The New England Patriots, who ended up going 4-13, were not listed as favorites in a single game during the 2024 season. Oh, how quickly things change.
With the NFL having released its schedule for the upcoming 2025 season, we can see that the Patriots are favored over the visiting Las Vegas Raiders heading toward Week 1. Obviously, there is a long way to go before that game is played, but even at this early stage this is a noteworthy development.
Odds for Patriots vs. Raiders in NFL Week 1
Spread: Patriots -2.5
Moneyline: Patriots -156 | Raiders +132
Over/under: 43.5
The 2025 season will be the Patriots’ first under Mike Vrabel, who was hired to replace one-and-done head coach Jerod Mayo in January. Vrabel’s presence as well as some prominent investments in both free agency and the draft have created quite the buzz for a team that won only eight total games over its last two seasons combined.
Whether New England will live up to it remains to be seen. After a few lackluster seasons, however, this is a much-needed breath of fresh air.