CBS Sports (Cody Benjamin): Patriots
CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin is siding with the Patriots in a close battle. He has the Texans losing due to the vaunted Patriots defense and a Houston secondary that is not quite healthy yet. Nonetheless, the fans at NRG Stadium will be entertained.
Said Benjamin:
“The Patriots aren’t going to get a cakewalk in Houston, where Deshaun Watson alone should keep things interesting. But is anyone actually prepared to bet on Bill O’Brien over Bill Belichick? New England’s defense is strong enough to keep the score relatively low, and Houston’s secondary is still banged up enough for Tom Brady to finally build some momentum. It’ll probably stay close for much of the evening, but this one should be the Patriots’ to lose.”
Result: Patriots 27, Texans 22
USA Today: Steven Ruiz: Texans, Charles Curtis: Patriots
USA Today‘s For The Win split the predictions, with Charles Curtis choosing the Patriots, after much change, by four and Steven Ruiz siding with the Texans, on the basis of the Patriots struggling against the dual-threat abilities of Deshaun Watson.
Charles Curtis: Patriots
“I’ve changed this one up at least seven times, which means it’s the perfect spread. On one hand, the Patriots haven’t look otherworldly, but I do think they have juuuuust enough to win by four here.”
Steven Ruiz: Texans
“I think this is the game where everyone starts wondering what’s wrong with the Patriots. Bill Belichick has trouble against true dual-threat QBs like Deshaun Watson and I don’t know if New England’s offense can keep up.”
NFL.com (Gregg Rosenthal): Patriots
Like most of the picks, NFL.com‘s Gregg Rosenthal has the Patriots winning in a close bout with the Texans. He has the Texans hanging in based off of their speed on offense, as the aging Patriots can’t keep up, theoretically. As he states, Tom Brady must score.
Said Rosenthal:
“There were signs last Sunday, glimpsed through the sideways rain, that the Patriots’ offense can turn a corner. Sony Michel saw more running room than he has all season because of an offensive line buoyed by the return of tackle Isaiah Wynn. Tom Brady played well and would have finished with a better line than 17 of 37 for 190 yards and a touchdown if not for six drops on a wet day, while rookie receivers Jakobi Meyers and N’Keal Harry are making an impact. After three nasty-weather games in the previous four, the Patriots should be thrilled to play indoors against old pal Romeo Crennel and his star-free defense. This figures to be a game in which Brady needs to score, because Deshaun Watson and the multi-dimensional Texans running attack could expose New England’s team speed in a Sunday Night classic Al Michaels has been waiting for. Look for Brady to be up to the task.”
Pick: Patriots 27, Texans 24
Pro Football Focus: patriots
Though not entirely accurate to say Pro Football Focus is picking the Patriots as there is a lone dissenter in Bruce Gradkowski, who is picking the Texans. Nevertheless, it is safe to say that PFF is picking the Pats.
