The Patriots will find themselves in an unfamiliar spot this Sunday night, and I'm not just referring to the city of Baltimorewhere New England's played only twice since 1996.
I mean that the Pats are underdogs, by three points to be exact.
According to Covers.com's database, this will be only the 10th time in the last five years they've had a healthy Tom Brady (that means I skipped the 2008 season in favor of 2006) that the Patriots are underdogs in a regular season game.
Just for fun, here's how they did in the previous nine. (Unsurprisingly, all nine games were on the road):
November 13, 2011 (at N.Y. Jets): Final Line: Pats 2.5; Final Score: Pats 37, Jets 16
November 14, 2010 (at Pitt): Final Line: Pats 4.5; Final Score: Pats 39, Steelers 26
October 24, 2010 (at San Diego): Final Line: Pats 2.5; Final Score: Pats 23, Chargers 20
New England Patriots
October 4, 2010 (at Miami): Final Line: Pats 1; Final Score: Pats 41, Dolphins 14
November 15, 2009 (at Indianapolis): Final Line: Pats 1; Final Score: Colts 35, Pats 34
November 30, 2009 (at New Orleans): Final Line: Pats 1; Final Score: Saints 38, Pats 17
December 31, 2006 (at Tennessee): Final Line: Pats 3.5; Final Score: Pats 40, Titans 23
December 24, 2006 (at Jacksonville): Final Line: Pats 3; Final Score: Pats 24, Jaguars 21
October 1, 2006 (at Cincinnati): Final Line: Pats 5.5; Final Score: Pats 38, Bengals 13
The final count? Over the last five seasons, Tom Brady's Pats are 7-2 straight up as underdogs, and 6-1-1 against the spread.
That leaves me with two questions for Vegas:
1. How about making New England an underdog a little more often?
2. I think Bernard Pollard owes one of you guys money. Can someone break his knee caps before Sunday night?
Rich can be reached at rlevine@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Rich on Twitter at http:twitter.comrich_levine