Just a few weeks ago, the Arizona Cardinals had it all in front of them. Coming out of the Week 11 bye, they were 6-4, atop the NFC West with a tiebreaker and had a chance to put Seattle away with two games in three weeks. Now they limp into a home game with the Patriots amid a three-game tumble but as significant favorites.
Arizona has been impossible to pin down week to week, at times looking like a buzzsaw offense with a brawling big brother of a defense, then disappearing on both fronts the very next game.
Seattle took control of the division by beating the Cardinals with authority in Weeks 12 and 14. In between, the Cardinals played Minnesota down to the wire, losing by one when Kyler Murray was intercepted on the final drive.
The 27-year-old is the team's perfect avatar, eye-poppingly dynamic but also too easily derailed. He has played every type of game this season, and no predictive statistics have emerged, leaving the Cardinals and their dwindling playoff chances a mystery. The Patriots defense is a perfect litmus test, effectively a league-average unit that gives the Cardinals a wide-open playbook to work with.
But the New England offense is a sneaky threat to a team like Arizona, featuring an improving rookie quarterback who can also run and a mercurial running back capable of explosive plays. Drake Maye is the least-talked-about rookie in the class but is doing more with a ramshackle Patriots team than many expected. Despite no offensive line and a who's who of "who?" at wide receiver, the No. 3 pick has made New England's offense look functional -- even capable -- for stretches. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson has faded as the season progresses but can still force missed tackles and break big runs.
On paper, Arizona should get its playoff chase back on track with ease. But the 3-10 Patriots are playing for next season's roster spots and there's nothing more dangerous than young guys with nothing to lose.
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