The Patriots are Google. The Texans are a Silicon Valley start-up. The Patriots are NFL upper crust. The Texans are pigskin parvenus. The Patriots are a navy blue suit, a reliable, timeless staple. The Texans are brightly colored dress socks, a questionable, en vogue pick of the moment.

Monday night’s prime-time clash between the Patriots and the 11-1 Texans is missing the prologue of past showdown games against teams like the Jets, Colts, and Ravens. The history between these two teams basically consists of Wes Welker tearing up his knee on the Texans’ tattered home turf in the 2009 season finale, and the Patriots’ winning Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers in Houston’s stadium, a game better known for the “wardrobe malfunction” at halftime.