Will the Patriots miss the Playoffs? Bet on it!
Written by: Brainiac
San Jose, Costa Rica, Sept. 9, 2008 - By now you have heard the devastating news for the New England Patriots, the NFL’s TV networks and the league altogether: Reigning NFL MVP and poster boy Tom Brady will miss the rest of the season after suffering ligament damage in his knee during the Week 1 victory against Kansas City.
Just like that, the Patriots bandwagon is quickly emptying, but you can still bet on whether you think the defending AFC champs will even make the playoffs this year: New England is a -200 bet to return to the postseason on WagerWeb.com.
If you believe in the Patriots and are ready to put your money where your mouth is, that means you believe, at least partly, in a quarterback who hasn’t started a game since high school (Nov. 24, 1999): Matt Cassel. That’s right, the Patriots’ No. 2 didn’t start a single game even in college, backing up Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at Southern Cal.
Cassel had thrown only 39 passes in his first three NFL seasons before taking over for Brady on Sunday against Kansas City. He was decent, throwing for 152 yards and a touchdown in a 17-10 home victory against a Chiefs team that is arguably the worst in the NFL.
New England is banking on Cassel’s experience in its complex offensive system and being around Brady for going on four years to be enough to him to manage the offense. Expect that offense to look a little different – less of the shotgun and empty backfield with five wide receivers and more running with Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, LaMont and Co.
“I’m not trying to be Tom Brady. I’m just trying to be Matt Cassel,” the new starter said. “I don’t know where that’s going to take us.”
The Patriots also have arguably the best receiver in the league in Randy Moss, an offensive line with three veteran Pro Bowlers and, on the other side of the ball and a top-five defense from last year. So they aren’t chopped liver.
“I’m excited to see what our team is made of. … I still like our chances,” Brady wrote in an e-mail to NBC Sports.
Pats backers are pointing to 2001, when then-franchise quarterback Drew Bledsoe suffered a lacerated kidney in the second game of the season, and the Patriots turned to a young QB who had thrown only three career passes in the NFL.
His name? Tom Brady.
Dave Johnson, an experienced oddsmaker for Inspin.com, had the following to say regarding the Patriots chance of making the playoffs: “I think we all saw in the preseason how very important Tom Brady is to the Patriots offense. Last season the betting public enjoyed large success making money with the Patriots every week. At the beginning of the season the Patriots and the ‘overs’ in each game hurt bookmakers badly. With Brady out this year the betting public is going to have to find a new team to bury the bookmakers. I fully expect the Patriots to miss the playoffs this year but I still think a large percentage of the betting public will continue to bet them for now”
Bet on the Patriots’ chances of returning to the playoffs on WagerWeb.com.
Click here for Sports Betting.
Will the Patriots miss the Playoffs ?
Yes: -200
No: +160
*Bet $200 to win $100 on Yes the Patriots will miss the Playoffs.
Public Relations
For more information or to request an interview regarding this article/press release please contact Rebecca at rebecca@inspin.com. All inquiries will be addressed immediately.
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