The New England Patriots are coming off their eighth straight win after Thursday night's 27-14 victory over the New York Jets. For a team that won eight games combined the last two seasons, a 9-2 record and lead atop the AFC East standings is a remarkable turnaround in short succession under head coach Mike Vrabel.
With that said, the Patriots are not being taken as seriously as they should be in the AFC. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Patriots are tied with the 4-5 Baltimore Ravens for the fourth-shortest odds to win the conference (+700), trailing the 5-4 Kansas City Chiefs (+310), 6-3 Buffalo Bills (+460), and 8-2 Indianapolis Colts (+470), who have noticeably better odds despite an inferior record.
It's blatant disrespect, but it's clear the oddsmakers do not see it that way right now.
Disrespectful Odds Don't Change How Patriots Stack Up Well vs. Competition
There is absolutely no reason for the Patriots to be receiving that kind of disrespect, given what they have accomplished so far. According to Pro Football Focus, Drake Maye has the fifth-best overall grade (85.4), the most passing yards (2,760), and the second-most passing touchdowns (20) among quarterbacks this season. His QBR (74.1) is fourth, and his 71.9% completion rate is second to Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff (74%).
That kind of efficiency from the QB, combined with a surging run game with TreVeyon Henderson, a stout defense that has allowed 20 or fewer points in seven of its 11 games and a balanced receiving room with five players topping 300 yards this season, led by Stefon Diggs (659 yards), have turned New England into one of the top teams in the entire league.
Sure, there are doubts about players like rookie WR Kyle Williams, who had zero catches in Thursday's win. At the same time, fans must be patient with him, especially after Henderson's delayed breakout performances in the last two games have provided some optimism.
Considering the Chiefs have reached the AFC Championship Game each of the last seven seasons, winning it five of those times, it is no surprise to see them atop the oddsboard. However, nothing about their play this season has stood out more than New England. Yes, Kansas City has wins over the Detroit Lions and Ravens, but that doesn't change the fact that the Super Bowl runners-up are still outside of the AFC playoff picture as of Friday afternoon.
The Bills are not far behind, but New England beat them head-to-head earlier this season, forcing three turnovers in the process. Buffalo's other two losses were to the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins, both of whom have records below .500. Allen has been sacked 20 times and thrown at least one interception in four of the last six games, putting Buffalo in a vulnerable position this late in the season.
Indianapolis is the highest-scoring team in the league (32.1 PPG) with RB Jonathan Taylor leading the NFL in rush yards (1,139). Quarterback Daniel Jones has been solid, but with three interceptions against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 9 and an overtime win over the struggling Falcons in Week 10, there is a strong case that New England should be ahead of the Colts.
Baltimore has certainly looked better since QB Lamar Jackson returned from a hamstring injury, but the Ravens are still 4-5 and have had defensive concerns all season. The Denver Broncos are closely behind at +850, but they have struggled to beat the bottom-dwellers in the league this season, barely escaping the 2-7 Las Vegas Raiders in Week 10.
Patriots Are Hitting Their Stride at the Perfect Time
To be fair, the Patriots lost to those Raiders in Week 1 and suffered their second defeat to an up-and-down Pittsburgh Steelers team two weeks later. Since then, wins over the 6-3 Bills and 6-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers have highlighted their eight-game winning streak. They also happen to face the Bills a second time in Week 15 and travel to Baltimore the following week, giving them more head-to-head opportunities against some teams in front of them on the oddsboard.
Wins are hard to come by in the NFL, and New England has won eight of them in a row with a second-year QB leading the charge. With Maye's exceptional play, Henderson's breakout, and consistent play from the defense, the Patriots deserve a lot more respect than they have been getting.
As some important games loom on their schedule, more chances await the Patriots to earn some additional respect, something they clearly have not been receiving despite the eight-game winning streak.
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Odds update periodically and are subject to change.