"It's been what feels like decades since the Patriots have been favored in games during an NFL season, so seeing that change in 2025 set the tone for what the team could accomplish under Mike Vrabel. They go into the AFC Championship with the same luck on their side, as they are currently favored by 5.5 points, despite being on the road in a hostile environment and not playing too well against the Texans last week."
"Regardless, they got the job done in the snowy weather and took down one of the most dominant defenses in the league, giving them a run for their money with how their deffense wreacked havoc on CJ Stroud. They were favored in that game too, but not by much, and certainly not in the eyes of most analysts, who collectively picked Houston to face the Broncos this Sunday."
"The winner of this game, I pick as the Super Bowl winner. That's how I look at it. I'm picking the Super Bowl winner to come from this game."
Under head coach Mike Vrabel, the Patriots experienced a reversal in expectations in 2025, entering the AFC Championship favored by 5.5 points despite being on the road. The team advanced after a snowy divisional-round victory over the Texans, during which New England's defense disrupted and pressured CJ Stroud. Many analysts had expected Houston to advance, but the Patriots prevailed. Vince Wilfork, who played for both franchises, expressed a strong conviction that the winner of the Texans-Patriots matchup would go on to win the Super Bowl and has backed the Patriots.
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