This is a trap line, as everybody (myself included) is going to want to back Aaron Rodgers against a Patriots team widely perceived as being awful before the season.
The Patriots shocked the Bengals in Week 1 and then lost in overtime to the Seahawks last week despite Jacoby Brissett seemingly not throwing a pass over 10 yards and left tackle Vederian Lowe being the worst in the league (pressure rate at left tackle at 13.0 percent).
It’s all Rhamondre Stevenson and that shouldn’t be enough against Rodgers, who can’t move anymore but can still sling it. He is the least-pressured QB in the league (18.2 percent of his dropbacks), due in part to averaging the second-fastest time to throw of 2.57 seconds.
The Patriots couldn’t cover the Seattle receivers, and Garrett Wilson is due for a breakout game (while Mike Williams is rounding into shape). Also, teams coming off an overtime game are 5-24 against the spread on Thursdays, per BetMGM.
GO FURTHER
NFL Week 3 picks against the spread: Why Falcons’ Bijan Robinson is one RB to take seriously