New England Patriots
“New England followers are going to be mad at us.”
The Patriots are three-point favorites to take down the Texans in Sunday’s divisional spherical matchup, however everybody on ESPN’s “NFL Stay” goes with the underdog — regardless that they don’t like their picks.
When it was revealed that each one 5 members of “NFL Stay” picked the Texans to beat the Patriots in Friday’s episode, every of them expressed some type of disbelief or remorse. ESPN NFL analysts Ryan Clark and Mina Kimes immediately yelled, “No means!” Marcus Spears repeated “change mine.”
“That is dangerous,” Spears repeatedly added with amusing.
“NFL Stay” host Hannah Storm identified that no Houston crew (Texans or Oilers) had performed in a convention championship recreation since 1979, whereas Kimes thought the remainder of the panel would’ve modified their picks after Texans broad receiver Nico Collins was dominated out for Sunday’s recreation.
“I don’t like it,” Dan Orlovsky mentioned. “New England followers are going to be mad at us.”
All 5 of them picked the Texans to win by solely a rating, with three of them believing that the Patriots would lose, 20-17.
One thing comparable almost occurred with ESPN’s “Get Up” on Friday, too. Three of the 4 panelists on Friday’s present picked the Texans (Bart Scott, Peter Schrager, Harry Douglas), whereas Louis Riddick was the lone panelist to select the Patriots.
It was a special story on ESPN’s “First Take,” although. Cam Newton and Stephen A. Smith each picked the Patriots to beat the Texans.
“I’ve to go together with the recent crew at residence,” Newton mentioned. “Given what we’ve seen from C.J. Stroud, it’s going to come back all the way down to how he performs in that sort of dynamic. The protection that he has and is provided with will give him alternatives. Will he maximize these alternatives is the largest query.”
“I’ve been raving concerning the Houston Texans all 12 months lengthy as a result of their protection is actual, it’s spectacular. However C.J. Stroud hasn’t been himself, and we all know that,” Smith added. “The man who was lights outs out in Yr 1 hasn’t been that man shortly. Though I imagine in him and his future continues to be very, very brilliant, I imagine this can be a tall job with Nico Collins going out.
“However I feel we have to speak about New England not simply from the standpoint that it’s about Drake Maye, however it’s about [Stefon] Diggs, [Hunter] Henry, and the intermediate recreation. It’s about [Kayshon] Boutte and [Kyle] Williams with the deep. It’s about [Rhamondre] Stevenson and [TreVeyon] Henderson operating the soccer. They’ve acquired some weapons. Whenever you’ve checked out Houston the uncommon occasions they’ve struggled, they’ve needed to go in opposition to a quarterback with the power to run.”
As for what different media members are saying for Sunday’s recreation, two of the 4 panelists for NFL Community’s “Good Morning Soccer” are picking the Patriots to win Sunday. In ESPN.com’s expert picks, six of the ten imagine New England will beat Houston. Each Mike Florio and Chris Simms of “Pro Football Talk” are choosing the Texans to beat the Patriots by one rating in a low-scoring affair.
By way of how the general public feels about Sunday’s recreation, 62 p.c of the moneyline bets have been on the Patriots at DraftKings Sportsbook. Fifty-seven p.c are choosing the Patriots to cowl the three-point unfold, too.
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