The New England Patriots are chasing for a spot in the playoff picture, which they are unlikely to get via successfully defending their AFC East title. Up next for the Pats is a date with the Houston Texans, who are also in the same situation as the Patriots in terms of an urgent need for victories. Check out our preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the New England Patriots vs Houston Texans Regular Season Week 11 Game on November 22, 2020
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston
When: Sunday, November 22, 2020, 1:00 PM ET
Line: New England Patriots (-2) vs Houston Texans (+2) – view all 2020 NFL lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the New England Patriots (-2)
Regular Season Record: 4-5
And just like that, the Patriots have won back-to-back games following a four-game skid. After defeating the New York Jets on the road in Week 9, 30-27, Cam Newton and the Pats scored a 23-17 upset win over the Baltimore Ravens at home last Sunday. Newton would later say that New England has yet to hit its peak, which can be taken as nothing more than generic QB talk, but the Patriots are nevertheless on the upswing. Newton passed for 118 yards and a touchdown with zero interceptions against the Ravens, while running back Damien Harris produced 121 rushing yards on 22 carries to lead the team’s ground attack. Harris and the Patriots’ backfield could see even more work in rushing the ball in Week 11, considering Houston’s run defense that’s the worst in the league with 167.4 rushing yards allowed per game. Conversely, the Patriots are third overall with 161.1 rushing yards per contest and tops in the NFL with a 52.35 rushing play percentage.
The over is 5-1 in the last six home games of the Patriots, who are averaging 21.0 points per contest.
Betting on the Houston Texans (+2)
Regular Season Record: 2-7
The Texans were forced to ride their rushing attack, which isn’t their strong suit, due to the weather conditions last week in Cleveland and ended up losing to the Cleveland Browns, 10-7. That being said, Deshaun Watson went 20-of-30 for 163 yards and a touchdown with zero interceptions. The Texans are a pass-heavy team. They simply just couldn’t go against the elements in the Cleveland game. But playing under Texas weather this coming weekend, Houston should be able to let the ball fly freely. The Texans are eighth in the league with a 62 pass play percentage and also eighth with 266.6 passing yards per game. Up against the Patriots’ leaky pass defense, Watson should really haunt his targets downfield in the likes of Randall Cobb, Brandin Cooks, and Will Fuller V. The Patriots’ pass defense is ranked third-worst in terms of DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average). But there’s still the option to run for the Texans, as the Pats are allowing nearly 130 rushing yards per contest.
The under is 4-1 in the Texans’ last five home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Texans win, 29-23.
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