Houston Chronicle · Jan 9, 2017
Bill O'Brien: Huge point spread not in Texans' motivational plans
The top-seeded New England Patriots have been installed as 16-point favorites by Las Vegas sports books over the Texans for an AFC divisional-round playoff game Saturday. That's a huge number.
It's the largest point spread in the NFL playoffs since the 1998 Minnesota Vikings were favored by 16 points over the Arizona Cardinals in a divisional-round game.
The point spread isn't much of a surprise considering the Texans were blown out, 27-0, earlier this season when the Patriots had rookie Jacoby Brissett under center and star quarterback Tom Brady was suspended for the Deflategate scandal.
