Author Archives: @bossportsextra

The Patriots Odds of Winning the Super Bowl  

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Football is a popular sport and the Super Bowl is one of the most anticipated sports events in the United States. When you want to bet on your favorite team, it is important to evaluate the odds of the team making it to the Super Bowl. As a Patriots fan, you may want to believe that your team will make it to the Super Bowl and win, but you also want to pay attention to estimates based on team performance and statistics to determine if you are making a good bet.

Basics of Estimating the Odds

Super Bowl betting odds give you an idea of where to place your bet. The odds are calculated from the statistical performance of the team throughout the season. At the beginning of the football season, you can expect limited details about the odds. As the teams play more games, the odds adjust based on their performance and skill during the games.

While the odds calculate the statistical probability of your team winning, you should be aware that they also consider the way others are placing their bets. Sports betting odds may adjust the numbers slightly due to interest in a particular team or a high rate of bets for the team. When you are considering a bet on the Patriots, you want to look into their previous games and the games of the other team to determine their chance of winning and moving into the Super Bowl.

Expectations for the Patriots

The odds of the Patriots winning the Super Bowl are not ideal. While the team does have a chance to move into the Super Bowl, they are not the team with the highest expectation of winning the game. Estimations put the odds between 7-2 or 8-1, depending on the method of calculation. They are one of the four teams expected to move into the Championship round; however, the chance of winning the Super Bowl is around 22 percent. They are not the favorite to win based on their past performance for the season.

Betting on the Super Bowl

When you are ready to bet on the Super Bowl, you want to look into all of the teams. The favorite team is not always the team that wins the game, so you want to pay attention to all of the teams with a chance of playing in the Super Bowl and their current team dynamics. The Patriots are one of the teams that may move into the Super Bowl, but they are going into the Championship as the underdog. If you are considering a bet on the team, then be aware that they have a lower chance of winning the game when compared to other teams.

Anticipation for the Super Bowl continues to build as teams are narrowed down based on their previous games. While you do want to pay attention to the Patriots, they do not have the best odds of winning in the Super Bowl. Consider the favorite team or consider hedging your bets to limit the risk of losses when you want to put a bet on the Patriots.

Wanted: Patriots Coaches on the Carousel

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Storied franchises like the New England Patriots have a distinct aroma as opposed to the wretched stench of perennial losers like Arizona, Tampa Bay, Oakland, and Detroit. And because the wafting scent of winning is an aphrodisiac to owners who want what Robert Kraft has, the natural inclination is to reach out and poach someone. Once the regular season draws to a close the hunt is on for those teams that need not concern themselves with the postseason. Yes, the losers are looking to become winners and anyone even remotely associated with a Super Bowl contending club is fair game. Therefore, it is not surprising that Bill Belichick may be seeing the last of his subordinates once the Patriots’ championship aspirations are realized or not.

Where coaches like Pats offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels or default defensive coordinator Brian Flores will land is anyone’s guess. However, there are online sportsbooks taking action on just such an occurrence. If you’ve ever wondered how to bet on sports, you might find intriguing proposition wagers like odds on who will be the Jets’ next head coach.

Right now, both McDaniels and Flores are prepping their charges for a date at the Razor against the highest AFC seed emerging from wildcard weekend. But undoubtedly the background noise they are hearing is a cacophony of NFL CEO’s, GM’s, and assorted executive management types baying at the moon, not to mention the duo’s agents, for an appointment – a little sit-down if you will – to discuss the allure of a long, prosperous future in the desert with the Arizona Cardinals or a trip to the Queen City to wax prosaic on the football wonderland that is Cincinnati. We may chuckle at the thought of leaving a rabid hotbed of football heaven here in New England but then again, we’re not being offered oodles of cash to take the money and run.

Regardless of who abandons ship and where they go, Bill Belichick will fill the void and the next man up will be as good as the last man gone. It’s not supposed to work that way of course but it does in Bill’s world. When asked about the prospects of some of his staff being courted for any number of the eight coaching vacancies available, Belichick replied, “I’m really focused right now on getting our team ready for the next game, and try to prepare us for a week from Sunday. Whatever else is happening is happening. Not really much I can do about it. Doesn’t really affect me. So, you should talk to those teams to see what they’re doing. I don’t really know.”

It was a typical Belichickian response which basically avoided the answering the actual question, gave a cursory enough response to let the reporter know that he wasn’t going to get a bone on this day, and essentially ended the discussion. Belichick has it down to a science yet reporters have a job to do and the Patriots’ head coach is expert at deflecting, avoiding, and turning any query into an awkward intrusion. But the fact remains that the Patriots could very well be seeking a new offensive coordinator of their own once their season is done, hopefully after hoisting another Lombardi Trophy on high, and may also be in search of a defensive coordinator that may demand he’s actually given the title of, well ya know, defensive coordinator. Only time will tell but for right now, New England has the guys that everyone else wants in yet another championship run.

The Patriots Will Electrify the Bolts on Sunday

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Pats fans will tell anyone who will listen that Tom Brady and company will beat any and all comers no matter the team, the year, or the prevailing circumstances surrounding such an occasion. It’s just what fans in New England do because they’ve been right so more often than not, over the past two decades. The Patriots’ string of success is unparalleled and when football fans talk about dynasties, no longer will Pittsburgh, Dallas, Green Bay, Denver, and San Francisco be debated as to which one has had greater success. It’s all just a moot point as New England has had a death grip on the AFC East forever and has participated in a record 10 Super Bowls, eight of which under the command of the legendary Tom Brady.

This year has been a struggle with TB12 looking too much like Matthew Stafford and not enough like Tom Brady. Rob Gronkowski has not been the one-man wrecking crew that has made him the most feared tight end in league history nor does this edition of the Patriots boast a speed merchant that can stretch the field and open up the middle for incomparable slot receivers like Julian Edelman. Josh Gordon was looking to be that guy but alas, no more. If we take a look at how some of the best online sportsbooks in the business view this divisional round matchup against the Chargers, the first thing we do is click on over to Sportsbook Review, where you can get all the lines from all the major books and even read a Sportsbetting.ag review where you can look at feedback from actual Sportsbetting.ag customers telling you of their experiences in terms of depositing, betting options, customer service, and most importantly how quickly they get paid when they want to cash out their winnings.

Sportsbetting.ag, like many of the other premier online sportsbooks, is hanging the Pats as four-point home favorites over the San Angeles Chargers this coming Sunday afternoon. We have even spied a few 3 ½ point spreads as of this writing so if you’re inclined to bet New England, make sure you have more than a couple of outs to get the best line possible. Who knows where this line will be shortly before kickoff but we believe that as good as the Chargers have been on the road this season (8-1 straight up and against the spread), the Patriots have been even better at home with a perfect 8-0 straight up mark and 6-2 ATS (Against The Spread). What many have not realized is that the Patriots’ defense is quietly rounding into one of the best units in all of football. In five of the New England’s last six games, the defense has surrendered 17 points or less and that should give anyone who plans on betting the Bolts cause for pause.

Although this is clearly not the most prolific Patriots’ offense in recent memory, the key to their success has always been the tactical machinations of Bill Belichick executed immaculately by Tom Brady. While the Patriots have had two weeks to heal, watch film, and prepare for their LA adversaries, the Chargers were getting hammered by a thuggish Raven’s defense. Sure, the Bolts came away victorious but every game has a price to pay and now Los Angeles will have had to fly across country three times within a week’s time. The average person drags their weary body, clumsy luggage, and a healthy dose of jet lag to the hotel after a cross-country sojourn. Imagine doing this three times, then having to knuckle up against the most feared home team in the world of professional football, and in front of a national audience no less?

No, Phillip Rivers is not up to the task of defeating Tom Brady because history tells us that he has failed to do so on seven prior occasions, including twice in the postseason. How the Pats will do after they electrify the Bolts at the Razor is anyone’s guess but as they say, if you’ve got a hunch, bet a bunch. And if you do decide to wager, check out the Sportsbetting.ag review found only at Sportsbook Review.

Pats Silence the Critics and Ready to Invade Arrowhead!

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Sunday’s 41-28 win over the Chargers is about as good as it gets for any dyed-in-the-wool Pats’ fan. It was redemption punctuated by a stellar performance from a New England offense that was already proclaimed DOA before the game began. All the talking heads, self-appointed experts, and football pundits were gleefully extolling the end of the Brady/Belichick dynasty. But they didn’t count on the fact that TB12 had two weeks to rest and heal from what many suspects have been an MCL sprain that he has been quietly dealing with throughout most of the season.

Many top-notch sportsbooks found over at Sportsbook Review, like industry leader BetOnline, installed the Patriots as modest 4 ½ point favorites but even that line was bet down to four by all the “sharps” looking to make a killing on what they believed was a live road dog with San Angeles.

Let’s take a look at some snarky tweets before the Patriots victory:

Nick Wright

@getnickwright

Chiefs-Chargers Round 3 is going to be a ton of fun. The two best teams in the AFC all year. Can’t wait.

UNDISPUTED

@undisputed

“Even if you say Tom Brady is better than Philip Rivers … the Chargers are the better team. They’re a very good road team; they’re 8-1 — they’ve won their last 7 games on the road. With that being said, I’m going to take the Chargers.” — @ShannonSharpe

Clay Travis

@ClayTravis

I’m on Chargers and Saints today. Rough day yesterday. Means both these bets win easily. It’s science. Get rich, kids.

First Things First

@FTFonFS1

This weekend will be remembered by the game that ended the greatest run in NFL history — the dynasty of Brady and Belichick.@getnickwright explains

Andrew Fillipponi

@ThePoniExpress

The Patriots dynasty is in its final hours. Gronk’s last game. Brady will get beat up. Feel like Christmas morning. Last time we have to take the Patriots seriously as a Super Bowl threat.

Max Kellerman

@maxkellerman

I’d rather have all other QBs in the AFC not named Tom Brady in these playoffs right now, and so would you. #FirstTake

FOX Sports

@FOXSports “This is the end of the Belichick-Tom Brady era… They will never win another Super Bowl.” @EricDickerson believes Chargers will end the Patriots’ era with a win on Sunday.

This is more delicious than a porterhouse at the Capital Grille. Talk about being completely and totally wrong. It’s like viewing election night coverage on MSNBC or CNN a few years ago. It just doesn’t get any better and now our boys will take on the most heralded young gun of them all, Patrick Mahomes, in his own playpen.

We all know that the Pats are a perfect 9-0 straight up at the Razor but their forays into hostile territory have not yielded similar results. New England travels to Kansas City toting a less than impressive 3-5 straight up and ATS (Against The Spread) mark. However, New England defeated KC earlier in the season and now that the offense is finally resembling the juggernaut of old, with Tom Terrific healthy and slinging the pigskin better than a short-order cook slinging hash at your local dive diner, anything is possible.

As of this mid-week writing, some of the best online sportsbooks like BetOnline are dealing the Chiefs as three-point home favorites. That essentially translates into these two teams being a flip of the coin in terms of talent at a neutral site but because the venue is Kansas City, the Patriots will get a field goal head start to compensate for that handicap. If experience means anything – and it does – the Patriots still have unfinished business to attend to and will be moving on to Atlanta against a team to be named later. See you there!

Christmas Hoops: Sixers Battle Celtics in Boston

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Celtics fans far and wide were giddy with the recent turnaround of Boston’s fortunes after they reeled off eight-straight, only to see the streak we had all anticipated come to an abrupt halt in Detroit. Despite the fact that the Green had just beaten up a bunch of tomato cans, all eight teams with sub .500 records, it was certainly a welcome reprieve from Boston’s unanticipated struggles up to that point.

The loss to the Pistons was no big deal because eventually, every team loses and the Celts looked like they were finally resembling the tour de force of last season when they took the LeBron-led Cavaliers to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals without the services of their two top stars, Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. However, all that good juju turned sour when they were stunned by the worst team in basketball, the Phoenix Suns, on Wednesday night. Some of the best online sportsbooks like Bookmaker were dealing the Shamrocks as high as 11 ½ point home favorites over the hapless Suns.

After the Celtics take on Milwaukee on Friday night, the Philadelphia 76ers are next up on the slate. After a spate of games against the weak sisters of the league, this is quite the one-two punch for the Green and they will be doing it without the services of center Aron Baynes, who fractured a bone in his left hand early in the Sun’s game. Unfortunately, Baynes is out indefinitely and the front office needs to figure out a way to get a legitimate big in a hurry. They will certainly need it against Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers.

The first and only time these teams met this season was in the opener when Boston outscored the Sixers in all but the first quarter of play. It was an uplifting victory and the sportsbooks were dealing Boston as a 4 ½ point home favorites and covered the number with ease. Jayson Tatum and Joel Embiid led all scorers that night with 23 while Ben Simmons dominated the glass with 15 rebounds. Boston shot an unremarkable 43 percent from the floor but it was better than the 39 percent delivered by the Sixers.

Boston has won 15 of their last 17 regular-season meetings with Philadelphia but the Sixers are on the championship trajectory that Boston fans had expected of the Celtics. Of course, the C’s are not floundering in the basement of the East with the likes of Atlanta, Chicago, and Cleveland but they have only hit their stride once this season and it happened to be during the friendliest part of their schedule. Well folks, friendly just turned deadly because the Bucks, 76ers, Rockets, and Spurs are on the horizon. Boston will have to get more offensively engaged, as they are currently in the middle of the pack in points scored, averaging 111.2, yet defensively they are getting the job done as the fourth-ranked team in the league, trailing only Indiana, Memphis, and Denver.

On the flip side, the 76ers are struggling to stop their opponents from scoring, ranked 22nd in that department, but are seventh in scoring and tied for fifth in rebounding. There’s an easy argument to be made that Joel Embiid is the best player in the Eastern Conference and the deal the Sixers swung for All-Star Jimmy Butler only galvanized their resolve to contend now, and not later, for a championship title. This game is important for Philly because they can avenge their earlier season loss and know that their final two games against the Celtics in this four-game regular season series will be held in the City of Brotherly Love. Let’s hope that the Green Machine duplicates their efforts from October 16th and notches a win over a fierce conference rival.

Christmas Day Showdown: 76ers vs. Celtics

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The Celtics saw their eight-game winning streak snapped in Motown on Saturday night as the Pistons took advantage of a totally gassed Boston crew that had played three times in four nights. Despite their heavy workload, one of the most trusted online sportsbooks in the business Bookmaker installed the road-weary Celtics as two-point favorites. The Shamrocks were game, trailing by just one point at the half but they were running on empty and eventually Detroit put their foot on the throttle and drew away to a 113-104 victory. All streaks must end and the Pistons are a solid 10-6 at home, Blake Griffin is having a monster season, and Andre Drummond owned the glass with 20 boards on the night.

Perhaps the only cause for pause regarding the Celtics’ winning streak, prior to its abrupt disruption on Saturday, was the caliber of opponent that Boston faced over that three week stretch. None of the teams Boston beat had a winning record but, in all fairness, the road to the title is not littered only with worthy adversaries. A win is a win, yet, it is unfortunately typical of Boston fans and writers to nitpick the details and turn lemonade into lemons. It’s just what we do around here because we have been spoiled by an embarrassment of riches, and championships delivered, from all four of the local franchises over the past two decades.

The Celtics get a well-deserved respite before they get back into action on Wednesday night when they welcome the worst team in basketball, the Phoenix Suns, into the cozy confines of the TD Garden. If that’s not a slam dunk then this is not a championship caliber team. Thus, we will assume they will be gunning for two-straight when the Greek Freak and the Milwaukee Bucks come calling two nights later. You may recall their previous meeting earlier in the season when the Celtics knocked down a franchise high 24 three-pointers and tarnished Milwaukee’s previously unblemished record. The Bucks are currently within spitting distance of the Toronto Raptors for the top spot in the East and a win on Friday night would be a shot across the bow to the rest of the league.

However, the showdown looming is the one on Christmas Day, broadcast live to a living room, and barroom, near you as the Philadelphia 76ers make their second trek to Boston after getting blown out 105-87 in their season opener. As good as Milwaukee is, and they could very well wind up better than both the Sixers and the Celtics, there is a rivalry between these two cities that Milwaukee cannot match nor even manufacture. The Bucks are from a flyover state where people are polite, say ma’am and sir, and how can I help?

However, if you’re a Boston fan, Philadelphia is the enemy. Not just the sports teams but the whole miserable town. They’re hustlers who try to pull of the whole New Jersey swag thing without the street cred. Try to wear a Celtics, Patriots, Red Sox, or Bruins jersey at one of their stadiums on game day. Good luck with that and make sure you’ve got the name of a good dentist handy.

Philadelphia fans are miserable because they desperately want to be considered a big deal like New York but their first cousin is New Jersey so they have to act like them in order to get a nod, or maybe even a “What’s up?” from New Yorkers. That’s as good as it gets for them and don’t think for a moment, they’re looking for a Boston blessing. Oh, no, because you see we are a small city that continually kicks ass and takes names no matter how big the city we’re facing and that most definitely includes New York. That fact irks Philly and on Christmas Day they are hoping to have a little piece of their Super Bowl win all over again with the 76ers looking to avenge their earlier loss to the Green.

Well, we shall see but in the meantime if you want more than just a rooting interest on the Celtics, get on over to Bookmaker where you can bet on – or God forbid – against, the Celtics or any other team for that matter whether it be NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, and all the rest. If you’re a Celtics fan, a big win over the 76ers will be the last present you unwrap on Christmas day so get ready to put Philly back in check…again.

Tips to Find the Best Fantasy Sports Sites

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Fantasy sports are a growing area of interest. When you want to play a fantasy sport or get involved in betting on fantasy teams, you want to work with the best fantasy sports sites for the sport you enjoy. By focusing on the best sites, you are able to avoid unnecessary hassles with the system and engage in your favorite sports without wasting your time.

Learn the Game

Before you take any steps to find the best sites for your game, you want to learn the basics of fantasy sports. Fantasy sports differ from traditional sports betting because you are not playing with existing teams. You play with fantasy teams that may combine players from a variety of teams to form the fantasy team.

The plays a specific player makes during a game contributes to the overall scores of the team. It focuses on the statistics between different players on the field or court. After you have a team or you follow a specific fantasy team, you are able to participate in placing your bets or engaging in the fantasy game.

Compare Websites

While it is important to understand the basics of the game, finding the best websites starts with comparing the options. Look into the popular sites for fantasy sports. Check their layout and look into the details of how players engage in the game. You want to find a website that fits your personal interest for a sport and has a user-friendly process to help you place a bet or form your team.

Look into any potential risks associated with a website. You do not want to face undue risks with your computer, phone or device due to viruses or other potential problems. Research the site and make sure that it has good reviews and information. Fantasy sports have a long history, but websites to bet on the games are relatively new and the industry continues to grow with greater interest from sports fans. You want to make sure that you select the best sites based on reviews and the website’s user-friendly design.

Check into the Legitimacy of the Site

Check the legitimacy of the site before you put any personal information into the site. The best sites will always have details about their legitimacy and reviews to help you determine that the site is ideal for placing your bets. Pay attention to bad reviews and check that the site does not have negative complaints on official resources, such as Consumer Reports. If you notice that the site has a myriad of negative reviews, then you want to opt for a different site. Make sure that you are working with a legitimate fantasy sports site to avoid unnecessary problems.

The best fantasy sports sites are legitimate and user-friendly. They allow you to place bets on a fantasy team or engage in creating a fantasy team for your favorite sports. It is a growing industry with interest around the world, so you want to focus on the best sites to avoid problems and enjoy the game. The key is comparing your options and evaluating the legitimacy of the site before you set up your account.

Anthony Davis Would be Money in Green

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On Monday night the Boston Celtics subdued the New Orleans Pelicans for the second time in two weeks. Despite 41 points from Anthony Davis, the Pelicans could not compete against a Celtics’ starting unit that was absent two of its biggest guns, Kyrie Irving and Al Horford, leaving the heavy lifting to Terry Rozier and Daniel Theis in their stead. Add to that, Gordon Hayward (illness) and Aron Baynes (ankle) were also MIA which clearly illustrates how far this team has come in a matter of weeks. When the final buzzer echoed throughout the Garden, the Celtics had delivered a 113-100 beatdown of Davis and the boys on the bayou.

The best betting sites, found all in one place at Sportsbook Review, tagged the Green as 2 ½ point favorites, down from the original 6 ½ before the information became available that the Celtics would be without some of its biggest stars. And lest we forget, this latest victory came hot on the heels of a spectacular 56-point win over the Bulls on Saturday, the largest margin of victory in the team’s history.

The box score for Monday’s win over New Orleans will tell you that Marcus Morris had a brilliant season-high 31-point performance on 66 percent shooting while Anthony Davis led all scorers and donned his Superman cape yet again. But what it won’t tell us is what Davis was thinking as he sank shot after shot yet had no Robin to his Batman, let alone a legion of superheroes at his side. Okay, so maybe the Celtics aren’t comprised of game-changing All-Stars and caped crusaders but Kyrie Irving certainly qualifies and Jayson Tatum is on his way. The Pelicans are a bad team that Davis makes mediocre but how long do you think it would take for Davis to run, not walk, into the lovin’ arms of the Boston Celtics? Blink of an eye, maybe? Yeah, you’re right, too long.

Boston is a solid, although unspectacular, 16-10 on the season but the trials and tribulations they endured earlier in the season seem to have dissipated once head coach Brad Stevens started moving some of his pieces around the chessboard. Gordon Hayward is now coming off the bench, and easing into the role of a team player appears to suit him more than co-starring as the centerpiece of the offense. Once the 2017 All-Star gets acclimated we could see a more substantial role but right now, Stevens is pushing all the right buttons as his team is in the midst of a six-game winning streak that could easily reach 10 before they entertain the Greek Freak and the Milwaukee Bucks at the Garden a week from Friday.

The best betting sites were virtually unanimous in offering the lowest odds, along with Toronto, on the Celtics to claim the Eastern Conference championship this season. Yet, as satisfying as that would be, there is a giant looming in the West by the name of the Golden State Warriors. Even the most optimistic C’s fan would concede that defeating the Warriors for an NBA title would be an outside shot at best. Winning one game in that series would at least take away the humiliation of a sweep and winning a pair from the defending world champs would support the premise that Boston is the second best team in the league.

That’s about as good as it will get with this team as presently constituted unless injuries ravage the Warriors or a heavenly light from above shines on our boys and grants them a series win over a legendary foe. However, getting Davis in a Celtics’ uniform would be the coup de grace, a brilliant masterstroke from Trader Danny. What would it cost? Does it matter? Maybe it happens now or later but if the Celtics want a real chance at defying the odds and defeating the Warriors, it’s a trade that has to happen. Are you listening Mr. Ainge? Continue reading →

Josh McDaniels Rumored in Head Coaching Circles…Again

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Despite his protestations to the contrary, the rumor mill continues to swirl with possible destinations for the Patriots’ offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels at season’s end. As we all know, McDaniels ripped a chapter out of the Bill Belichick playbook last season when he accepted the Indy head coaching job but before the Colts’ brass had time to say, “Welcome to Indianapolis”, McDaniels had rescinded his acceptance and came back into the lovin’ arms of New England with a five-year deal intact.

McDaniels has already had an unsuccessful run as a head coach in Denver but his uninterrupted success with the New England offense has given him street cred throughout the league and most teams would love to land him. All but the Indianapolis Colts that is, yet, McDaniels continues to insist his loyalty lies with the Patriots. Even the oddsmakers at the well reviewed online sportsbook  5Dimes have McDaniels as the favorite to replace the recently fired Mike McCarthy in Green Bay. Other online sportsbooks, all of which can be seen in one convenient location at Sportsbook Review, have a variety of destinations and accompanying odds for McDaniels next season.

In the here and now, McDaniels is once again propped atop designing one of the most dangerous offenses in the NFL led by the greatest quarterback to ever hurl the leather, Tom Brady. In typical Patriot fashion, McDaniels is steering clear of any controversy but not flatly denying an eventual move to the big chair.

“I don’t really worry about the future, and honestly, each week is a tremendous challenge. We try to stay in the moment and focus about the task at hand which this week is considerable considering we haven’t had a lot of success down (in Miami),” said McDaniels.

 

Patriots in Hunt for AFC Supremacy

New England’s 24-10 win over the Vikings cemented their hold on the AFC East and sent a clear shot across the league that they are once again for real. The defense, a bone of contention earlier in the year, has allowed a paltry 11.5 points per game over their last four victories. Sandwiched between those wins was a stunning 34-10 loss to the Titans but that game was the exception rather than the rule and the Patriots may get a redo if Tennessee secures a playoff berth.

The Patriots will be playing three of their four remaining regular season games against divisional rivals which means a 12-4 season is pretty much a foregone conclusion. However, the lone test left will be a visit to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers in what could be a precursor to an AFC title tilt, assuming Kansas City falls flat. But defeating New England in December is a daunting task to say the least. When the weather gets cold the Patriots get hot as evidenced by their 65-13 straight up mark in December since TB12 and The Hoodie teamed up way back in 2000. Brady has been a part of all but six of those wins, four as a rookie and two when he was shelved in ’08 with a season-ending knee injury in the opening game of the season.

Now that the Chiefs are without a ground attack, thanks to Kareem Hunt and his complete lack of self-control in striking a woman back in February, the Pats are now the hunter and not the hunted. New England claims divisional titles like UPS picks up packages so another AFC East crown renders only polite applause from Patriots’ fans. What we really want to see is Big Ben in a body bag come December 16th and another evisceration of Pittsburgh’s hopes and dreams of winning an AFC crown. The Patriots look to make it six straight over the Steelers, with Pittsburgh last defeating New England more than seven years ago. May the streak continue.

Are the Patriots Good…or Just Good Enough?

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The Patriots not only beat the Jets on their own turf but covered the number for all of you who like to make a wager or two on Belichick’s boys. Speaking of which, if you’re in search of a terrific online sportsbook, make sure to check out the Bovada review over at Sportsbook Review. They are the leaders in the sports betting industry for a reason with exemplary customer service, timely payouts, and plenty of wagering opportunities including props, in-action betting, and futures. But getting back to the Pats, it was a solid win, one that took them to 8-3 on the season and put a stranglehold on the AFC East title – again.

It all sounds like lollipops and sunshine but are you feelin’ it? I mean, do they look like the steamrollers of the past? The homer in me wants to say yes, but my eyes don’t lie and there’s something missing. Maybe those OTA’s that Brady missed months ago really are as important as he had ceaselessly preached in the past. Jackals like Max “Cliff” Kellerman, who have been attempting to vulture Brady’s carcass for several years, has himself turned into a punchline, hence the nickname Cliff – as in Brady’s about to fall off a cliff in performance. But it seems to me that although Father Time may not have caught up to Brady, he just might be gaining on the greatest quarterback to ever hurl the pigskin.

And what about Gronk? Is it true that Kansas City’s Travis Kelce is now the best receiving tight end in the business? Gronk hasn’t looked himself either but a litany of injuries has kept him on the shelf for stretches at a time and when he does take the field, he doesn’t have the same explosiveness. That said, Gronkowski at 80 percent is better than the rest at 100 percent but he’s still not Gronk this season. Maybe this is his final go ‘round and we better appreciate whatever he’s got left in the tank because it’s the last we’ll see of a tight end talent of his caliber in our lifetime, plying his trade at the Razor.

And let’s take a look at the Patriots’ defense. Amazingly enough, and for all of their shortcomings, New England is tied with the Steelers at 11th in the league in points allowed, averaging 22.6 points per game. However, in Belichick’s bend-but-don’t-break defensive schemes, they are a disappointing 25th defending the pass and 30th in sacks with only 17 on the season. Maybe what they need is an edge rusher like Arizona’s Chandler Jones? Why can’t we get guys like him?

The truth of the matter is that the Patriots are aging and bit by bit the wheels will fall off the wagon unless Belichick gets much better at trading, and drafting. “In Bill, We Trust” has been a mantra that we have echoed for almost two decades and it’s a run that will never be duplicated. But all the superlatives and accolades for what the Patriots have done mean nothing in the here and now. If you dig deep, do you really believe this edition of the New England Patriots can keep pace with Jared and the Juggernauts from LA or Drew Brees and the wrecking crew down on the bayou? Or how about KC’s sunshine kid, Patrick Mahomes? Sure, we beat him and his band of Chiefs earlier this season in Foxboro but what if he didn’t have a case of the rookie jitters in the first half? See-you-later. Let’s also not forget about the Texans, the Chargers, the Bears, and even the Seahawks for that matter. Are the Pats better than all those teams, right now, as we enter Week 13? I’m not sure but we’re hoping they are.