Postgame Prayer Between Patriots, Texans Goes Viral and Draws Praise: ‘More of This, Please!’

Michael Foust

Audio By Carbonatix

By Michael Foust, Crosswalk.com

Video of the Houston Texans and New England Patriots praying moments after battling on the gridiron has gone viral, showing some of the teams’ top players, including quarterbacks Drake Maye and C.J. Stroud, joining in a huddle to give God the glory.

Midfield prayer huddles are common after NFL games, but Sunday’s moment unfolded on one of the sport’s biggest stages – a high-stakes NFL divisional-round playoff featuring some of the league’s top players and broadcast into homes across America on ESPN. Often, such displays of faith circulate only on social media.

Sunday’s moment was further amplified when ESPN’s official social media accounts shared the clip. The video has since drawn millions of views across all platforms.

“Drake Maye, C.J. Stroud and players from Texans-Patriots gathered for a prayer following their playoff matchup,” ESPN’s Twitter account wrote alongside a heart emoji.

Drake Maye, C.J. Stroud and players from Texans-Patriots gathered for a prayer following their playoff matchup ❤💯 pic.twitter.com/YxDi7R2JfJ
— ESPN (@espn) January 18, 2026

Stroud and Maye are among several outspoken Christians on the two teams.

Football fans applauded the clip, recognizing that the two teams had fiercely competed head-to-head – hit after hit and play after play – for more than three hours.

“It was so beautiful to see them pray together,” one person wrote on ESPN’s Twitter feed.

“My favorite NFL moment of the season,” another wrote.

“More of this please!” still another wrote.

The Patriots defeated the Texans, 28-16, to advance to the AFC Championship Game at Denver. The Broncos also won over the weekend, edging Buffalo 33-30.

Stroud later sparked further conversation on social media for thanking Jesus during his postgame press conference, despite the loss.

“Before I do anything, I wanna give God the glory-my Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ. Without Him, I’m nothing. I appreciate Him giving me this opportunity to play this great game with this great organization.”
- Houston Texans QB CJ Stroud after 4 INT in a playoff loss vs Patriots pic.twitter.com/OePAjhKH7D
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) January 19, 2026

“Before I do anything, I want to give God the glory – my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” Stroud told media members after a tough outing that saw him throw four interceptions under constant pressure. “Without Him, I'm nothing. And I just appreciate Him giving me this opportunity, this platform, to play this great game with this great organization.”

Both Stroud and Maye openly reference their faith on their social media profiles. Stroud’s Instagram bio reads, “Child of Jesus Christ.” Maye’s says simply, “Jesus.”

Patriots’ TreVeyon Henderson Urges Fans to Choose Christ Over Worldly Gain

Houston Coach DeMeco Ryans Says Faith in Jesus Has Been an Anchor for the Team

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.