NFL Playoffs: Enjoy The Pats' Playoff Game — Home Or Away

Fresh off a bye week [football-speak for a week off], the New England Patriots host the Houston Texans Sunday at Gillette Stadium. Kick-off in Foxborough is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

What are your plans for watching the game?

One great idea — which doesn't involve cooking, shopping, or the postgame clean-up — is bowling at Dudek Bowling Lanes on Child Street. Bowl a few frames before — or during — the game, and snag a bite from their bar.

If you're planning a more conventional party — either hosting or going to a local bar — we've also collected this list of places in Bristol and Warren to help you get ready for the big game.

Supermarkets:

• Seabra Supermarket, 1150 Hope St.
• Stop & Shop, 605 Metacom Ave.

Liquor Stores:

• Bristol Liquors, 390 Metacom Ave., Bristol
• 1776 Liquors, 597 Metacom Ave., Bristol
• Mount Hope Liquor Store, 678 Hope St., Bristol
• Viola's Liquor Store, 219 Wood St., Bristol
• Ocean State Liquors, 601 Metacom Ave., Warren
• Patriot Wine and Spirits, 145 Main St., Warren
• Malik's Fine Wine & Spirits, 254 Market St., Warren

Clubs & Bars:

Check out our list of 13 local spots under the Nightlife category of the Bristol-Warren Patch Directory.

We also have dozens of local restaurants that offer take-out and delivery — click here for a full list of take-out places in Bristol and Warren.

About The Game:

Who: The New England Patriots (12-4) host the Houston Texans (12-4, 1-0 in playoffs).

What: The AFC semifinals, with the winner playing either the Denver Broncos or the Baltimore Ravens, depending on Saturday's results.

Where: Foxboro, MA. Televised on CBS (Channel 12).

When: Sunday, Jan. 13. Kickoff set for 4:30 pm.

History: New England ended the regular season winning nine of their last 10 contests — including a 42-14 drubbing of Houston on Dec. 10 — and earned the number-2 seed in the conference with the strong finish.

Houston, by contrast, skidded into the postseason after dropping three of their last four games and lost a shot at the top seed for the playoffs, which ultimately went to Denver. The Texans held off the Cincinnati Bengals last week, 19-13.

Story line: Patriots fans hoping for another AFC Championship game in Foxborough will be tuning in Saturday to cheer on the Ravens against Peyton Manning and the Broncos, with the consolation prize [if you can call it that] being a Brady-Manning matchup for the rights to represent the AFC in Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans on Sunday, Feb. 3.

If Denver wins, this week's victor travels; if Baltimore wins, the Ravens would travel to either New England or Houston.

Of course, in either scenario, the Patriots need to knock off the Houston Texans Sunday to advance.

On the NFC side of the playoff bracket, the Green Bay Packers travel to San Francisco to play the 49ers Saturday night (kick-off is 8 pm.). On Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks take on the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta (kick-off is 1 pm.) prior to the Patriots-Texans showdown at 4:30 pm.

AFC and NFC Divisional Round Games

• Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos (4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, on CBS)
• Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers (8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, on FOX)
• Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons (1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, on FOX)
• Houston Texans at New England Patriots (4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, on CBS)