Patriots +3 @ Titans

[zenfurni]

What am I missing here? Patriots at +3 look like a POTY in the NFL. I understand they're on the road, but this line seems to imply they would be a coin flip on a neutral field.

I'm mainly going by DVOA (Pats top 10 offense and defense, Titans in the 20's) and the fact that the Patriots still have playoff seeding motivation, but it seems like the Patriots should be slight favorites. What am I missing? Is Belichick sitting Brady and/or defenders?

The newbie in me thinks this is a bridge jumper (slight exaggeration), but I would be glad to hear any reasons people might have for staying away or even going the other way.

[jedi]

I don't think any team in week 17 is a bridgejumper, especially a team that has locked up its division facing a team who has something to prove and has an outside shot at the playoffs.

[zer0]

I would anticipate an awful lot of Matt Cassell in this game.

[MacGuyV]

Yup, the only way Bellicheck would try to win a game like this would be if they were playing the Jets. See last year's Miami game.
On a semi-related note I think the Titans next year will be a good candidate for this year's overhyped Dolphins.

[silentbob]

Much of Tennessee's relatively weak DVOA numbers were pre-Vince Young. I wouldn't bet against him right now.

[27offsuit]

[ QUOTE ]
I would anticipate an awful lot of Matt Cassell in this game.

[/ QUOTE ]

Other probable early exits:

Seymour
Harrison
Maroney
Bruschi
Vrabel

This is a classic setup for this to occur. NE would need a lot to happen after a W to from what I just saw. Like a Balt and a SD loss today.

We'll see. I say they play a half tops. Good luck to all.

[thebrush5]

earlier poster had it right on alot of matt cassel. in mass the boston globe said brady was missing at the beginning of practice yesterday, so take it easy on that game