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Players to Watch: Patriots vs. Cardinals
Patriots.com's Mike Dussault shares his players to watch ahead of the Patriots matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.


Cam Newton, QB: Newton played his third-straight turnover-free game against the Texans and showed more impressive downfield passing. The offense has made strides in all areas under Newton but are still waiting to put it all together. Against an inconsistent Cardinals defense, Newton should have his opportunities for continued progression.

Damiere Byrd, WR: Byrd had a career day against the Texans, highlighted by an impressive 42-yard touchdown catch. More than that, Byrd emerged as a reliable secondary target when Jakobi Meyers drew more defensive attention. Byrd continues to show he can be an effective outside receiver as he now leads the team with 469 receiving yards.

Kyle Dugger, DB: The rookie second-rounder has played a significant defensive role the last two weeks and should continue to get experience. The hard hitter had some rookie moments in coverage against the Texans, but the experience should serve him well. He'll be a key player in defending Kyler Murray.

Damien Harris, RB: Harris got off to another great start against the Texans, scoring his second touchdown of the year, but saw limited action down the stretch and the Patriots offense missed his production and the balance he brought to the offense. He'll need more than 11 carries against a Cardinal defense that has held opponents under 100 rushing yards in two of the last three weeks.

Chase Winovich, LB: Winovich has been close to an every-down player the last two weeks as he continued to play a variety of roles in the Patriots front. The defense missed his finishing ability against the Texans and things won't be any easier trying to track down Kyler Murray, but Winovich has the athleticism to make a needed-impact against these kind of attacks.

Kyler Murray, QB: Murray has taken big strides in year two, throwing for 2644 yards with 19 touchdowns to eight interceptions, while rushing for 641 yards with 10 touchdowns. The Patriots gameplan will be heavily focused on containing Murray, but he can do it all and presents an array of problems to be dealt with.

DeAndre Hopkins, WR: Hopkins has helped take the Cardinals offense to another level, with 72 catches and 912 yards, including the dramatic "Hail Murray" catch that got Arizona an improbable last-second win against the Bills. Stephon Gilmore will need his best game to shut down Hopkins, who can catch any ball thrown in his direction.

Kenyan Drake, RB: Drake is the Cardinals main running back, rushing for a team-leading 641 yards, just ahead of Murray. The former Dolphin has found new life in Arizona and is on pace for a career season as a complementary piece in their attack. He'll test the Patriots run defense with his hard-charging style.

Budda Baker, S: The most active defender on the Cardinals, Baker is all over the place, leading the team in solo tackles to go with two interceptions and two sacks. One of those interceptions was returned 90 yards for a touchdown. Cam Newton will need to be aware of Baker's location at all times, he's a gameplan wrecker.

Haason Reddick, OLB: The Cardinals front has been ravaged by injuries but it has allowed Reddick to assume a bigger role and he's responded with a team-leading and career-high five sacks. His ability off the edge will challenge a Patriots offense that had trouble picking up blitzers last week.