New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is a football genius and he loves making fools out of opposing rookie quarterbacks. The Houston Texans hope Deshaun Watson will become the first rookie signal caller to win at New England in the Belichick era. **video
Opposing first year quarterbacks are 0-8 straight up and 2-6 against the spread at Foxborough since Belichick became the Pats head coach in 2000. Those eight quarterbacks have passed for a total five touchdown passes and 16 interceptions with a collective 50.7 passer rating.
Belichick feasts off fresh-faced quarterbacks going 16-5 SU and 12-9 ATS in all games with the first coming against Chris Weinke and the Carolina Panthers in 2001.
Oddsmakers made the Texans (+13.5) the fifth consecutive team with a rookie quarterback to be double-digit underdogs against the Patriots. New England is 10-0 straight up and 7-3 against the spread when giving 10 or more points and facing a newbie under center.
Geno Smith (2013 Jets), Russell Wilson (2012 Seahawks), Colt McCoy (2010 Browns), Mark Sanchez (2009 Jets) and Ben Roethlisberger (2004 Steelers) are the only rookie quarterbacks to get the best of Belichick with the Pats.
The Over cashed in nine of the first 12 games Belichick against rookie QBs but the Under is 7-2 in the last nine scenarios. The total for this week’s Texans-Patriots game is set at 44.
Watson played against the Patriots in the preseason and completed three of his 10 pass attempts for 102 yards. He also rushed for a touchdown as well.
“I expect [Belichick] to throw all types of things at me,” Watson told the Houston Chronicle. “Different coverages, different schemes, different looks, and not try to stay in a base look where we kind of know what we’re doing.”
The thought of sending out a rookie quarterback to lead his team against New England can’t be comforting to Texans head coach Bill O’Brien. The Patriots are 3-0 SU and ATS against Houston since O’Brien became the HC in 2014. New England has outscored Houston 88-22 in those three contests.
