NFL.com (Gregg Rosenthal): Patriots
Like most of the picks, NFL.com‘s Gregg Rosenthal has the Patriots winning in a close bout with the Texans. He has the Texans hanging in based off of their speed on offense, as the aging Patriots can’t keep up, theoretically. As he states, Tom Brady must score.
Said Rosenthal:
“There were signs last Sunday, glimpsed through the sideways rain, that the Patriots’ offense can turn a corner. Sony Michel saw more running room than he has all season because of an offensive line buoyed by the return of tackle Isaiah Wynn. Tom Brady played well and would have finished with a better line than 17 of 37 for 190 yards and a touchdown if not for six drops on a wet day, while rookie receivers Jakobi Meyers and N’Keal Harry are making an impact. After three nasty-weather games in the previous four, the Patriots should be thrilled to play indoors against old pal Romeo Crennel and his star-free defense. This figures to be a game in which Brady needs to score, because Deshaun Watson and the multi-dimensional Texans running attack could expose New England’s team speed in a Sunday Night classic Al Michaels has been waiting for. Look for Brady to be up to the task.”
Pick: Patriots 27, Texans 24