The Los Angeles Rams are the favourites to win this year’s Super Bowl after they made it 3-0 by beating city rivals the Chargers while the New England Patriots look in deep trouble after suffering successive defeats.
The Rams are one of four unbeaten teams left in the NFL after just three games and look solid in all three phases of the game – as they showed on Sunday with another strong offensive and defensive outing, while on special teams they recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown.
The Rams are now 9/2 favourites to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy in Atlanta in February as Sean McVay’s men march on towards what surely will be a second straight NFC West title.
The Rams are 3/1 to win the NFC and those credentials will be put to the test on Thursday night as they face a Minnesota Vikings team desperate to bounce back after a humiliating home drubbing by the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Is the New England Patriots dynasty crumbling?
While the Rams were expected to be this good, nobody expected the New England Patriots to be so bad as they slipped to consecutive regular season defeats for just the seventh time in the last 15 years.
Their 26-10 loss to Detroit also marked the first time the team have suffered back-to-back defeats of ten points or more in 244 games – and the magnitude of the poor performance, as well as the result, is what’s leading so many to question the Patriots’ prospects.
Tom Brady’s side are still 7/1 second favourites for the Super Bowl and 3/1 favourites to win the AFC, but behind them the likes of Kansas City and Jacksonville are breathing down their necks.
How New England could have done with new wide receiver Josh Gordon on the field as Brady struggled to find any open targets during the Detroit loss – which smarted even more coming at the hands of former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.
Suddenly, next Sunday’s game at Gillette Stadium becomes of huge importance to the Patriots as they face AFC East rivals Miami, with the Dolphins surprising everyone with a perfect 3-0 start.
Given teams that start 3-0 get to the play-offs 74 percent of the time under the current format, Adam Gase’s men will have a certain swagger about them that could make them dangerous if the Patriots are under pressure.
Miami are still 3/1 to win the AFC East despite having a two-game lead over the rest of the division – making that a three-game lead over the Pats on Sunday will see those odds crumble.