The Arizona Cardinals (7-7) dominated the New England Patriots (3-11) with a convincing 30-17 victory during NFL Week 15 on Sunday at State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals capitalized on the Patriots' struggles, showcasing their offense and inching closer to playoff contention.
James Conner was the star of the game, tearing through the Patriots' defense with 110 rushing yards on 16 carries and scoring two touchdowns. His performance was pivotal for the Cardinals, who had been desperately seeking to revive their season after suffering three straight losses.
Notably, quarterback Kyler Murray demonstrated poise, completing 23 of 30 passes for 224 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions, benefiting from the roughing-the-passer penalty on what would have been his only interception of the day. His efficient play was complemented by tight end Trey McBride, who caught nine passes on ten targets for 87 yards, showcasing their connection on key drives.
The Patriots struggled to find traction offensively, with rookie quarterback Drake Maye completing 19 of 23 passes for 202 yards along with one touchdown pass and one interception. While Maye showed flashes of promise, he was overshadowed by the Cardinals' performance.
The game started with the Cardinals taking control early. Following an opening drive for the Patriots, which ended without points due to a failed 53-yard field goal attempt, Arizona capitalized. The Cardinals kicked off the scoring with a 49-yard field goal from Chad Ryland, bringing the score to 3-0. Shortly after, they added to their lead when right tackle Jonah Williams recovered a fumble by Greg Dortch for the touchdown, giving them a 10-0 lead.
Despite being on the back foot, the Patriots managed to score first to close the gap, with Joey Slye converting on a 50-yard field goal. That brought the score to 10-3. Arizona responded effectively, and with 2:01 left on the first half clock, they scored again with another field goal followed by Conner's rushing touchdowns extending the lead as the game progressed.
After halftime adjustments, the Cardinals' offense picked up steam. An impressive nine-play, 55-yard touchdown drive culminated with Conner's second rushing touchdown of the day. Key plays included Murray connecting with McBride for significant yardage, showcasing Arizona's ability to keep drives alive even under pressure from the Patriots' defense.
The Patriots fought back momentarily after Maye threw for his touchdown pass to Demario Douglas, narrowing the gap to 30-17 as they capped off their six-play, 75-yard drive. But the Cardinals’ defense held firm, maintaining their advantage solidly as they earned the victory.
"It's great to see this team finally put together what we've been talking about for weeks," said Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon. "We needed this win to stay alive for the playoffs, and I'm proud of how the guys responded to the situation."
Following the game, the Cardinals found themselves still within reach of competing for the playoffs, provided they can secure wins as the season winds down. The Patriots, on the other hand, endure their fourth straight loss, leading to questions surrounding the direction of their franchise as they prepare for the remainder of the season.
"We need to regroup and focus on the next game," stated Maye post-game. "We have to learn from this and figure out how to get back to winning."
Despite the loss, the Patriots saw some bright spots on offense, with Maye showing flashes of potential. Yet, it was apparent they must address defensive shortcomings, especially after allowing 25 points or more for the fourth straight game. Upcoming, they will face the formidable 11-3 Buffalo Bills, which isn't expected to ease their woes.
On the other hand, the Cardinals will be buoyed by this win as they look to build momentum heading down the stretch. They'll need to continue leveraging Conner's abilities along with creating effective plays through Murray and their receiving corps to make any meaningful playoff push. Following this game, the Cardinals can reflect on what was, without question, their largest win of the season, marking it as not only a much-needed victory but also potentially the turning point for their aspirations.
