The Patriots are back from their late bye and ready to embark on a final four-game stretch to end the 2024 season, featuring three opponents that all still have their sights set on the postseason.

First up are the Arizona Cardinals, as New England will make their final extended road trip of the season after already checking off trips to San Francisco and London. The Cards have dropped three straight games and at 6-7 are desperate for a win to get them back on track.

For the Patriots the theme of the week was finishing strong and building some momentum heading into the 2025 offseason. Expect a heavy dose of younger players to get opportunities as head coach Jerod Mayo looks to find which players to build around going forward.

Here are 10 key players to watch!

Drake Maye: Maye's rookie season with the New England Patriots has been filled with promising development and he has shown steady improvement in recent weeks, showcasing better accuracy, decision-making, and playmaking ability as he adjusts to the NFL.

Over the last three games, Maye has posted completion rates of 70.7% or higher twice, with a season-high 80% completion rate in Week 13 against the Colts. He recorded 238 yards, one touchdown, and a solid 96.9 passer rating in that game despite a disappointing loss that Indy delivered on the game's final drive.

His dual-threat ability has also emerged, including a 41-yard rush in Week 13 and 95 rushing yards in Week 9 against the Titans. Maye is learning to pick his spots when it's time to run and has made defenses pay for poor pass-rush containment.

Arizona's defense presents plenty of challenges but is another zone-based scheme similar to the Colts, against which Maye had his most efficient game of the season.

"These last four games of being a starting quarterback, it comes with a lot of responsibility," said Maye this week. "Taking a new step, getting in uncomfortable situations or doing some things in the line of scrimmage, little things like that that can go a long way and getting experiences for the next year."

Antonio Gibson: Gibson has shown steady improvement in recent games and has brought a renewed spark to New England's ground game. Early in the season, Gibson mostly played a reserve role with one standout early performance in Week 2 against Seattle, where he rushed for 96 yards on 11 carries.

However, in the last few games (Weeks 10–13), Gibson has seen a resurgence in efficiency. In Week 13 against Indianapolis, he rushed for 62 yards on 7 carries (8.9 YPC) with a touchdown, marking his most productive outing since early in the season.

Overall, Gibson has transitioned from a rotational back to a more impactful player, with recent performances indicating he could play a pivotal role down the stretch.

Kendrick Bourne: Since returning from injury, Kendrick Bourne's 2024 season has shown steady progress, with noticeable improvement in his contributions over the past few games. Early on, he struggled to find a rhythm, but recent performances suggest he is regaining his form as a reliable target. For the season Bourne has 19 catches on 22 targets (86.4% catch rate), for 209 yards and a touchdown.

Over the last three games, Bourne has totaled 12 catches on 13 targets (92.3%) for 139 yards and a touchdown and has caught 100% of his targets in two of the last three games, including a standout five-reception, 70-yard performance with a touchdown against the Rams in Week 11.

After a slow reintegration (e.g., no catches in Week 8 against the Jets), Bourne has become a key part of the offense, averaging 46.3 receiving yards per game over the last three weeks.

Bourne's late-season resurgence has provided a spark for the Patriots' passing game. His improved efficiency and reliable hands suggest he's back to being a trusted weapon for the offense, offering optimism heading into the season's final stretch.

Christian Barmore: Christian Barmore's recent performances highlight his growing involvement in the Patriots' defensive line, with increased snap counts and moments of impactful play. Barmore's playing time has grown, with his snap percentage rising to 50% or more in the last two games, reflecting a more prominent role in the defensive rotation.

There's little question the Patriots defense, which ranks 27^th in pressure rate, needs Barmore's disruptive presence over the final four-game stretch, especially against three dangerous quarterbacks who are all capable of making game-changing plays if given the time and space to operate.

Cole Strange: The Patriots 2022 first-round pick was activated to the 53-man roster earlier this week and got his first padded practice under his belt on Wednesday. All signs are pointing toward Strange making his season debut in some fashion this weekend in Arizona.

The question is where which spot will he play. Strange has been a left guard since his arrival in New England but has been getting work at center this fall. Though in-season addition Ben Brown has been a saving grace after David Andrews went down with an injury and Nick Leverette was released, Strange's elite athleticism is an intriguing trait that could earn him opportunities.

Getting younger players into the mix is a goal for the Patriots over the last four games and Strange should very much a part of that.

Kyler Murray: Fully recovered from a knee injury suffered against the Patriots in 2022, Murray has played all 13 games for the Cardinals this season, achieving a 6-7. He's thrown for 2,862 yards with 15 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, completing 68.4% of his passes. Murray added 444 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns, showcasing dual-threat abilities.

The Patriots defensive plan must include keeping Murray contained in the pocket, where his height can be a detriment. His ability to scramble can be extremely frustrating, he's quick and hard to lay a hit on.

"I think it all starts with the quarterback," said Mayo this week. "I mean, this is one of the more elusive quarterbacks that you're going to see in the league, as you guys know. He can beat you two ways. He can beat you with his arm, and he can beat you with his legs. He does a good job really getting the ball out and does a good job extending plays, and that's what the NFL is. It turns into streetball at some point in time, and he does a good job there."

James Conner The eighth-year back continues to play at a high level this season, playing all 13 games, rushing for 863 yards and five touchdowns on 201 carries (4.3 YPC). He's added 333 receiving yards and a touchdown catch, totaling 1,196 scrimmage yards for the year as he remains a reliable offensive workhorse who can be expected to touch the ball 20 times every game. He ranks 13^th in the NFL in rushing yards.

For a Patriots defense that ranks 28^th in DVOA, containing Conner must be a huge piece of the gameplan. Arizona is 12^th in rushing DVOA and has rushed for over 100 yards eight times this season, including twice breaking the 200-yard mark. Strangely enough, their four top rushing performances of the season all resulted in losses. Still, Conner is a versatile problem.

"Conner, I mean, this guy's still going," said Mayo. "It's been very impressive to see that a guy at this age is still running very hard. He's tough, he can run between the tackles, he can run outside, he can run you over, he can run around you, so he's a very good player. It's good to see that after all that he's been through that he's still playing at a high level at this point in time."

Trey McBride: McBride continues to ascend in his third season, having played 12 games as Murray's top target with 80 receptions for 851 yards (10.6 YPR) and one rushing touchdown. After a breakout campaign in 2023 with 81 catches, McBride is on pace to set new career highs, though he continues to wait for his first touchdown catch of the season. McBride has the highest offensive PFF grade on the team (86.5) and has the third-most catches for a tight end in the NFL this season.

He presents a sizable challenge for the Patriots safety group, including captain Kyle Dugger who is likely to be charged with covering the athletic McBride on important downs.

Marvin Harrison Jr.: The dynamic rookie was taken fourth-overall last spring, one pick after Drake Maye, and has lived up to the hype, having played 13 games and leading the team with 655 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 45 catches (14.6 YPR). He proved to be a dynamic red-zone threat and vertical weapon and one who will be a fascinating matchup for second-year cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who is in the midst of a stellar campaign himself.

Simply put, the Patriots can't let Harrison make big plays in the passing game.

"Look, this is a guy who obviously he grew up in it, but great hands, great size, and he's also good when Kyler's [Murray] extending the play," said Mayo. "He has a good feel; it's like they have a good chemistry between the two of them, so good player."

Budda Baker: Baker leads the NFL in solo tackles (81) as the versatile safety is constantly around the ball. He also leads the team in tackles-for-loss (nine), while registering two sacks and three passes defended. He ranks 11^th overall at the safety position according to PFF's charting and has been credited for 10 total pressures, tying him with Kyle Hamilton and Derwin James for the most by a safety this season.

He brings the energy to the Cardinals defense and is one player that the team must look to negate by any means necessary, whether it's running or throwing away from his side of the field.

"You have a safety in Baker who really, he makes the whole engine go," said Mayo. "He'll be in the box, he'll blitz off the edge, he also can play in the middle of the field. So, a very versatile player, a very good player."

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