FOXBORO  — The Patriots forced five turnovers in their AFC divisional-round win over the Texans on Sunday at Gillette Stadium, but they didn’t exactly take advantage of Houston’s miscues.

The Patriots offense didn’t convert any of those turnovers into points, but New England can thank veteran cornerback Marcus Jones for making C.J. Stroud seriously pay for one of his four first-half interceptions.

Jones got under an errant Stroud pass and raced 26 yards to pay dirt, carrying Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchison for the last several yards before spinning into the end zone for a defensive touchdown with 10:31 left in the second quarter. Jones’ score erased an early 10-7 deficit and the Patriots never trailed again.

“We put in a lot of work, the defensive side, offensive side, special teams,” Jones said. “We know what we invested in. It came down to all that preparation and stuff like that. We definitely have the situational confidence when it comes down to it. And man, just try to be right place, right time.”

New England Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones scores a pick-six during the second quarter of the divisional-round game at Gillette Stadium. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

Jones made sure to give credit to edge rusher K’Lavon Chassion for forcing Stroud into a horrendous pass. Stroud was looking for tight end Harrison Bryant in the flat, but he tripped and fell in the backfield when he crossed the line of scrimmage, leaving Chassion right in Stroud’s face. Instead of taking the sack — it was the first play of Houston’s drive — Stroud forced things and was hit as he threw by Chassion.

Stroud’s pass wobbled high into the air and Jones got under it in a crowd like he was fielding a punt before taking off to the end zone.

“We knew that C.J., at the end of the day, when it comes down to it, having only four-man rushes, three-man rushes, he can dice defenses up,” Jones said. “So, our main thing was to have pressure. And I’m glad that we caused what we caused today.”

While Carlton Davis and Craig Woodson got their first picks in a Patriots uniform Sunday, getting his hands on the football and getting into the end zone isn’t anything new for Jones. He had had an interception return for a touchdown earlier this season against the Cincinnati Bengals and brought back two punts for touchdowns as well.

But this score offered a little bit of redemption for Jones. On the Texans’ previous offensive possession, Jones had tight coverage on Christian Kirk with Houston facing a third-and-4 from the Patriots 10 yard-line. The Patriots sent a blitz that the Texans picked up and Stroud, who finished the day 20-for-47 passing with 212 yards, made arguably his best throw of the day when he fit the pass through a tight window to Kirk for a touchdown.

Jones and the Patriots, just like they have done all season, bounced back in a big way. They showed their resiliency and kept coming after Stroud, not only until he cracked, but until he shattered.

New England Patriots linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson pressures Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud into throwing a pick-six during the second quarter of the divisional-round game at Gillette Stadium. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

“They’re playing well together,” said Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel of his defense. “I feel like they’re complementing each other, and our turnovers are created by more than one guy. There’s some great efforts. But it’s somebody tipping a pass or it’s somebody that’s putting pressure that’s usually helping — or (interim defensive coordinator) Zak (Kuhr’s) dialing something up that kind of changes the look. We’re taking advantage of our opportunities. And that’s what it’s going to take in the playoffs, is you’ve got to take care of the ball and turn it over.”

Jones making plays all over the field has become a staple in the Patriots’ run to the AFC Championship Game. And the Patriots will need a few more out of him if they are going to defeat the Broncos on the road and head off to the Super Bowl.