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Patriots Get Away With Subpar Performance

FOXBOROUGH – Shame on Patriot Nation for assuming a cakewalk win over the Houston Texans.

And the same to Texans Nation for assuming the same.

It was said following the Patriots’ epic upset of the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI that it is better to be 15-point underdogs than 15-point favorites. Teams with large point spreads in their favor are susceptible to complacency, playing uncharacteristically poor, and inspired performances by the underdog. The Patriots had the fourth highest point spread in an NFL postseason game in the Super Bowl era, and everyone from here to Harris County, Texas assumed an easy Patriot win.