How to Watch or Stream the Patriots-Texans Thursday Night Football Game

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Following a short week of rest, the New England Patriots are back on the field Thursday night when they host the Houston Texans. The teams, both 2-0 played last season in a Sunday Night football game at Houston with the Patriots taking a 27-6 victory on Dec. 13, 2015.

The Patriots will be playing on Thursday for the 16th time in team history and enter this week with six straight wins when playing on Thursday.

Here's what you need to know about Thursday night's game:

Kickoff

Thursday night's game is scheduled to start at 8:25 p.m.

Broadcast Information

TELEVISION AND INTERNET: This week’s game will be broadcast by CBS and can be seen locally on WBZ-TV Channel 4 in Boston. Jim Nantz will handle play-by-play duties with Phil Simms as the color analyst. Tracy Wolfson will work the sidelines. The game will be produced by Lance Barrow and directed by Mike Arnold. The game will also be streamed live on Twitter. Fans looking to stream the game on Twitter will find the game located in the moments section, which can be accessed by clicking the lightning bolt at the top of the website.

NATIONAL RADIO: This week’s game will be broadcast to a national audience on Westwood One Radio. Ian Eagle and Tony Bosselli will call the game.

LOCAL RADIO: 98.5 FM, The Sports Hub, is the flagship station for the Patriots Radio Network. Play-by-play broadcaster Bob Socci will call the action along with former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, who will provide color analysis. Produced by Marc Cappello.

Parking and Transportation
Parking lots at Gillette Stadium open at 4:30 p.m. Parking is $40 for cars and motorcycles and $150 for buses, RVs, and limos. The MBTA will be running trains from Boston and Providence. Both trains have sold out, according to the MBTA. Here's the full train schedule:
Boston Train

• South Station - 6 p.m.
• Back Bay - 6:05 p.m.
• Dedham Corp - 6:20 p.m.
• Gillette Stadium - 7:05 p.m.

Rhode Island Train

• TF Green Airport - 4:35 p.m.
• Providence - 5 p.m.
• South Attleboro - 5:10 p.m.
• Attleboro - 5:20 p.m.
• Mansfield - 5:30 p.m.
• Gillette Stadium - 6 p.m.

Both trains will leave Foxborough 30 minutes after the end of the game. Train tickets are $20 roundtrip.

Arrive Early

With event traffic expected to overlap with the evening commute, stadium officials encourage fans to allow themselves plenty of time when traveling near the stadium. Traffic restrictions will be in place on local roads before and after the game. Fans must use I-95 or I-495 to access Route 1 and Gillette Stadium.

Clear Bag Policy and Prohibited Items

Only gallon sized clear freezer bags, clear bags measuring 12" x 12" x 6", women's wristlets or handheld wallets not to exceed 8" x 5" x 2" (approximately the size of a hand), and clear plastic bags carrying only purchases made at the stadium ProShop are allowed in Gillette Stadium.

Please note that bags larger than the permitted size, including purses, shoulder bags, diaper bags and backpacks, will not be allowed inside Gillette Stadium on event days. Further, bags exceeding the permitted size will not be held or stored by the venue and must be returned to a vehicle before entering the stadium. For more information, see the stadium's clear bag policy.

Prohibited items at Gillette Stadium include, but are not limited to: selfie sticks, GoPro cameras, camera bags, umbrellas, coolers, fanny packs, outside food and beverage, balloons or beach balls, noisemakers, signs larger than 11 x 17 and any other items deemed dangerous and/or inappropriate by stadium management. For more information on prohibited items, see the Gillette Stadium prohibited items policy.

Series History

The Patriots and Texans will meet for the seventh time in the regular season and for the eighth time overall since Houston entered the NFL in 2002.

The Patriots and Texans met last season in a Sunday Night Football gaame in Houston, with the Patriots pulling out a 27-6 victory on Dec. 13, 2015.

The Patriots and Texans met in the 2012 postseason in an AFC Divisional playoff game that was won by the Patriots, 41-28, on Jan. 13, 2013 at Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots are 3-0 overall against the Texans when playing at home. The Patriots only loss against Houston was in the final game of the 2009 regular-season when Houston defeated the Patriots 34-27. The Patriots had

already clinched the division prior to that game and Tom Brady was relieved for portions of that game by then backup QB Brian Hoyer.

Before the Texans joined the league, the Patriots and the Houston Oilers were foes dating back to the days of the American Football League, playing twice a year from 1960-69 and 33 times overall before the Oilers moved to Tennessee following the 1996 season.

Betting Line

As of Wednesday night, here are the betting line from the major oddsmakers, via ESPN.com

• Westgate: Patriots +1
• PinnacleSports.com: N/A
• BOVADA.lv: Patriots +1.5
• BETONLINE.ag: Even
• SportsBetting.ag: Even
• 5Dimes.eu: Patriots +1.5

Expert Picks

• CBS Sports: Experts split 4-4
• FiveThirtyEight: Patriots 70 percent chance of winning
• ESPN: Expects split 3-3, three others have no pick
• SB Nation: Experts pick Texans 6-4