| Christopher Reina. 6th November, 2007 - 2:03 pm
 According to BetUS, the Patriots are 3/2 odds to go 19-0.
Even at this point in the season, that means oddmakers see a perfect seasons as highly probable.
The Patriots head into their bye week with a 9-0 record and are just seven wins away from entering the playoffs with that chance at perfection.
Here is how other recent teams have fared as they have approached regular season perfection:
- 1985 Chicago Bears lost in Week 13 at Miami, 38-24.
- 1991 Washington Redskins lost in Week 13 versus Dallas, 24-21.
- 1998 Denver Broncos lost in Week 15 at the New York Giants, 20-16.
- 2005 Indianapolis Colts lost in Week 15 versus San Diego, 26-17.
How does the Patriots remaining schedule look?
11/18: at Buffalo (4-4)
The Patriots defeated the Bills by a final score of 38-7 in Foxboro in Week 3. But the Bills are a much different team, winners of their last three and four out of their last five. Their lone loss came on a fluky onside kick by the Dallas Cowboys.
Marshawn Lynch is the best rookie running back not named Adrian Peterson and Lee Evans is back to being Lee Evans.
But the Bills haven't defeated the Patriots since Week 1 of 2003 when they shocked them 31-0.
11/25: Philadelphia (3-5)
In a rematch of Super Bowl XXXIX, the Patriots host an Eagles team that has been as up and down as any team in the NFL. After grinding out a win at Minnesota, they were outright dominated by Dallas on Sunday.
With the way Terrell Owens was wide open countless times, it is hard to envision the Eagles’ secondary checking Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth.
12/3: at Baltimore (4-4)
The Ravens have the capability of stifling the Patriots’ offense, but Ben Roethlisberger carved that defense for five touchdowns on a sloppy, rainy night.
Three out of their four wins have come against NFC West opponents, with the other one coming against the 1-8 Jets.
12/9: Pittsburgh (6-2)
These two teams last met early in 2005 when the Patriots defeated the Steelers 23-20 at Heinz Field, but Pittsburgh did end a 21-game New England winning streak in 2004. Kevin Faulk and Cedric Cobbs combined for just five total yards while Deuce Staley had 125 and Jerome Bettis had 65. Tom Brady threw for two interceptions and also had a fumble.
12/16: New York Jets (1-8)
The Jets knocked off the Patriots in Week 10 last season by a score of 17-14 in Foxboro, but that was a 10-6 Eric Mangini team, not the 1-8 one this season, who have only defeated Miami.
With Bill Belichick’s own blood in the water after the spygate scandal, the final score could come close to Chicago’s 73-0 victory over Washington in the 1940 NFL Championship Game. That game included a double reverse from Sollie Sherman to Gary Famiglietti to Harry Clark, which resulted in the Bears’ ninth touchdown of the game. I mean this affectionately; why can I completely envision Belichick calling a Brady to Stallworth to Welker reverse with three minutes left in the fourth quarter of a 65-point game?
12/23: Miami (0-8)
The Dolphins may still be playing for their first win, even though it will be Week 16. With both teams staring at history, the Patriots will waltz here.
12/29: at New York Giants (6-2)
If the Patriots are going to come this far undefeated, there is little doubt they will go for it at the Meadowlands even though Tom Brady will be facing one of the best pass rushing defenses in the game. Since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule, no team has entered the final weekend of the season undefeated.
If a team is to go undefeated, it will be a Bill Belichick-led team, with this much talent and so many chips on their shoulder. |
