Patriots vs Cardinals predictions
As the New England Patriots square off against the Arizona Cardinals, all eyes will be on rookie QB Drake Maye. Coming into this matchup, Maye's resilience in the pocket is set to be tested once more. He's expected to toss around 30 passes, aiming for nearly 200 passing yards. His accuracy and ability to deal with the Cardinals’ defense—which has been varied this season—will be critical. Additionally, Rhamondre Stevenson should continue to shoulder a significant portion of the ground game, likely carrying the ball around 13 times and aiming to rack up over 50 rushing yards. With pivotal chunks of the game resting on their performance, these Patriots will need to step up big time.
Switching focus to the Arizona Cardinals, Kyler Murray is pegged to be a standout, continuing to prove why he's a top-tier quarterback in the NFL. Projections suggest Murray will complete around 20 of his 30 attempts, racking up over 200 passing yards. His dual-threat capability will also come into play, potentially adding around 40 rushing yards which can really diversify the Cardinals' offensive plays. Running back James Conner is also someone to watch; expected to dominate the carries for Arizona, he's looking to eclipse the 70-yard mark on the ground. These key performances will be crucial for Arizona as they push for a playoff spot.
Taking into account the urgency for the Cardinals to keep their playoff hopes alive and the home field advantage at the State Farm Stadium, they seem poised to take this win. Despite the spirited efforts of Maye and the Patriots, Arizona’s slightly better overall cohesion and urgency might just tilt the scales in their favor. Expect this one to be a close, hard-fought game, but the Arizona Cardinals might have just enough in the tank to edge out a victory.
