NFL Game of the Week – New England Patriots at Denver Broncos – 10.25am Monday NZ time

By Hamish Girvan

Don’t bet against it

You don’t make money betting against the New England Patriots is generally the rule when it comes to betting in a the NFL and this week means no change to that strategy

The Patriots travel to the Denver Broncos home ground at Sports Authority field and face a team that have lost three of their last five games. Their playoff hopes hang on a thread and this week’s game could mean make or break for them come the post season

New England have more or less clipped their playoff ticket and will not want to stop until they are guaranteed a bye and home field advantage

The Broncos are struggling in all aspects of their offensive game with quarterback injuries hampering their cause and their running backs are becoming more depleted by the week. This season may mean both last season’s Superbowl finalists fail to make the playoffs – something quite rare in NFL ranks

The Patriots meanwhile are on a mission. Still seething about the four game ban quarterback Tom Brady had at the start of the season they are taking their opponents to task. Against one of the better defence’s in the Baltimore Ravens last week, they picked them apart to win more comfortably then the 30-23 score line suggests

Here the Patriots go in as 3.5 point favourites – unusual when travelling to Denver, however this week it’s a fair reflection of the gap between both sides. Last weekend the Broncos succumbed to the Tennessee Titans in a game they really should have won and this week they come against a much better opponent (no disrespect to Tennessee)

In terms of points over 43.5 points scored is also a healthy option to take – either way the Patriots should keep up their march to the postseason.

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