Patriots QB Drake Maye looks to throw during last year's regular season game vs. the Texans at Gillette Stadium. (AP photo)

Drake Maye watched the Monday Night AFC Wild Card game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Houston Texans.

He still came to work this week.

Yes, he saw the forceful Texans defense punish the Steelers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who may have played in his last game. It turned out Steelers coach Mike Tomlin coached his last game. Yes, the Texans left victims in their wake.

Maye is up for the challenge, ready to avoid being their next victim.

“They fly around, they’re relentless,” he said. “They’re great up front, they’re great in the back end, they’ve got great linebackers. They’re great all around. They have great coaching. So, we’ve got our hands full, and we know it’s going to be a tough game.

“We’ve got to play the game the right way, and we’ve got great players all around. Man, all the hype is fulfilling and deserving from what I’ve seen on film. So, we’ve got to be able to stay ahead of the chains, and I know we’ve got a tough task, but we’re going to have our hands full. Play complimentary football, and from there, just try to find ways to pick up first downs and score some points.”

Points weren’t plentiful in the Wild Card win over San Diego; in fact Maye threw just one TD pass. But it was enough for his first ever NFL football game.

“Just trying to do my part to try to win the game,” he said. “Any playoff game is pressure, and trying to play in the postseason, winning postseason games is tough in this league. So, I was proud to be able to do it in front of a home crowd and with our defense that helped me out and helped us out a good bit.

“So, I’ve got to do better of not putting the football in harm’s way, and from there, just try to do my best to score touchdowns in the red zone.”

Easier said than done.

“Well, the thing about the Texans is what they do, they’re good at it,” May said. “They’re really good at it. They do it a lot. They’ve got different ways. They play some man coverage. They play some zone. They’ve got eyes on the quarterback. They’ve got eyes on creating turnovers. Their guys in the back end are great at getting their hands on the football and catching it when there’s somebody throwing it. So, they’ve got good players outside. I think for us, offensively, just try to stay ahead of the chains. Scheme-wise, just do things that we’re good at and try to find a way every week to scheme something up if we see it, but at the same time, just try to stay ahead of the chains and know what type of game it is.”

Ironically, Maye’s first career start was against the Texans last season. He just doesn’t want this to be his final game of this season.

“That feels like, shoot, 10 years ago,” Maye said. “It’s been a long journey. So, it’s just, I’ll take some time, probably, to just look back and see what the journey’s been like. I know it’s hard to do that in such a sped-up time in the postseason, where there are so many things you’re trying to do, finish and think about.

“But no, just takes some time to reflect. Running out there with the first snap jitters was pretty cool. It was fun to look back on. We’ll hopefully have a different outcome from the game, but definitely take some time to appreciate where we’ve come and how much work we still have to do, especially myself.”

GONZALEZ STIL IN PROTOCOL, COLLINS DID NOT PRACTICE

Patriots defensive back Christian Gonzalez is still in concussion protocol but was at practice Wednesday on a limited basis. However, Texans wide receiver Nico Collins was not at practice while in the same protocol, and the growing feeling is he may not have time to play Sunday…

Patriots offensive linemen Morgan Moses and Thayer Munford Jr. did not practice, both with bad knees…

Limited besides Gonzalez were tight end Hunter Henry (knee) LB Anfernee Jennings (knee), running back Terrell Jennings (concussion), linebacker Harold Landry (knee), and DL Khyris Tonga (foot). Corner Alex Austin (wrist) did practice fully.