win against the Cincinnati Bengals that he'll only glance at the film.

"I don’t know how much I'm going to look at that, man, honestly," Foster said. "[The Patriots] are a good team. We're a good team. I'll glance at it. But I'm not going to sit there and burn a candle and watch it."

The sentiment was similar across the Texans' locker room, where players were asked about the Week 14 loss as coverage of the AFC divisional matchup got a jumpstart.

"New England's intensity was higher than ours," Texans defensive lineman Antonio Smith told the Chronicle. "You feel, like, ashamed to say it. But in that game, you could tell they were putting forth that extra effort. They were making those plays that I'm talking about to win."

But Smith and the Texans want to use those feelings of disgust and abhorrence over their play as motivation for next week's game.

“I’m pregnant with it and I told them that on the sideline," Smith said. "Can’t forget it. You gotta take it with you. You gotta feel it in you. Every bit of despair you felt going off that field, you gotta feel it. That’s the level you gotta go to when you’re playing a team like that. It can’t just be work as usual, it’s gotta be personal.”

Said Texans coach Gary Kubiak: "We understand the challenge that we have. That is what is awesome about this league: it’s the ultimate challenge. We’ve earned our right to go back. We want to go back and play a heck of a lot better than we did.

"We will enjoy this victory (Saturday) and we’ll get back to work. It's a challenge that we all work for. That's why we're here."

@zuriberry

Houston's 19-13 win over Cincinnati on Saturday in the wild-card round of the playoffs can be seen as a positive for the Patriots on two fronts: It gives them an extra day to prepare for the Texans because they now know their opponent, and it brings a team that New England has already dominated this season back to Gillette Stadium.

In a conference call Sunday afternoon, Patriots coach Bill Belichick spoke highly of Houston's win against the Bengals, and dismissed any notion that the 42-14 win over the Texans on Dec. 10 will mean anything the second time around.

In fact, Belichick was asked if the situation two years ago can be applied. In 2010, the Patriots thrashed the Jets late in the regular season, 45-3. Then in the playoffs, the Jets turned the tables and eliminated the Patriots, winning 28-21 at Gillette.

"I think there’s certainly a lesson there about the game that we play now doesn’t have much to do with the game we played before," Belichick said. "We’ve talked about that many, many times here, before and after the 2010 season."

Belichick was also asked -- and spoke highly of -- Houston's two biggest stars, defensive end J.J. Watt and running back Arian Foster. Watt and the Texans' defense held the Bengals without a touchdown, while Foster ran for 140 yards, the third time in three playoff games he's gone over 100, the only time in NFL history that has happened.

On Watt: "Watt's a big focal point on that defense, but you can't ignore the other guys. He's made more big plays than probably anybody has defensively this year in the league."

On Foster: "The running game controls the game for them, it sets up their play-action passes, puts them in a lot of third-and-medium, third-and-short situations. There's no question he's a key guy for Houston and their offense, but his production also complements the other players, as well. We'll definitely have to do a good job on him."

By Greg A. Bedard, Globe Staff

BALTIMORE – There will be plenty of time to go over the Patriots-Texans matchup more in depth as the week goes along, but here’s my take on why the matchup could be or won't be different than the 42-14 pasting New England put on the Texans in Week 14:

Why it could be different

1. Texans saw the Patriots’ best shot: Defensively, New England brought extra pressure against Texans quarterback Matt Schaub on 52.5 percent of his throws. That’s the most since at least the start of the 2010 season. Cornerback Aqib Talib’s presence didn’t seem to have much of an impact on the pressure. The Patriots blitzed on 38 percent of the throws before he left with a hip injury; 68 percent after he departed – despite a 21-0 advantage. Offensively, the Patriots used the full arsenal against the Texans (sans Rob Gronkowski) with quick passes, a taste of the running game, and even a few shot plays to Brandon Lloyd and Donte Stallworth. It’s pretty much all on film for the Texans, so it will be up to them to find an answer on both sides of the ball.
2. Return of Reed and Graham: The Texans were without two important injured players, outside linebacker Brooks Reed (groin) and second tight end Garrett Graham (concussion), in the first matchup. When healthy, Reed gives the Texans more oomph in their pass rush, but he hasn’t looked 100 percent the past two games since returning. Graham is an athletic tight end who Schaub likes to go to in the red zone. He’s not a dynamic playmaker in the pass game, but he certainly helps when teams concentrate on Owen Daniels.
3. Confidence: Schaub had never played in, let alone won, a playoff game before Saturday’s victory over the Bengals, so perhaps he and the team have gained a little confidence. They were sorely lacking any down the stretch after blowing the top seed in the AFC. Maybe Schaub can now exploit some of the coverage deficiencies the Patriots had at linebacker and in the secondary that he flat missed the first time around.

Why it won’t be different

1. Schaub is still Schaub: The Texans’ quarterback looked like he didn’t want to be at Gillette Stadium the first time around, as he looked scared against the Patriots’ pressure and tentative to make a mistake. You’re not winning many big games that way. Further going against the Texans is they are not a gameplan offense like the Patriots. Houston does what it does – inside and outside zone runs and playaction passes – against every opponent. If the Texans sense any weakness in the Patriots, it’s not like they can design an attack to take advantage. Against the Texans, if you can disrupt what they like to do, they can’t alter and move the ball.
2. The Patriots stop the run: The Bengals were pushed around at defensive tackle (opposite Geno Atkins) and on the edges at defensive and linebacker against the Texans’ zone running game. And Arian Foster ran 32 times for 140 yards. He was 15 for 46 against the Patriots because Vince Wilfork, Brandon Deaderick, Kyle Love, Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes owned the interior, and Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich owned the edges. Take away the threat of playaction, and Schaub is below average and he’s line isn’t as elite as it normally is.
3. Patriots are rested: New England had a ton of players who were either injured or beatup the first time around, but have gotten some rest down the stretch and with the bye week. Chief among them is Gronkowski, who didn’t play the first time around. He was playing with one arm the last time we saw him, but 50 percent of Gronk is better than no Gronk.

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff

Only diehard Texans fans still believe in Houston. When the Texans come to Gillette Stadium Sunday Jan. 13, they'll be 9.5-point underdogs in the AFC divisional playoff matchup.

The Patriots beat the Texans almost a month ago, 42-14, and that huge win has bettors convinced the Patriots can replicate the effort. After the line opened, originally at -10, 63 percent of all bettors took the Patriots in the spread, according to P.J. Walsh, director of sports information at SportsInsights.com, a Beverly, Mass. based company.

SportsInsights.com receives betting percentages from seven offshore sports books, allowing for the company to gain rare insight into the behavior of bettors.

According to Walsh, when the line dropped, that indicated the "early sharp money grabbed the Texans at +10."

"However, it'll be interesting to see if the public continues to bet the Patriots this week and what effect that has on the line," Walsh said via e-mail. "My guess is that the Patriots' 42-14 win over the Texans is still fresh enough that bettors will continue to lay the points with New England all week, but the big question is how high the sharp bettors will let the line get before buying back Houston."

@zuriberry

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff

The Patriots will be hosting Houston next week in the AFC Division playoff round after the Texans beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 19-13, on Saturday.

Here are some quick thoughts on how the Texans fared against the Bengals:

- Matt Schaub, who finished 29 of 38 for 261 yards and an interception, was at his best when he was targeting tight end Owen Daniels over the middle of the field. He was at his shakiest when he was throwing the ball toward the sideline. If you recall, when the Texans were in New England, the Patriots took away those throws to Daniels and forced Schaub to dink and dunk or attempt to go down field. He's simply not a good quarterback outside of his comfort area and that's why he needs the play-action.

- Schaub threw an interception returned for a touchdown in the second quarter. It was a throw to the sideline that was undercut by Bengals corner Leon Hall. It was exactly the kind of throw he needed to avoid after another disastrous interception against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 17.

- The Texans defense was able to shut the Bengals down on third down, thanks in large part to a porous outing by Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton. The Bengals were 0 for 9 on third down and 1 for 2 on fourth down. Dalton was 14 of 30 for 144 yards and an interception. He finished with a 44.7 quarterback rating. The Texans won't be lucky enough to see that kind of effort from Tom Brady and the league's No. 1 offense.

- Arian Foster, behind his stud offensive line, was on top of his game. He rushed for 140 yards on 32 carries with a touchdown. Not to compare apples to oranges here, but he had only 15 carries against the Patriots. Everyone knows the Texans need their running game going for their offense to work in general.

- The Texans appeared to do their best to put defensive lineman J.J. Watt in one-on-one situations. What was the result? Five tackles, a sack, and a pass defensed. Expect the Texans to do their best to free up Watt next week.

@zuriberry

By Greg A. Bedard, Globe Staff

Heading to Baltimore for Sunday’s Colts-Ravens game, but wanted to give my picks for this weekend before I get on a plane:

Saturday

Bengals 20, Texans 16: This is a matchup of decidedly mediocre quarterbacks. Surprisingly, second-year Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has the playoff experience advantage over Matt Schaub (first playoff game in nine seasons). Dalton will be up and down, that’s who he is. Schaub has shown that the bigger the stakes, the worse a quarterback he is. He plays scared when the play-action game isn’t giving him a ton of open space to operate, and he won’t have that with DT Geno Atkins killing the right side of the Texans’ line. The Bengals’ secondary is really good and matchups up well with Andre Johnson and company, never mind the fact that defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is a terrific strategist.

Packers 30, Vikings 23: This one will come down to whether the Vikings’ front four, specifically a beat-up Jared Allen, can get enough pressure against Aaron Rodgers behind a mediocre Green Bay offensive line. Because with Greg Jennings at full strength, Jermichael Finley with his head in the game, and Randall Cobb back in the lineup, the Packers are going to put up a lot of points unless Rodgers is on his back more often than not. This could easily be a blowout.

Sunday

Ravens 27, Colts 20: The Ravens have not being playing good football, but they are decidedly more talented than the Colts – as is just about every team – and at some point that’s going to catch up to Indianapolis. Ray Lewis’ return should give Baltimore enough of a lift to get by this one.

Seahawks 23, Redskins 20: The best game of the weekend should be the final one. The way these teams rely on physical defenses and the running game, it almost feels like an old NFC East clash – with two young, very athletic quarterbacks taking the place of the dinosaur dropback quarterback. The Seahawks have exactly what it takes on defense to stop the Redskins’ pistol offense, and Robert Griffin III not being at full strength tips it to Seattle.

Which road team has the best shot of winning? Who do the Patriots want to see in the Divisional round? CineSport's Brian Clark turns to The Boston Globe's Greg Bedard for his insight.

By Steve Silva, Boston.com Staff

The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Friday that they and general manager Scott Pioli have mutually agreed to part ways.

“After several productive conversations, we made the difficult decision to part ways with Scott Pioli and allow him to pursue other opportunities,” Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said in a statement released on the team's website. “Scott has been an invaluable member of the Chiefs family since joining us in 2009, and we sincerely appreciate his tremendous contributions over the last four years.

“I know that this was a difficult decision for Scott as well. He has a great deal of appreciation for the history of this franchise, for our players, coaches and employees, and especially our great fans.

“There is no way to overstate the level of respect and admiration I have for Scott on a personal level. His character, loyalty, integrity and commitment to a team are extraordinary, and throughout the last four years, he has consistently put the best interests of the Chiefs ahead of his own. I know he will go on to enjoy further success in the National Football League, and I certainly wish him the best in the future.”

The 47-year-old Pioli, who earned three Super Bowl rings during his time as Bill Belichick's second-in-command with the Patriots before leaving after the 2008 season, joined the Chiefs as GM in Jan. 2009 and spent four seasons in Kansas City. During his time with the Chiefs, the team won its first division title since 2003 and Pioli earned NFL Executive of the Year honors from national media outlets in 2010.

Pioli released the below statement on parting ways with the club:

“I would like to thank Norma, Clark and the Hunt Family for the opportunity that they gave me four years ago. I’d also like to thank the players, coaches, scouts and countless other employees, throughout the organization and at Arrowhead Stadium that have worked so hard during my time here. I would also like to genuinely thank Chiefs fans.

“The bottom line is that I did not accomplish all of what I set out to do. To the Hunt family – to the great fans of the Kansas City Chiefs – to the players, all employees and alumni, I truly apologize for not getting the job done.”

The football playoffs kick off this weekend, and Globe Patriots reporter Shalise Manza Young stopped by to chat about the Patriots and the playoffs on Friday.

Review the discussion below.

The good people at FootballOutsiders.com went through the gamebooks from all 256 of this year's regular-season games and tabulated the total number of snaps played by every player in the NFL.

Thanks to playing center on an offense that likes to play at a rapid-fire pace and getting through the year fairly healthy, the Patriots' Ryan Wendell was the 2012 leader in total snaps played.

Wendell played 1,231 offensive snaps (out of a possible 1,237) and 148 special teams snaps for a total of 1,379. The NFL runner-up was Patriots left tackle Nate Solder, who was on the field for 1,234 offensive snaps and 105 special teams snaps, for a total of 1,339.

"I was happy to find that out," Wendell said. "I think it says a lot about the organization as a whole, the guys around us -- our athletic trainers, Jim Whalen and Joe Van Allen, along with the strength and conditioning coaches, Harold Nash and Moses Cabrera, who spend a lot of time and effort trying to make sure that we're healthy and out on the field as much as we can."

Wendell, a first-year starter, played at a high level, earning the respect of quarterback Tom Brady.

"He's done a great job," Brady said. "He's really done a great job since he got here. He fought for his opportunity and once he got it this year, he really took advantage. He's been healthy and durable, consistent. Playing center on our team is not easy -- there are a lot of adjustments and calls that we have, both the communication I have with him and what he relays to the rest of the offensive linemen.

"He's done a great job. He's a tough, hard-nosed football player that loves the game and loves to compete."

Patriots defensive back/safety Devin McCourty ranked third in total snaps with 1,329, with 1,073 on defense and 256 on special teams.

Devin's twin brother Jason, a Titans cornerback, was fifth on the list with 1,282 total snaps (1,125 on defense, 157 on special teams).

By Michael Vega, Globe Staff

FOXBOROUGH --- Patriots quarterback Tom Brady returned to practice Thursday and was joined by defensive end Rob Ninkovich, who injured his left hip in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Miami Dolphins, according to Globe colleague Michael Whitmer.

Rookie linebacker Dont'a Hightower, who has been battling hamstring and shoulder injuries, also returned.

Despite frigid conditions, the Patriots conducted their final practice of their bye week outdoors on the lower grass field behind Gillette Stadium in sweats and shells. The team, which had perfect attendance for practice, will take the next three days off.

Tickets for the Patriots' Jan. 13 playoff game at Gillette Stadium will go on sale Monday at 10 a.m., the team announced.

Ticket sales will be conducted only by phone (800-745-3000) or online (ticketmaster.com). Tickets are limited, with mostly single seats available, the team said in a press release, and there is a four-ticket limit per person. Visa is the only form of payment accepted.

Prices range from $100 to $220. No tickets will be sold at the Gillette Stadium ticket office.

The Patriots will face the Ravens, Texans or Colts on Jan. 13 at 4:30 p.m.

In this edition of Inside the Playbook, Globe writer Greg Bedard analyzes how the Patriots have improved their defense.

Longtime Patriots equipment manager Don Brocher died early Tuesday morning after a six-month battle with leukemia.

Bill Belichick opened his press conference Wednesday by sharing his thoughts on the passing of Brocher, who was the franchise's longest-tenured employee (hired in 1972):

"First of all, I’d just say that as a football team, organization, we’re saddened by the loss of Donny this weekend," said the coach. "In a game where – we all saw what changes were made on Monday throughout the league – for somebody to be here for 40 years, doing the job that he did for so many owners, coaches, general managers, you name it, players, is really a tribute to his dedication, consistency, dependability, and the quality of the work that he did.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Laurie and his family. He’s a guy that six months ago when [former assistant equipment manager] John Hillebrand went to Jacksonville, [Brocher] sat in my office and he talked about how good he was feeling, how much he was looking forward to a few more years on the job and doing some other things that he was looking forward to. Six months later, we are where we are today.

"Don was here for the San Francisco game. I don’t think anybody really had a sense of the physical and mental toughness that he displayed that night just by being here and doing his job and being here for us in that type of situation. But that was kind of Donny. He was never one to complain, never one to talk about how he was doing, he was just there to help the rest of us. We’ll miss him."

Brocher did not make the trip with the Patriots to Tampa Bay for a preseason game in August; it was the first game he had missed in 40 years, snapping a streak of 834 consecutive games he worked.

Robert Griffin III has had a terrific season, but he'll meet his match this weekend against the Seattle Seahawks. (Jonathan Ernst / REUTERS)

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff

We have the matchups, we have the lines, but not all of it fits neatly into who wins and who loses. Let's break it down. Here are my picks for the NFL's wild card weekend.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Saturday

Bengals (+4 1/2) at Texans (-4 1/2) -- This is the Texans' final chance to bounce back. They're lucky because the Bengals are the worst team in the playoffs, having won six of their last 10 games against non-playoff opponents and only three times against teams in the playoff hunt. But that doesn't mean a team that's dead set on imploding can't finish the job. The Texans lost three of their last four, including once to the Indianapolis Colts -- a truly retched defense, No. 26 overall -- and have only themselves to blame for being in the wild card. But they have more than enough talent on defense to deal with the Bengals' flimsy offense (No. 22 overall) in a rematch from the 2011 playoffs.
Straight up winner: Texans
By the line: Texans

Vikings (+9) at Packers (-9) -- Forget about Week 17. It's in the past and nothing can change it. The Packers dropped the regular season finale to the Vikings, 37-34, because Green Bay got off to a slow start. Don't expect that to happen again. Adrian Peterson will surely help the Vikings keep it close. Any reasonable person should balk at the 9-point spread.
Straight up winner: Packers
By the line: Vikings

Sunday

Colts (+6 1/2) at Ravens (-6 1/2) -- How much can Ray Lewis help the Ravens defense? If he is to return, as is expected, that could emotionally change the makeup of this game in the Ravens' favor. But I think everyone is more interested in which Joe Flacco will show up on Sunday. He's been wildly inconsistent, which is his trademark. If Flacco can put together anything similar to his Week 16 performance against the New York Giants, the Ravens will cruise. But if we're talking Week 15 Flacco against the Denver Broncos, the Ravens are in a world of hurt. No worries, they're playing one of the league's bottom tier defense and we're not that impressed with Colts rookie quarterback Andrew Luck either. Luck finished the season with 23 turnovers, including 18 interceptions.
Straight up winner: Ravens
By the line: Ravens

Seahawks (-3) at Redskins (+3) -- This rookie quarterback matchup will be the highlight of the weekend. The Seahawks are arguably the hottest team in the NFL right now, going a perfect 5-0 in December and winning seven of their last eight games. Seattle's Russell Wilson (3,118 yards, 26 touchdowns, 100.0 quarterback rating) has helped compose an explosive offense, putting up a whopping 38.6 points per game in December. He's helped in large part by the No. 4 overall defense in the league and a bruising running game thanks to Marshawn Lynch (1,590 yards, 11 touchdowns). The Redskins' Robert Griffin III (3,200 yards, 20 touchdowns, 102.4 quarterback rating) has been the talk of the league since day 1. But he's somewhat taken the shine away from rookie running back Alfred Morris (1,613 yards, 13 touchdowns), who has helped Washington become the No. 1 rushing team in the league. That makes sense when you consider Griffin III ran for 815 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games. But he's been hampered with a knee injury the past few weeks and the Seahawks defense has done a great job at controlling the pocket. And there's nothing worse than the Redskins' passing defense (No. 30 overall) which will have to deal with receivers Sidney Rice and Golden Tate, both of whom are averaging more than 15 yards per catch.
Straight up winner: Seahawks
By the line: Seahawks

The Patriots are currently holding their first of two practices this week on the lower field behind Gillette Stadium.

There were three players not spotted during the media-access window: Tom Brady, Rob Ninkovich, and Dont'a Hightower.

Since this is their bye week the Patriots are not required to submit an injury report, but it is likely safe to assume that Brady is simply getting a veteran's day off - when he does get a day of rest, it is always on a Wednesday.

Ninkovich left Sunday's game with Miami with a hip injury; Hightower has been on the injury report with hamstring and shoulder injuries, which could be the reason for his absence.

Players were in shells and sweats.

By Matt Pepin, Boston.com Staff

With the NFL postseason about to begin, Patriots fans have the highest hopes for this season's team, and they are showing their allegiance in a variety of ways just about everywhere you look.

A perfect example is the awesome home display pictured in the above photograph reader Tim Lund sent us. He said his father, Paul, created this display at their home in Billerica, and it spans the entire bay window and shutters.

We've seen other home and business displays, clothing, car and pet decorations, and many other signs of loyalty and pride, so it's time to offer Boston.com readers the chance to submit their photos.

Our Share your Patriots pride photo gallery for this year is up and running, and will be on the site throughout the playoffs. Thanks for reading and Happy New Year.

The Patriots announced Tuesday defensive lineman Tracy Robertson was signed to the practice squad.

Robertson, an undrafted free agent from Baylor, was released by the Lions at the end of training camp in August and has not played in the NFL this season.

By Matt Pepin, Boston.com Staff

Equipment manager Don Brocher, the Patriots' longest-tenured employee, died on Tuesday of complications from leukemia, the team announced.

Brocher, 60, was in his 41st season with the team. He began as a ballboy in 1972 and became an equipment assistant that season, then became equipment manager in 1994. He was born in Boston and lived in Norton with his wife, Laurie.

Brocher had worked at 834 consecutive Patriots games over a 40-year span before he missed a preseason game at Tampa Bay in August.

“The Kraft family and the entire Patriots organization awoke with very heavy hearts this morning,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a team press release. “That is when most of us learned of Don’s passing. He had fought this deadly disease so valiantly all season long. We were all optimistic that he would defeat it and fully recover. He was back on our sidelines just two weeks ago for our game against the 49ers and I can’t remember ever seeing him happier. I am glad I had that opportunity to thank him once again for his loyalty and countless contributions to the team. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Laurie, and all who knew Don and are mourning his loss today.”