- CARDINALS vs PATRIOTS
- 2:25 p.m. Sunday
- State Farm Stadium
- Line: Cardinals -6 (For more NFL odds, visit the BetMGM online sportsbook)
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Check Engine Light
What's that flashing red warning light on the Cardinals dashboard? Turns out, it's the "check engine" light after the Seahawks ran for 176 yards. So, what's the fix? "Our motor," said Jonathan Gannon when asked where the Arizona run defense needs to improve. "We've got to make sure that everyone is running ... because we gave up way too many yards on the ground." The good news – engines can be rebuilt. Or, in this case, refueled. As defensive coordinator Nick Rallis said, "I think we've had better games with our mode of play. The motor needs to pick up at times." No doubt, a repair would be well-advised when the Patriots ran for 200 yards (6.5 yards per carry) in their last game vs the Colts.
-- Paul Calvisi
Eyes On Agent 0
Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez's rookie season was cut short last year. But the leaps made in his second season have proven why Patriots *cough University of North Carolina cough* coach Bill Belichick drafted him in the first round of the 2023 draft. In back-to-back games, Gonzalez has recorded a turnover and plays 98 percent of the defensive snaps. Being a fellow Texas guy, Kyler Murray was already aware of the cornerback, but he'll see it firsthand when Gonzalez lines up across from Marvin Harrison Jr. throughout the afternoon.
-- Zach Gershman
May(e) Day In December
Jayden Daniels was first, followed by Caleb Williams, and now Drake Maye. The Cardinals, along with the Tennessee Titans, are the only teams this season who will face each of the top three picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. So far, the Cardinals are 1-1, having beaten Williams and the Bears. The key to a second straight win is to keep Maye inside the pocket. Defensive coordinator Nick Rallis called the third overall pick "dangerous with his legs." No, Maye is not going to wow you with his speed. He is elusive, however. According to Next Gen Stats, Maye leads all quarterbacks in scramble runs, scramble yards and missed forced tackles. Overall, he's averaging better than nine yards per carry. In other words, the Cardinals defense needs to be disciplined in its rush lanes otherwise it's going to be a long afternoon, and frustrating.
-- Craig Grialou
