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The New England Patriots will begin a stretch of two-straight road games when they travel to face the Arizona Cardinals. It will be the first trip to Arizona since the team's 27-13 win on Monday Night Football on Dec. 12, 2022. After the Cardinals game, the Patriots will travel for the last time in 2024 when they head to Buffalo before returning to Gillette Stadium for the final two games of the season.

SERIES HISTORY

The New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals will meet for the first time since a 27-13 Monday Night Football victory at State Farm Stadium on Dec. 12, 2022. The Patriots have won their last three games against Arizona.

After a 1-6 series start against Arizona, New England won eight of the last nine meetings with the only loss coming in a 20-18 loss at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 16, 2012.

The Patriots lead the all-time series with a 9-7 margin, including a 6-4 record in road games and a 2-0 record at State Farm Stadium.

SERIES BREAKDOWN

Home Record: 3-3

• Schaefer Stadium: 0-1
• Sullivan Stadium: 0-1
• Foxboro Stadium: 1-0
• Gillette Stadium: 2-1

Road Record: 6-4

• Busch Stadium: 1-2
• Sun Devil Stadium: 3-2
• State Farm Stadium: 2-0

SCOUTING THE MATCHUPS

By Paul Perillo

When the Patriots run - Edge: Patriots

The Patriots ground game has shown signs of life in recent games as Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson have resembled their early-season form. Gibson in particular was impressive in the loss to the Colts with 62 yards on just seven carries while Stevenson ripped off a 32-yard run. The Cardinals have been rather pedestrian stopping the run, ranking 18^th in the league while allowing 121.8 yards per game, and 19^th at 4.5 yards per carry. Seattle's Zach Charbonnet enjoyed a solid outing last week in Glendale when he topped 100 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown run. Arizona employs a 3-4 front with nose tackle Roy Lopez sandwiched by ends Dante Stills and L.J. Collier in front of inside linebackers Zaven Collins and Kyzir White. Free safety Budda Baker also needs to be accounted for as he is active around the line of scrimmage and is a strong player in run support. It's a group that has talent but hasn't shown much consistency during the season. The Patriots could be getting some additional help up front if Cole Strange is activated after spending the season on the shelf coming off a torn patellar tendon. He could see action at guard or center depending on his availability.

When the Patriots pass - Edge: Patriots

Drake Maye will be coming off a week of rest as well as the finest performance of his brief career in the loss to the Colts. Maye was outstanding between the 20s, driving the Patriots into the red zone on six occasions but unfortunately for New England managed only two touchdowns. The rookie spread the ball around well, using tight ends Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper in addition to DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte and Kendrick Bourne. Arizona has been inconsistent against the pass as well, allowing an average of 218.7 yards per game through the air (19^th) and 6.9 yards per pass (20^th). Corners Sean Murphy-Bunting, Starling Thomas, Garrett Williams and Max Melton haven't been able to create many turnovers as the Cards have only six picks all season. That should allow Maye some opportunities to find holes, provided that he has the time to do so. Arizona does have 34 sacks on the season, led by Stills' 4.5, and the Patriots have had some issues protecting the passer all year. Maye has been effective at avoiding the rush and as a scrambler, averaging 9.1 yards per rush on 38 attempts. He may need to use his legs a bit more often in the desert than he has in recent games.

When the Cardinals run - Edge: Cardinals

The Patriots run defense has been better in recent weeks after a disastrous stretch in the middle of the schedule. Jonathan Taylor was effective for the Colts in the last outing, but the Patriots didn't allow Indy to control the game on the ground and Taylor had to work hard for his 95 yards. But Arizona has the ability to do just that, both with James Conner and quarterback Kyler Murray. Conner is a solid, between-the-tackles type who won't offer much flash but generally provides production. He leads the team with 863 yards on the ground and averages 4.3 yards per carry with a team-high five rushing touchdowns. Murray's elusiveness provides another element to deal with as he averages 7.7 yards on 58 carries and has another four rushing TDs. That tandem has Arizona ranked sixth in the league, averaging 139.8 yards per game on the ground and third at 5.2 yards per carry. This will be a big test for a Patriots front that has benefitted from the return of Christian Barmore alongside Davon Godchaux. Keeping Conner under wraps and Murray in the pocket would go a long way toward making the Cardinals offense one dimensional.

When the Cardinals pass - Edge: Cardinals

Murray is coming off a tough outing against the Seahawks in which he tossed interceptions on consecutive offensive snaps in the first quarter, allowing Seattle to take a two-score lead. He bounced back from the tough start but was unable to complete the comeback, and after the game he took the blame for the loss. It's been that type of season for the former No. 1 overall pick as he's flashed moments of brilliance with subpar play that has cost the team. Still, Murray is a capable passer who can do a lot of damage with his legs as well. He has rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. and third-year man Michael Wilson as his top wideouts, plus Trey McBride, one of the most underrated tight ends in the league. McBride leads the team with 80 catches for 851 yards but strangely has not found the end zone all year. Harrison (45-655-7), Wilson (39-473-4) and slot receiver Greg Dortch (26-198-1) give Murray some options for a passing game that ranks 22^nd in the league with an average of 208.2 yards per game. The Patriots secondary has really struggled as of late, with the exception of Christian Gonzalez, who continues his solid work. Alex Austin and Isaiah Bolden saw action at corner against the Colts in a rotation with Jonathan Jones, as defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington searches for the right combinations.

Special Teams - Edge: Patriots

Marcus Jones remains a going concern for opponents on punt returns, averaging 15.2 yards on 25 attempts. He's a threat to take it the distance virtually every chance he gets, and lately he's been productive. Unfortunately, that's been the lone bright spot for an otherwise inconsistent special teams group. Joey Slye missed a 25-yard field goal in his last game, a 1-point loss to the Colts, and is now 22 of 28 on the year. Punter Bryce Baringer's net average of 41 yards ranks 21^st in the league, and he leads the NFL with eight touchbacks. The Cardinals may have even more issues on special teams, however. Punter Blake Gillikin suffered an ankle injury in the loss to the Seahawks, forcing former Patriot Chad Ryland to handle those duties. Ryland averaged 39 yards on his three attempts with a long of 44. Ryland also missed his fourth field goal of the season against Seattle, all coming from between 40-49 yards. DeeJay Dallas returns kicks for the Cards and has a 96-yard touchdown to his credit. Dortch averages just under 10 yards per punt return but has only 14 attempts. The Cardinals have allowed a 39-yard punt return as well as a 53-yard kickoff return as coverage has been an issue most of the year.

TALE OF THE TAPE

CONNECTIONS

FORMER PATRIOTS

• GM Monti Ossenfort: 2003, 2006-2019^ (Personnel)
• DL Angelo Blackson: 2017 (two months on practice squad)
• OL Hjalte Froholdt: 2019-20 (Drafted Rd. 4, 118th overall, 2019)
• OL Nick Leverett: 2024
• K Chad Ryland: 2023 (Drafted Rd. 4, 112th overall, 2023)
• LB Mack Wilson Sr.: 2022-23

FORMER CARDINALS

• OL Coach Scott Peters: 2007-08
• C Lecitus Smith: 2022

PATRIOTS TO WATCH

• QB Drake Maye had a season-long 41-yard run against Indianapolis in the first quarter vs. Indianapolis (12/1). The run is tied for the third-longest run by a Patriots quarterback, and it is the fifth time a Patriots quarterback had a 40-yard run in a game. It is the longest run by a Patriots quarterback since QB Cam Newton had a 49-yard run vs. the New York Jets on Jan. 3, 2021. If Maye has a 40-yard run this week at Arizona, he will be the first Patriots player with a 40-yard run in back-to-back games since RB Craig James in 1984 when he had a 43-yard run at Dallas (11/22) and 73-yard run vs. St Louis (12/2). The last NFL quarterback with a 40-yard run in back-to-back games was Justin Fields in 2022 when he was with Chicago and had a 61-yard touchdown run vs. Miami (11/6) followed by a 67-yard touchdown run vs. Detroit (11/13).
• Maye is averaging 9.1-yards per rush with 38 rushing attempts for 345 yards. The highest rushing average for an NFL quarterback in a single season is 8.5 by Michael Vick in 2006 with Atlanta when he had 123 rushing attempts for 1,039 rushing yards (Minimum of 80 rushing attempts).
• Maye has a 67.2 completion percentage (172-of-256) so far in 2024. The highest completion percentage for an NFL rookie quarterback was 67.8 in 2016 by Dallas QB Dak Prescott.

• RB Rhamondre Stevenson moved into 10th place on New England's all-time rushing list with 2,981 yards and needs 19 rushing yards this week at Arizona to become the ninth Patriots running back to reach 3,000 career rushing yards.

• CB Christian Gonzalez returned a fumble 63 yards for a touchdown at Miami on Nov. 24. If Gonzalez scores on defense this week, he will be the first Patriots player with at least 2 defensive touchdowns in a single season since S Kyle Dugger had 3 defensive touchdowns in 2023, the most for the team since the 1970 merger.

• TE Hunter Henry enters this week's game against Arizona with a team-leading 58 receptions for 610 yards. He is on pace to finish the season with 76 receptions for 798 yards. He needs 3 receptions and 43 receiving yards to set new career highs. While with the Chargers, he had a season-high 60 receptions (2020) and 652 receiving yards (2019). Henry is fifth in receptions and sixth in receiving yards among tight ends in 2024.
• Henry has two games with 8 receptions in 2024 – vs. Seattle (9/15) and at Jacksonville (10/20). If he records 8 or more receptions against the Cardinals, he will be the first New England tight end since TE Rob Gronkowski in 2017 with at least three 8-plus reception games.
• Henry enters this week ranked fifth among New England tight ends with 191 receptions and needs 9 receptions against Arizona this week to become the fifth New England tight end to reach 200 receptions.
• Henry has a streak of 16-straight games with at least one reception and will look to extend that streak with a reception this week against Arizona. His streak is the longest streak for a Patriots tight end since Martellus Bennett's streak of 18 games extending from 2016 to 2017. The last game when Henry did not have a reception was on Nov. 26, 2023, at the New York Giants.

CB Marcus Jones is first in the NFL with a 15.2-yard punt return average (25 returns for 380 yards). The last Patriots player to lead the NFL in punt return average was Gunner Olszewski in 2020 with a team-record 17.3-yard average.

Jones had a 62-yard punt return in the third quarter vs. the N.Y. Jets (10/27) to help get the Patriots in position for a touchdown. It was his second-career punt return of over 60 yards. He had a career-best 84-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. the Jets on Nov. 20, 2022. If he registers a punt return of at least 60 yards this week at Arizona, he will join Troy Brown with three-career punt returns of over 60 yards, behind only the four by WR Julian Edelman (since 1980).

In addition, if Jones registers a 60-yard punt return this week against the Cardinals, he will be just the fourth Patriots player with two punt returns of at least 60 yards in the same season and the first since 2020 when WR Gunner Olszewski had two 60-yard punt returns: a 61-yard return and a 70-yard touchdown run at the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 6, 2020. The other Patriots to accomplish the feat in a single season were Troy Brown (2001) and Irving Fryar (1985).

Jones played his first snaps on offense in 2024 vs. the LA Rams on Nov. 17, and he had his first-career rush with a 5-yard gain in the third quarter. Jones scored on a 48-yard touchdown reception vs. Buffalo on Dec. 1, 2022. If he scores on offense in 2024, he will join LB Mike Vrabel (8 touchdown receptions) as the only defensive player with more than 1 touchdown on offense in team history.

BROADCAST INFO

TELEVISION: This week's game will be broadcast by CBS and can be seen locally on WBZ-TV Channel 4. Tom McCarthy will handle play-by-play duties with Jay Feely and Ross Tucker as the color analysts. Amanda Balionis will provide analysis from the sidelines. The game will be produced by Jonathan Segal and directed by Chris Svendsen.

LOCAL RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub is the flagship station for the Patriots Radio Network. A complete listing of the network's 33 stations can be found here. Play-by-play broadcaster Bob Socci will call the action along with former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, who will provide color analysis. The games are produced by Marc Cappello.

For information on how to stream the game please visit our Ways to Watch guide.