Carolina +3.5

NE is 3-0 on the road this season and now has to win back to back road games to even have a chance at covering this spread. Even with that lofty road record, the Pats are still only 4-4 on the season, with three of those victories coming against the lowly Texans and the Jets. So maybe they look a little better on paper than in reality.

Carolina got Shaq Thompson back from injury last week and finally got the services of Stephon Gilmour, and both made their presence felt. Thompson had 10 tackles and an int in the Red Zone in his first action since week 4, and in his first game of the year former DPOY Gilmour had a pick in the RZ as well. Naturally, the improved defense held Atlanta to just 13 points in their victory.

Strange to see a 4-4 team with a rookie QB on the road favored by more than a FG against another 4-4 team. NE has only won two of eight games this season by more than three points (both against the NY Jets).