Patriots vs. Texans: Kickoff Time, Where To Watch And More

The New England Patriots will return to Gillette Stadium this week when they face the Houston Texans. The Patriots and Texans spent two days conducting joint practice sessions at the Texans summer training camp facility at The Greenbrier in West Virgina prior to facing each other in the Week 2 preseason game at NRG Stadium.

2017 marks the second season in a row that the Patriots and Texans will pay two times in a season. Last year, the Patriots faced Houston in a Thursday Night game at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 22 and won, 27-0. The two teams met at Gillette Stadium in a 2016 AFC Divisional Playoff Game with the Patriots advancing to the AFC Championship after a 34-16 victory. The Patriots and Texans will be playing in the regular season for the third
straight season. The Patriots won 27-6 in 2015 and 27-0 in 2016.

Here's what you need to know about Sunday's game:

Kickoff

The Patriots and Texans will play at 1 p.m.

Broadcast Information

TELEVISION: This week’s game will be broadcast by CBS and can be seen on WBZ-TV Channel 4. Ian Eagle will handle play-by-play duties with Dan Fouts as the color analyst. Evan Washburn will work from the sidelines. The game will be produced by Mark Wolff and directed by Bob Fishman.

NATIONAL RADIO: This week’s game will be broadcast to a national audience on Westwood One Sports. John Sadak and Al Groh will call the game.

LOCAL RADIO: 98.5 FM, The Sports Hub, is the flagship station for the Patriots Radio Network. A complete listing of the network’s 40 stations can be found in this press release. Play-by-play broadcaster Bob Socci will call the action along with former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, who will provide color analysis. The games are produced by Marc Cappello.

The Betting Line

Here's what the odds makers have to say about Sunday night's game via ESPN.com:

• Westgate - New England by 14 points
• Caesar's - New England by 14 points
• William Hill - New England by 14 points
• Wynn - New England by 14 points
• Cantor - New England by 14 points
• Unibet - New England by 14.5 points

What The Experts Say

• ESPN.com - All nine expects pick Patriots
• Will Brinson, CBSSports.com - Patriots
• Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports - Patriots
• Benjamin Hoffman, New York Times - Patriots (Texans with spread)
• Sports Illustrated - All six experts pick Patriots
• FiveThirtyEight - New England favored by 82 percent

Parking Information

Stadium parking lots open at 9 a.m. Parking is $40 for cars and motorcycles and $150 for buses, RVs and limos. For more parking information, visit the Gillette Stadium parking FAQ.

Allow for Plenty of Time Around the Stadium

With a capacity crowd expected, fans are encouraged to arrive early to allow for plenty of time when traveling near the stadium. The usual traffic restrictions will be in place on local roads before and after the show. Fans must use Interstate 95, Interstate 495 or Route 140 to access Route 1 and Gillette Stadium.

Clear Bag Policy In Effect

Fans attending the game are reminded that bags larger than a small wristlet or handheld wallet will not be allowed inside Gillette Stadium, per the venue’s clear bag policy, which is in effect at all ticketed events. If carrying a bag into the stadium is necessary, there are two options: a clear plastic bag the size of a 1- gallon Ziploc bag or a small wristlet or handheld wallet not exceeding 8” x 5” x 2” (approximately the size of a hand).

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 day. 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 on the clear bag policy, click here.

Banned Items

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, check the stadium security protocol.

If You Need Help

Guest service booths located on the 100- and 300-level concourses at midfield/50-yard line for all stadium events. If you need immediate assistance during the event, please contact the stadium hotline at 508-384-9205.

If you require anonymous assistance during the event for behavioral or conduct related matters, please send security operations a text message at 508-928-3838 or text the word, CONDUCT to 78247 followed by all the relevant details.

Some information in this article was provided by Patriots Media Relations.

Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images