Patriots are the underdog in a division game for the first time in five years

The New England Patriots are in an unfamiliar situation. They are entering Week 8 with a 2-4 record and going up against a division rival that is up three games in the standings at the moment. Unsurprisingly, the Patriots are currently seen as the underdog heading into their road matchup with the 5-2 Buffalo Bills: Bill Belichick’s team is listed at +3.5, according to the bookmakers, and SBD has the odds at this here link.

The Patriots have not been underdogs going into an AFC East game in a long time.

In fact, this marks the first time in five years that their opponent is favored in a divisional meeting: ever since being listed as a one-point underdog in Week 2 of the 2015 season — coincidentally also ahead of a road game in Buffalo — the team has been the consistent betting favorites when facing other AFC East club. This streak of 30 games that ends this weekend, was clearly the longest active in the NFL.

Back in 2015 the oddsmakers liked the Bills’ chances at home, and they rewarded their faith with a 40-32 victory. Whether or not this week’s game will play out the same way remains to be seen, but the odds have been set even more clearly in Buffalo’s favor this time around.