The New England Patriots are perfect no more. They were beaten last week by the Broncos in Denver, but most just assume they're going to get back on track against the semi-dysfunctional Philadelphia Eagles this coming Sunday.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Philadelphia Eagles +9.5
New England Patriots -9.5
Over/Under 48
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Pats actually opened up at -12 before losing to Denver on Sunday Night Football, though formally, they were introduced at -9.5, a movement which was likely caused by the injury to Rob Gronkowkski.
That said, vengeance is expected for sure, and the Eagles happen to be the sacrificial lambs on the opposite side of the field. Philadelphia is still getting 9.5 as of Tuesday night, but the betting trends in this one suggest a double-digit spread by the time the game kicks off.
Don't be shocked if the total which opened at 48 and currently sits at 49 continues to rise.
WHEN THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES HAVE THE BALL
Sam Bradford is ready to come back from his shoulder injury, and not a moment too soon for the Eagles. They've had it rough of late, especially on the injury front with all three of Zach Ertz, Ryan Mathews and Josh Huff out of the fold, and Mark Sanchez looked horrible replacing him.
Still, Bradford is a tough sell in this game. Look at what he's done this year against teams with winning records. He was picked off twice against the Falcons and once against Carolina, and he averaged just 4.5 yards per pass attempt in the latter of the two. Sure, Bradford might've generated a win against the Jets, but he threw for just 118 yards, completed 50 percent of his passes and averaged 4.2 yards per pass attempt.
The New England defense is the only reason this team made it to 10-0. Not having Jamie Collins last week was a killer, as that really took away that killer instinct the Patriots have when they're ahead in games. Instead, Brock Osweiler was able to stand in the pocket and throw the ball down the field from behind, something that Bradford likely won't be able to do.
Live bettors should keep an eye on Collins and the New England linebackers. If these men are getting home and creating havoc in the backfield, Philadelphia's beat up offensive line is going to have a long day in front of it, and points aren't exactly going to be plentiful in spite of the up-tempo nature of the offense.
WHEN THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS HAVE THE BALL
The Pats are just flat out running out of warm bodies. Scott Chandler is the newest man who is going to be asked to step up as the top tight end with Gronk down for the count for at least a week or two with a knee injury.
Danny Amendola could be back from his knee injury, but the rest of this receiving corps is still down for the count.
What's really missing to us is a back who can catch the ball out of the backfield like Dion Lewis was able to. Sure, Brandon Bolden had the big touchdown grab against Denver, but he's just not on the field enough and is largely underutilized.
We're going to see whether Tom Brady can really continue to do this with de facto practice squad guys around him. We're not going to suggest just blindly betting against arguably the best quarterback in NFL history, but keep a close eye on things. If his timing just isn't right, the Eagles and those points could be juicy.
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BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The Week 13 game between the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots is scheduled for Sunday, December 6, 2015, at 4:25 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium. The game will be broadcast on FOX.
