New England Patriots (3-10) will take on the Arizona Cardinals (6-7) on Sunday, December 10, with kickoff scheduled for 4:25 p.m. EST on CBS. The latest odds from BetMGM show the Cardinals favored by 6 points. The Patriots have a record of 5-7-1 against the spread, while the Cardinals stand at 8-5. Historically, the Patriots have the advantage in this matchup, leading the series 9-7, and they won the last encounter with a decisive 27-13 victory on December 12, 2022, in Glendale, Arizona.
In their most recent games, the Patriots narrowly lost to the Colts, 25-24, on December 1, while the Cardinals fell to the Seahawks, 30-18. Analyzing their offensive performances, the Patriots are ranked low overall at 31, including 32nd in passing and 31st in scoring. Conversely, the Cardinals are performing better offensively, seated at 12th overall, 6th in rushing, and 18th in scoring. Defensively, the Patriots rank 19th overall while the Cardinals are slightly better, positioned at 20th.
One player to watch for the Patriots is quarterback Drake Maye, who is having a standout rookie season. With 345 rushing yards, he ranks third among rookie quarterbacks and has averaged an impressive 9.1 yards per rush. This places him in contention for breaking historical records, as the highest rushing average for an NFL quarterback in a single season is 8.5 yards, achieved by Michael Vick in 2006.
For the Cardinals, safety Budda Baker is a key player who has significantly contributed to the defense. At 28 years old, his performance this season has been one of the best in his eight-year career, exemplified by his remarkable 18 tackles in the recent game against the Seahawks.
The matchup between Maye and the Cardinals’ defense will be crucial. Maye has thrown for at least 220 yards in three consecutive games and poses a constant threat with his running ability. The Cardinals are looking to improve after allowing 409 yards to Seattle in their latest outing.
In terms of injuries, the Patriots are dealing with the absence of cornerback Marcus Jones, who missed practice early in the week due to an illness. The Cardinals have also listed tight end Trey McBride and defensive lineman Roy Lopez, who were limited during practice with knee and ankle issues, respectively.
Historically, the Patriots have dominated recent matchups, winning their last three contests against the Cardinals and eight out of the last nine overall. The Patriots’ recent performance showed promise, as they rushed for a season-high 200 yards against the Colts. Notably, they haven’t achieved back-to-back games with 200 rushing yards since 2012. The solid offensive play was evident as they scored on their first four drives against Indianapolis, marking the first occurrence since a game against Jacksonville in January 2021.
Key player stats to note include running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who needs only 19 yards to hit the career milestone of 3,000, and tight end Hunter Henry, who is poised to set personal bests in receptions and receiving yards. On defense, Deatrich Wise is close to tying his sack record from the previous season.
For the Cardinals, it’s worth mentioning that quarterback Kyler Murray will be playing against the Patriots for the first time since his ACL injury in 2022, which sidelined him for 11 months. Murray has struggled lately, recording two interceptions in consecutive games, which is a first for his career.
On the rushing front, running back James Conner is on the verge of entering the top five in all-time rushing yards for the franchise and linebacker Kyzir White continues to stand out with strong performances, including 13 tackles last week against Seattle.
In fantasy football considerations, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. has had a mixed rookie season but has caught seven touchdown passes, leading all rookies and ranking sixth among NFL players as the season progresses.
As the two teams prepare for their matchup, fans can anticipate a compelling game as both sides aim for a pivotal win to bolster their seasons.