Under coach Kliff Kingsbury the Arizona Cardinals have been just good enough to keep him employed. Winning 11 games and competing in the postseason last year bought him some time, but all the goodwill is just about gone after the Cards bumbled their way through a stretch of six losses in eight games to see their playoff chances get more distant. Looking to finish the season on a positive note the Cards host the New England Patriots as a slight 2-point home dog in the Week 14 edition of Monday Night Football.
The Week 14 Monday Night Football contest between the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals will take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ at 8:15 p.m. ET on December 12, 2022 and will be televised on ESPN.
Patriots vs Cardinals Odds
New England Patriots -2 ( -130 )
Arizona Cardinals +2 ( +110 )
Over/Under 44
Odds Analysis
The game should have a playoff-like feel to it since that’s pretty much what it is. Even though the Pats enter off consecutive SU and ATS losses they are laying 2-points. And it appears as though oddsmakers nailed this one with no movement on the line or spread since hitting the board. Of course that could and likely will change prior to kickoff, but that’s normal activity in the betting world. As it stands right now both teams are outside the top-7 in their conference, though the Cards have a steeper hill to climb. The Pats improved their status by winning five of six games going 5-1 ATS. They fell back to .500 going 0-2 SU and ATS the past two weeks. The Cards need to win out and even that doesn’t guarantee a spot. And it’s hard to imagine that happening since they haven’t won consecutive games yet this season.
New England Patriots
Everything was clicking for the Pats during their recent spell of five wins in six games. The defense was deadly allowing an average of 11.8 points in that span that included giving up 33 points to the Bears in their lone setback. And they did enough on the other side of the football scoring more than 20 points four times. Things fell apart in the Week 12 contest with Minnesota. The Pats had no answer for Kirk Cousins, who completed 30 of 37 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns. While the Pats compiled big numbers with 409 total yards they converted just 3 of 10 third downs and were 0 of 3 in the red zone.
The Pats are still waiting for Mac Jones to find consistency and become the leader Bill Belichick asks him to be. Jones had a strong game against the Vikings trading blows by completing almost 72 percent of his throws for a career-best 328 yards and two scores. A number of drives stalled resulting in four field goals. And based on their season history the Pats could have a hard time defending Kyler Murray. The likes of Josh Allen, Justin Fields and Lamar Jackson gave the group fits and you can bet Murray and the Cards noticed.
Arizona Cardinals
You don’t outcoach Belichick though it would behoove Kingsbury to try. The Cards did get an additional week to prepare and get bodies healthy including Murray. Having the QB at close to full strength will certainly help Arizona’s chances. With Murray dealing with injuries and missing a game a few weeks, which the Cards won behind backup Colt McCoy, the offense hasn’t been as dynamic as it was a season ago. They haven’t been this bad offensively since before Kingsbury and Murray arrived in the desert.
The Cards have more issues on the defensive side giving up at least 25 points in five of their last six games allowing them to go 6-0 on the OVER. Four times during that span they allowed more than 30 points putting the Cards next to last in scoring defense. How the Cards fare will depend heavily on Murray. He returned in Week 12 after missing the two previous games and had the Cards on the verge of a victory. He tossed a pair of scoring passes with an additional 56 yards and a touchdown on seven rush attempts. After taking the lead in the fourth quarter the offense stalled with three straight three-and-outs allowing the Chargers to score a late TD and steal the win with a successful 2-point conversion.
Patriots vs Cardinals Prediction
We’ve seen the Pats’ defense crumble against QBs with a similar skillset and Murray just might be the best of the group. I can see points on the board with Murray’s ankle better after the bye. The only question is if the defense is up to the challenge. I don’t trust the Pats as a road favorite, but I trust the Cards less forcing me to back the visitors.
Prediction: New England Patriots -2 and OVER 44
