Patriots’ Lewis proves to be triple trouble for Texans

The New England Patriots are returning to the AFC championship game, thanks to a historic effort by running back Dion Lewis.

Lewis had a 13-yard touchdown reception, a 98-yard kickoff return for a major, and a late one-yard TD run to help the Patriots hold off the Houston Texans 34-16 on Saturday night and advance to an NFL-record sixth straight conference title game.

Lewis became the fifth New England player to score three touchdowns in a playoff game and the first player in the Super Bowl era to score on a rush, a catch and a kick return in a postseason game.

“I just approached it that I would be in there on every play. That’s just the way I prepare,” he said.

“So when it does happen, I’ll always be ready.”

New England will host the winner of Sunday night’s Pittsburgh-Kansas City matchup next week for the right to play in the Feb 5 Super Bowl in Houston.

“Whoever we play next week is going to be a great team,” said Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

“We’re going to have to play better than we played tonight on offense.”

The Patriots survived a gritty effort by the Texans’ topranked defense, which intercepted Brady twice. Houston’s special teams also forced a third turnover.

But the Texans couldn’t find enough traction on offense to take full advantage of New England’s mistakes, settling for field goals on both of Brady’s picks.

The Patsled 17-13 at the half, but pushed their lead to 24-13 early in the third quarter on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Brady to James White.

Houston’s Brock Osweiler was intercepted three times after that, and the Texans managed only a field goal the rest of game.

It was the first breakout game of the season for Lewis, who spent the first eight games on the injured reserve list, recovering from offseason surgery on his left knee.

Brady finished 18 of 38 for 287 yards and two touchdowns and was showered with chants of “MVP! MVP!” and “Brady! Brady!” late in the game.

Julian Edelman was Brady’s top target, catching eight passes for 137 yards.

Osweiler was just 23 of 40 for 198 yards with the two turnovers.

“You need to capitalize on great opportunities against a team like the Patriots,” Osweiler said. “That’s my fault. I’ll clean that up.”

With LeGarrette Blount coming off an illness that limited him during practice this week, the Patriots gave Houston a steady diet of Lewis when they had the ball in the first half.

Without Blount to contend with, the Texans applied pressure on Brady. A.J. Bouye intercepted a slightly overthrown ball late in the first quarter on a pass that bounced out of the hands of receiver Michael Floyd.

That led to a 27-yard field goal that cut New England’s lead to 14-6.

On the ensuing kickoff, Lewis coughed up the ball on a hit from Akeem Dent.

Eddie Pleasant fell on it at the Patriots 12, and two plays later Osweiler hit C.J. Fiedorowicz from eight yards to cut the deficit to 14-13.