In 2017 the New England Patriots won the Super Bowl. Last year they won the AFC Championship, made the Bowl final, but didn’t win.
This year the long-time Patriots standout quarterback Tom Brady and his New England crew have once again sailed into this weekend’s AFC final.
The question now is can they win it for the 9th time since 2001?
It’s not likely, say the Sports bookmakers of New Jersey. They see the Kansas City Chiefs as this Sunday’s AFC championship favorites.
For example, the money line odds as per New Jersey sportsbook market leader FanDuel on Thursday was Patriots +136, Chiefs -156.
Yes, like the Los Angeles Rams who play current Super Bowl favorites New Orleans Saints for the NFC title in the early game on Sunday, the Patriots are the clear-cut underdogs.
Mind you they no longer look to be the season’s big losers as they seemed to be at one stage earlier this year. Not after the way they crushed the LA Chargers 41-28 in the AFC’s Divisional playoffs last week.
Who’re The Bookies Backing For The NFL’s Conference Finals
It may be surprising in some quarters that the bookies are not backing a team fielding Brady, one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of the 21st Century, against a team whose star quarterback is facing a first-ever AFC final.
The fact that Patrick Mahomes II is the Chiefs quarterback, however, puts a completely different complexion on this AFC battle. The seemingly nerveless and highly skilled young MVP prospect has been a revelation in the rise of the Chiefs this year.
More than anyone, he is the major reason why the Chiefs have reached the heights they have. It’s why the bookies favor them.
It’s why legendary Patriots coach Bill Belichick said of the Chiefs this week: “They’re the number one seed in the AFC so they deserved it. They’re the best team. We’ll see how it goes. Well-coached, they have a lot of explosive players. We had a tremendous game with them here earlier. That was a long time ago. We’ll see where we are now, see where they are.”
Nevertheless, the abiding memory during the NFL’s first quarter of the 21st Century has been and always will be the magic touch of the Patriot’s hugely-successful Brady-Belichick partnership.
Its big-time winning culture can’t be discounted, even now as 42-year-old Brady begins to age. And it means you can’t be too sure of putting your money on a winner, no matter which way you go.
In the Meantime
New Orleans Saints are FanDuel’s -178 money line favorites to win their NFC Championship match. This against the Los Angeles Rams (+154) in the first of the two early Conference finals on Sunday
And if there is anyone good reason why, it’s because of the way, earlier this season, they were able to shut down Todd Gurley and the Rams’ celebrated running game.
Gurley, then ranked third in the NFL was held to just 70 yards in total on the way to the Rams 35-45 defeat.
The question for punters in Sunday’s battle, however, is clearly whether new signing CJ Anderson and the double threat now posed by the Rams running game will make a difference. Or, at least, enough of a difference to turn things around.
We saw hard evidence of that possibility last week. Both Gurley and Anderson were able to find holes in the formidable Dallas Cowboys defense, one of the top five in the country, and the Rams won 30-22.
Between them, they rushed 273 yards and made three touchdowns. Two were by Anderson, one by Gurley.
“That’s impressive,” said Saints running back Mark Ingram this week. “They got after them. That’s a good defense the Cowboys have and they got after them. When you run the ball like that, you have a high chance of success.”
Anderson spent some of the current seasons with the Panthers and some with Raiders. He joined the Rams in December when Gurley was having problems with a knee injury and made an immediate impact, He produced three straight 100-plus yard rushing games, one of these last week’.
Last Confrontation
In their last confrontation, the Saints needed only to tie up Gurley. This time in their NFC final at their Mercedes-Benz Superdome it won’t be enough. And they know it.
The Saints, whose 13-3 win-loss record this season has been matched by the Rams, haven’t got as far as they have, however, without strengths of their own.
The Super Bowl No 1 seed’s quarterback Drew Brees is just one of them and Michael Thomas another.
Brees’ deceptive body language and eye manipulation make him difficult to read and the talented Thomas has been the key receiver in their outstanding aerial offense, which, when all is said and done, has been the strength behind the Saints success.
Let’s not forget that when the Rams and Saints last clashed in Week 9, Thomas had 12 catches for 211 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown.
The Saints deserve their high-standing right now, to be sure. But they will have to produce their very best if they want to take that last vital step into the Super Bowl. The Rams won’t go down easily.
FL Conference Championships
NFC Championship Final
New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles Rams
3.05 pm ET Sunday, Jan 20 at Mercedes Benz Superdome MO
Betting Odds
Spread: Rams +3.5 -120, Saints -3.5 +100
Money line: Rams +154, Saints -178
Totals: Rams O/U 56.5/ -110, Saints O/U 56.5/ -110
Win/loss Standings: Rams 13/3, Saints 13/3
AFC Championship Final
Kansas City Chiefs vs. New England Patriots
6.40pm ET Sunday, Jan 20 at Arrowhead Stadium LA
Betting Odds
Spread: Patriots +3 -110 Chiefs -3 +110
Money line: Patriots +136, Chiefs -156
Totals: Patriots O/U 56.5/ -110, Chiefs O/U 56.5/ -110
Win/loss Standings: Chiefs 12/4, Patriots 11/5
