When the New England Patriots beat the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Round, the biggest postgame moment didn’t come from the locker room or the podium. It came online, where Cardi B wasted no time calling out ESPN analysts who all picked against her boyfriend, Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
The moment became an instant pop-culture crossover, and ESPN reporter Mina Kimes’ reaction turned the viral moment into a headline of its own.
The Patriots’ 28–16 win sent them to the AFC Championship Game and proved every on-air prediction from ESPN’s panel wrong. Mina Kimes, Ryan Clark, Hannah Storm, Dan Orlovsky and Marcus Spears had all backed the Texans before kickoff.
Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for GQ
When Diggs scored a touchdown and helped seal the win, Cardi B jumped on social media with a loud, emotional response aimed straight at the doubters.
Rather than pushing back, Kimes leaned into the moment. On X, she reshared Cardi B’s video and wrote, “Getting dunked on by Cardi B….an honor and a privilege tbh.”
Getting dunked on by Cardi B….an honor and a privilege tbh https://t.co/yR7h8GGMzD
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) January 18, 2026
Kimes didn’t stop with one post. She also reshared Cardi B’s video on her Instagram Story and added another playful caption: “Drag me Cardi B ps I love you.”
ESPN’s Mina Kimes reacts after Cardi B celebrates the Patriots upset. pic.twitter.com/Z9mYrteV5D
— mydzn (@MadelaineDizon) January 19, 2026
The original video from Cardi B came after all five ESPN analysts predicted a Texans win. In her post, the rapper shouted in celebration and disbelief, making it clear she remembered who didn’t believe in the Patriots. The clip was captioned, “THEY DIDN’T BELIEVE IN US !!! I LIKE US!!!!! WE ALL WE GOT!!!!! WE ALL WE NEED !!!!” and included her yelling, “What are you talking about? Nothing. Nothing.”
Diggs backed up his girlfriend’s confidence on the field. He caught four passes, scored a touchdown and helped New England control the game from start to finish. The Patriots jumped out to a 21–10 halftime lead and never looked back, ending Houston’s postseason run.
Diggs’ relationship with Cardi B has made him a bigger figure in pop culture this season. The two went public in 2025 and welcomed a baby together later in the year. During the playoffs, Cardi B has been one of the loudest supporters of the Patriots, even when she isn’t in the stadium.
As the Patriots move on to face the Denver Broncos with a Super Bowl spot on the line, one thing is clear: anyone picking against New England now might want to be ready. Cardi B is watching, and as Mina Kimes proved, sometimes the best response is to smile, own it and enjoy the moment.
Related: Cardi B Stuns in Barbie-Inspired Outfit at Boyfriend Stefon Diggs’ Game
