There’s a real “nobody believes in us” vibe around the New England Patriots these days. They’re not getting much respect, and not even Tom Brady supports them.
It’s been palpable throughout the NFL Playoffs, and it’s reached a crescendo during Super Bowl Week.
It started with the betting odds, which immediately favored the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. They opened as 3.5-point favorites and enter the weekend as 4.5-point favorites.
Based on the odds, the Patriots have roughly a 34 percent implied probability of winning, even though both teams finished the regular season with identical 14-3 records.
Meanwhile, the national media has no faith in New England. Just look at this recent X post from Jordan Moore of DraftKings.
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According to Moore, “30 of 34 NFL Network personalities picked the Seahawks over the Patriots in the Super Bowl, 47 of 57 ESPN personalities picked the Seahawks over the Patriots in the Super Bowl and eight of eight personalities from The Athletic picked the Seahawks over the Patriots in the Super Bowl.”
In other words, not too many “experts” are picking New England to win on Sunday.
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Which is fine, because the pundits have been wrong before, most notably before the Patriots beat the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round. New England has exceeded expectations all season long and could be poised to do so again.
The Patriots have a chance to shock the world on Sunday. If their defense holds up and Drake Maye plays well, they just might do it.
Featured image via Cary Edmondson/Imagn Images
