The Patriots’ overtime loss to the New York Jets on Sunday, coupled with some more untimely injuries, has some people in New England concerned about the team’s chances of winning Super Bowl 50 in February.
Oddsmakers aren’t worried, though.
The Patriots’ loss to the Jets decreased their Super Bowl odds by just .05 percent, per Football Outsiders (via ESPN.com).
“A Patriots win would have given them the No. 1 seed, which they still get in 77.8 percent of our Week 17 simulations,” writes Aaron Schatz.
“But it also would have given Pittsburgh an 88.5 percent chance to make the playoffs instead of the Jets. In that world, our simulation would have made the Patriots’ odds of winning the Super Bowl 15.97 percent, instead of the current odds of 15.92 percent. It’s a minuscule difference.”
The Pats, at the very least, will have a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs, which gives injured players such as receivers Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola an extra week of rehab and rest. All the Patriots need to clinch the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs is a Week 17 win over the Miami Dolphins.
Home field probably won’t make the Patriots the Super Bowl favorites, though. The Arizona Cardinals (20.9 percent) and Carolina Panthers (18.1 percent) have the best Super Bowl odds entering the final week of the regular season, per Football Outsiders.
Week 17 AFC Playoff Scenarios >>
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
