Patriots Are Now Odds-On Favorites to Reach Super Bowl 54, Odds Listed at -110
- The New England Patriots now are listed as the odds-on -110 favorite to win the AFC Championship
- If they do, New England would join the Buffalo Bills as the second team to play in four straight Super Bowls
- The Patriots are off to a 6-0 start to the NFL season
Sure, you can hate the New England Patriots but even the haters will be hard-pressed to find fault with the Pats at this precise moment.
The defending Super Bowl champions are 6-0. The AFC East Division leaders are 3-0 at home, 3-0 on the road, 3-0 in the division and 4-0 in the conference.
New England has allowed 48 points in six games, an average of eight points per game. The Patriots own a +142 point differential.
Sportsbooks currently have the Patriots as the odds-on -110 chalk to win the AFC Championship in the NFL conference championship odds.
2019-20 AFC Championship Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| New England Patriots | -110 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | +350 |
| Baltimore Ravens | +1000 |
| Houston Texans | +1000 |
| Buffalo Bills | +1800 |
*Odds taken on 10/14/19.
If they do win the AFC title, the Patriots would join the Buffalo Bills (Super Bowls 25-28) as the only teams to reach the big game in four successive seasons.
Outstanding Pats
The defense never rests in New England, but the Patriots’ defense has no interest in resting on their laurels.
The unit was torched for 41 points by QB Nick Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles in their 41-33 Super Bowl 52. loss. In Super Bowl 53, they held the explosive offense of the Los Angeles Rams, a group that averaged 32.9 ppg during the regular season, to three points.
The Patriots defense has been on the field for 74 drives this season. The results:
Punt: 41
Blocked punt: 2
INT: 11
Downs: 6
End of half/game: 6
FG: 2
Missed FG: 1
Fumble: 2
TD: 3They’ve scored more touchdowns (5) than they’ve allowed (3).
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 11, 2019
Compare the two most dominating defenses in recent memory to New England’s eight points per game. The 1986 Chicago Bears allowed 12.4 points per game and the 2000 Baltimore Ravens surrendered 10.3 ppg. Both of those teams turned in dominant Super Bowl-winning performances.
The Patriots are the fifth NFL team since 1940 and the first in 30 years to go through the first five games of the season without surrendering a single passing touchdown. They’ve snared a league-leading 14 interceptions and are second overall in the NFL with 25 sacks.
Three INTs, a fumble to the house AND just seven points allowed.
This @Patriots defense is SCARY. 😮 #GoPats pic.twitter.com/ww2vmNnqF9
— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2019
They made 12 interceptions before allowing their first TD pass. In league history, only the 1961 Packers had more interceptions (14) before allowing their first passing TD. That Green Bay squad won the NFL Championship.
New England has allowed an NFL-low 234.7 yards per game. The Pats are the NFL’s #3 rush defense (73.7 ypg) and #2 pass defense (161.0 ypg).
Who’s Going to Stop a New England Super Bowl Run?
What is it about AFC East teams, Super Bowl streaks and perfect seasons?
The 2007 Patriots (16-0) and the 1972 Miami Dolphins are the NFL’s only perfect regular-season teams in the Super Bowl era. The 1971-73 Dolphins and these Patriots are the only other teams besides the Bills to reach at least three Super Bowls in a row.
Who is the biggest threat to the Patriots in the AFC? 🤔
Deion Sanders has his answer 👀
📺: @NFLGameDay Prime pic.twitter.com/43onFrZWni
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) October 14, 2019
Who’s keeping New England from making a fourth successive trip to the big game? At this point, no team is putting a good foot forward.
The Kansas City Chiefs have lost two in a row. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Chiefs. The Patriots beat the 4-1 Bills in Buffalo.
Patriots Games
Yes, it’s been easy for New England so far. Buffalo is the only team with a winning record the Pats have faced.
New England’s ride is the NFL’s easiest in terms of strength of schedule. Only four of the Pats’ final 10 games are against teams with winning marks so far this season.
A potential big lift coming: The #Patriots are expected to have first-round WR N'Keal Harry (ankle) practice this week as he works back from Injured Reserve, I’m told. Assuming all goes well, he should work right into the offense.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 14, 2019
The Patriots opened at +400 to win the AFC. They were +130 entering last week’s 35-14 win over the New York Giants.
Is New England going to a fourth straight Super Bowl?
Bet on it.
Pick: New England Patriots (-110)
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
