The Houston Texans will try to kick-start their march towards a playoff berth this weekend when they host the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football as 3-point betting underdogs at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Texans’ drive towards the postseason stalled last week with a 31-20 loss against Buffalo in which they failed to cover as 3-point road underdogs, halting a four-game win streak that had lifted them into a tie with the Indianapolis Colts atop the AFC South and into the thick of the crowded AFC Wild Card race.
With a 6-6 straight-up record Houston remains deadlocked with the Colts in the divisional standings, but now enters Sunday night’s Patriots vs. Texans betting matchup at NRG Stadium one game back of three 7-5 teams in the Wild Card hunt, including the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Texans rediscovered their defensive touch during their recent hot streak, holding opponents to just six points on three occasions and allowing just seven total fourth-quarter points while posting four straight against-the-spread wins.
The team has also improved their stock at the sportsbooks, where they are now 3-2 SU in their last five as betting underdogs, including a 24-17 home win over the Jets as 4-point underdogs three weeks ago.
The Patriots travel south facing adversity for the first time this season.
New England has dropped two straight SU, including last week’s 35-28 loss to Philadelphia, surrendering 21 points to the Eagles following two turnovers and a punt return to record the loss as 8-point home chalk.
Since tallying just one ATS loss in their previous 10 games dating back to last season’s playoff run, the Patriots are now winless ATS in their past four games according to the OddsShark NFL Database.
The club has also been hampered by injuries to key members of their receiving corps, including Julian Edelman, who is sidelined indefinitely with a foot injury, and star tight end Rob Gronkowski, who missed last week’s clash with the Eagles due to a knee injury and is considered very questionable for Sunday night after participating in Thursday practice wearing a knee brace.
Despite their current challenges on the gridiron and in the clinic, recent trends continue to favor the Patriots, who have earned SU wins in their last 13 meetings with AFC South opponents, including three victories over Houston, and responded well to past adversity, going 7-3 ATS in their last 10 following a SU loss.