NFL Week Odds: Patriots Big Home Underdogs to Eagles?

Despite their lackluster offseason and the arrival of a Super Bowl opponent, the New England Patriots are only a small underdog to the Philadelphia Eagles in early Week 1 odds.

Philadelphia Eagles 26, New England Patriots 21?

While there are no moral victories in the NFL - especially at home, and especially with Tom Brady back in the house - that's what the NFL oddsmakers are predicting when the teams open the 2023 season come Sept. 10 at Gillette Stadium.

Considering the circumstances, the Pats should feel good about the relatively close point spread established by the wise guys in the wake of Thursday's schedule release. Consensus betting predictions have the Eagles favored by 4-5 points, with a total of 46-47.

Remember, is a Pats team that went 8-9 last season without a single win over a team that went to the playoffs. New England's last "signature" victory: Dec. 6, 2021 when they survived the Bills in that winter hurricane in Buffalo.

In other words, this is an opportunity for Bill Belichick's squad to make a loud, early statement.

Philadelphia is the defending NFC champion, coming off a thrilling three-point loss to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs and boosted by an NFL Draft haul - led by three Georgia defenders - that most experts lauded as the best in the league. The Eagles are loaded on both sides of the ball and are again the favorites to win their conference and play in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas in Feburary.

Meanwhile ... the Patriots were only 4-4 at Gillette Stadium last season and are 25-25 since Brady left after the 2019 season.

With quarterback Mac Jones coming off a confidence-shaking season, it's vital that the Pats get off to a fast start. Especially in an AFC East that includes not only the three-time defending champion Buffalo Bills, but also four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers now leading the New York Jets.

New England, hosting an NFC team in its home opener for the first time since 2000, has its chance for a hot start. It's playing its first two games at home for the first time in almost 30 years. The last time was 1995, when coach Bill Parcells and quarterback Drew Bledsoe were ramping up to a Super Bowl the following season.

The Patriots started 0-1 the last two seasons, losing both times to the Miami Dolphins. They haven't won their opener since Cam Newton was at the controls in 2020.

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