Patriots: Team routs Texans 42-14 in key AFC matchup

(AP) — Tom Brady threw for four touchdowns and New England routed Houston 42-14 on Monday night for the Patriots’ seventh straight victory.

The Patriots (10-3), who already own the AFC East title, moved one game behind the Texans (11-2) for the conference’s top seed and snapped Houston’s six-game winning streak.

Brady had scoring passes of 7 and 4 yards to Aaron Hernandez and 37 to Brandon Lloyd in the first half, and 67 yards to Donte’ Stallworth in the third quarter.

New England has won 20 straight December home games. Houston, which has clinched at least a wild-card berth, leads Indianapolis by two games in the AFC South and plays the Colts twice in the final three weeks of the season.