With rookie Jacoby Brissett – the backup to the backup – making his first NFL start, the New England Patriots will be a home underdog for the first time in two seasons against the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football. (courtesy of OddsShark.com)

In a matchup of 2-0 teams with Super Bowl aspirations, the Texans are 1.5-point favorites against the Patriots. The total is listed at 40.5 points.

The Patriots are 10-1 against the spread in their last 11 games as home underdogs, as well as 9-3 straight-up in their last 12 games against teams with winning records. Their defense, with OLB Jamie Collins, CB Malcolm Butler and FS Devin McCourty, can keep them in games without Tom Brady, although it hasn’t been statistically strong through two weeks.

Brissett is starting since Jimmy Garoppolo has a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder and Brady is serving his Deflategate suspension. Whether TE Rob Gronkowski (hamstring) will be ready for Thursday is in question, but TE Martellus Bennett is capable.