NFL Betting: Patriots Survive - Barely - in Baltimore, 27-24

Tom Brady was down, but not out on Monday night. (AP Images)

The New England Patriots are like Robert de Niro’s character in Cape Fear. Or like the alien in Aliens. Or like Darth Vader. They're villains. You love to hate them and they’re never ever easy to kill.

Looking as beatable as they have all season, the Patriots trailed the Ravens until the final minute of a remarkable Monday Night Football game in Baltimore. But Tom Brady hit Jabbar Gaffney in the back corner of the end zone, delivering a 27-24 win that keeps alive New England’s bid for an invincible season.

Forget the point spread – which was a stunning 20 points in the Patriots’ favor. New England was fortunate to get out of Baltimore with another win.

The Patriots looked done three times during their drive that ended in the winning score. Penalties and an ill-advised timeout by Baltimore kept the Patriots moving toward the goal line. The Ravens appeared to have New England (12-0 overall, 9-3 against the point spread) stopped on a fourth down, but the officials ruled that Baltimore had called for a timeout just before the play. The Patriots would pick up the first down then get two more first downs when Baltimore was whistled for penalties.

Brady hit Gaffney with an eight-yard strike as the Patriots overcame a 24-17 deficit with two scores in the final 8:41. The winning score occurred with 44 seconds to play.

The Ravens (4-8 overall, 3-9 ATS) nearly pulled out a miracle win when Kyle Boller hit Mark Clayton on 52-yard Hail Mary throw. But Clayton was brought down on the Patriots’ one-yard line as time expired.

On a night where the wind and cold played a big role, Boller outplayed Brady, but in the end the Patriots’ star delivered when he had to.

The betting total went over 47 points.

Up next for New England, a tilt against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Foxborough, Mass. Get your NFL odds for Week 14 in the Bodog Sportsbook.