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But only after a sense of finality engulfed the crowd, only after a defender made one of the most critical catches of the night for the Patriots: a leaping interception by Rob Ninkovich, their nimble defensive end.

It thwarted a promising Houston drive. It resulted, six plays later, in a New England touchdown. That score turned an 11-point lead that was in jeopardy into an 18-point advantage that soon ballooned to 25.

A fourth-quarter surge by the Texans obscured the comprehensive nature of New England's 41-28 divisional-round victory, which set up a rematch of last year's A.F.C. Championship game. On Sunday, New England will host the Baltimore Ravens, who came within a shanked field goal of winning here last year, and who spoiled what would have been a captivating matchup of quarterback superstars — Tom Brady versus Peyton Manning — with an exhilarating victory Saturday in Denver.

Baltimore's double-overtime victory triggered a weekend of fantastic finishes and electrifying performances, a prelude to the reliable numbing dominance of the Patriots. They rushed for 122 yards. Their running backs, Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley, combined for four touchdowns. Brady completed 25 of 40 passes for 344 yards and 3 touchdowns, all without Danny Woodhead (thumb) and Rob Gronkowski (left forearm), who were injured early in the first quarter and did not return.

Gronkowski is expected to miss rest of playoffs. "It's hard to replace a player like him; he's a freak of nature," his fellow tight end Aaron Hernandez said.

The Texans tried so hard. They vowed not to be humiliated again. Returning to the same stadium where New England humbled them by 28 points on Dec. 10, the Texans escaped embarrassment for only so long.

Houston scored 10 points in the final 75 seconds before halftime to draw within 17-13. After Brady directed a 69-yard scoring drive to open the third quarter, capped by an 8-yard run by Ridley, the Texans were in position to slice into the Patriots' lead after marching from their 5 to the New England 37. Then Ninkovich jumped, and down went the Texans.

"I guess I'm just blessed," Ninkovich said, adding, "Right place, right time."

Leading to Sunday, the Patriots discussed their previous victory over the Texans, but only in vague, almost apologetic terms — as if stricken with selective amnesia. It was forgotten as quickly as it happened, banished to that same dark, distant nook in the brain where another Monday night massacre resides.

Houston, in essence, aspired to emulate the 2010 Jets, who stampeded into Gillette that postseason and avenged a 42-point humiliation. For the Texans, the loss to New England precipitated a funk that cost them the No. 1 seed in the A.F.C., a first-round bye and home-field advantage. It cast them as underdogs or, worse, as pretenders.

Although they were not directly inspired by precedent, the Texans did feature elements of that Jets team of two years ago, elements necessary to topple New England: a dynamic, clock-controlling running game and a ferocious defense with a pass rush capable of rattling Tom Brady. At least, in theory.

If not for Danieal Manning, the Texans would have been embarrassed again in the first half. His 94-yard return on the opening kickoff set up a field goal by Shayne Graham.   His 35-yard return late in the second quarter, compounded by a 15-yard penalty on New England, set up a five-play scoring drive capped by Arian Foster's 1-yard run.

On that possession, Houston gained 47 yards. Foster rushed for all of them, as much out of necessity as by design. Foster, whose streak of 100-yard rushing games in the postseason ended at three, was so amused by a Boston Globe column last week mocking the Texans, calling them "tomato cans" and "frauds," that he turned an excerpt into his avatar on Twitter.