A Wes Welker injury is the last thing the Patriots wanted today. But Wes Welker’s injury at Houston has put New England on high alert. Although the Patriots were only playing for a three seed, they sent all of their starters to play the Texans. And a
Wes Welker Injury Starts Panic in New England
week after their arch-rivals took heat for resting their starter, the Patriots may take hear for not resting theirs. At the least, the Wes Welker injury gives them some extra anxiety heading into the playoffs.

The leading receiver in the NFL hurt his left knee, after catching his 123′nd ball of the 2009 season. He wasn’t hit, but his knee gave out in an awkward position, and he had to be taken out of the game. The hurt, emotional look on his face while on the sidelines sent fear into Patriots nation.

Wes Welker’s injury resulted in him being carted into the locker room minutes later. No official word has come out yet, but everyone is waiting to find out. The rest of the game between the Patriots and Texans has become irrelevant as a result.

Though Welker isn’t Tom Brady’s only weapon, he may have become his best. Without him to catch several passes a game, their Super Bowl hopes would take a major hit. The severity of his knee injury will be the top story of the week, heading into New England’s first playoff game.

In a perverse way, Welker’s setback may have vindicated Jim Caldwell. The Colts were ridiculed for taking Peyton Manning and their starters out last week, and giving up a 16-0 season. Their reasoning was that they tried to protect their stars – and because the Patriots didn’t rest theirs, they may have lost a major weapon.

Of course, Manning and the Colts’ stars are almost never hurt, whereas the Patriots are far more vulnerable. Welker himself has missed time due to injury this season. Of all teams, the Patriots know what can happen when their stars miss time, like Tom Brady did last year.

Randy Moss and Wes Welker have formed a potent 1-2 punch for the New England Patriots the past two seasons. But injuries to both could leave the Pats punch less Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.

Welker and Moss were listed as questionable after they missed practice Friday. They might not even take the field on Sunday in Foxborough. According to NFL Week 3 Odds, Picks, & Predictions experts at SportsBook.com, the New England Patriots [-4½] have been listed as the sports betting odds favorites to defeat the visiting Atlanta Falcons [+4½]. But how much of an impact would the likely absence Moss and Welker have on the outcome of this NFL Week 3 Odds, Picks & Predictions game?