The Patriots opened the week as 13-point favorites against the Houston Texans, who come to town Sunday with rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson running the offense.
You’ll have to forgive the Patriots if they are licking their chops with a rookie quarterback across the line of scrimmage.
That’s because Bill Belichick’s defenses have a history of stymieing such youngsters. The Patriots are 16-5 against rookie signal-callers since 2001, and that includes an 8-0 mark in Foxboro.
Watson, the 12th overall draft pick who was elevated to the top job after Tom Savage was benched during a 27-9 loss to the Jaguars in Week 1, earned a win in his first career start last Thursday, a 13-9 victory in Cincinnati.