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Patriots come back on cue, but Texans won’t go away

Tom Brady

New England Patriots’ Tom Brady (12) looks to hand off during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013, in Houston. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider)

AP

The Patriots needed less than seven minutes of game time to erase their latest deficit. But then something surprising happened.

if it seems like it was just a minute ago when the Texans were up 17-7 at halftime, you’re almost right. By the 8:06 mark in the third, they were up 21-17 with little resistance.

A pair of convincing touchdown drives sandwiched around a three-and-out by the Texans offense has turned this the direction everyone saw it going to begin with.

Tom Brady has been surgical in the second half, recovering nicely from an early interception. Fullback James Develin also had a fourth-effort touchdown run, and the Patriots seemed back in control.

But then Case Keenum drove the Texans downfield, running in from 5 yards out to give them a 24-21 advantage back. Unlike the Broncos a week ago, they’re resisting the Patriots comeback, and threaten to make this interesting.