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Patriots open vs. Texans as heaviest playoff favorite since 1998

Stew Milne / USA TODAY Sports

If you are thinking the New England Patriots should probably beat the Houston Texans next Saturday night, you are not alone.

As the Pittsburgh Steelers' Sunday win secured the AFC divisional round, the Patriots opened as enormous favorites against the Texans, receiving a 16-point handicap from VegasInsider.com.

The line still has six days to move - either up or down - but if it sticks, the spread would be the fourth largest in playoff history and largest since the 1998 playoffs, when the Arizona Cardinals were 16.5-point underdogs against the 15-1 Minnesota Vikings.

The Patriots and Texans met on Thursday night football in Week 3 as a Tom Brady-less New England team took down Houston 27-0.

- With h/t to Fox Sports

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