For the first time in nearly 20 years, a 16-point spread has been placed on an NFL Divisional Playoff game.
The Patriots (14-2) are favored to defeat the Texans (9-7) by 16 points on Saturday.
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SportsLine.com reports only three postseason games in the past 30 years have had wider point spreads: In 1998, the Vikings (-16.5) beat the Cardinals 41-21, and in 1994, the 49ers (-17) beat the Bears 44-15 and the 49ers (-18) beat the Chargers 49-26 in the Super Bowl.
The Patriots already shut out out the Texans 27-0 in Week 3 behind third-string quarterback Jacoby Brissett. With J.J. Watt also out for the Texans and Tom Brady back at the helm for the Pats, the spread isn't that crazy.
"The historic 16-point opener was quickly bet down (by professionals)," Scott Cooley, BookMaker's odds consultant, told SportsLine.com. "The public has had no qualms laying the chalk with New England."