What we learned as Arizona Cardinals ride James Conner's big day to victory over Patriots
After three straight losses, Sunday was a welcome reprieve for the Cardinals. It took just one drive for their first points, two drives for their first touchdown and three quarters to drive Patriots fans from State Farm Stadium, the final result already beyond doubt.
A month of losing ways had evaporated, making way for a 30-17 win over New England that moved the Cardinals back to 7-7.
Here’s what we learned in the victory:
Cardinals showed resilience
No, the Patriots are not very good. But the Cardinals were coming off a three-game losing streak with their playoff hopes likely gone. Last week, their “motor” was insufficient, in Jonathan Gannon’s words. Considering those circumstances, there was a legitimate question as to whether the Cardinals would be visibly deflated on Sunday.
They played, though, like a team that believes it’s still fighting for a playoff spot. Consider their first touchdown, which came when right tackle Jonah Williams athletically chased down a fumble in the end zone, preventing a turnover and putting six points on the board.
That was a pure effort play and it spoke to a team that has been well-trained to not lie down, even when its playoff hopes are in need of a miracle.
“We played hard,” Williams said. “And it was complementary football. The defense was flying around making some plays, getting some turnovers. Offense controlled the game, ran the ball well.”
Kyler Murray’s string of questionable decision-making continued
Murray did not officially throw an interception on Sunday, snapping a stretch of five interceptions in three games since the bye. His recklessness with the football, though, continued.
On one third-quarter play, Murray did well in evading a sack but then tried to shotput a pass to Michael Wilson that was easily intercepted. The pick was negated by a roughing-the-passer penalty against New England, but it was another example of Murray not making a smart decision.
“I gotta obviously protect the ball better,” Murray said. “But just trying to make a play. Can’t do that.”
Much of Murray’s recent struggles have come under pressure — something the Patriots were unable to consistently generate on Sunday. While that lack of a pass rush helped Murray and the Cardinals offense, many of the issues from the three-game losing streak continued.
The interception was the most egregious moment, but he also repeatedly tried to pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. in tight coverage and escaped clean pockets, leading to wasted offensive plays.
It wasn’t all bad, though. Murray finished with 224 passing yards and converted four third downs on the Cardinals last two full drives, helping put the game out of reach.
Run game was impressive
With a weaker opponent in the building after three straight difficult matchups, the Cardinals' run game once again shone. James Conner finished with 110 yards on 16 carries and Murray added 11 yards on five attempts.
The Cardinals averaged 5.1 yards per carry and finished with 163 rushing yards, their most since Week 9 — even with third-down back Emari Demercado having been placed on injured reserve earlier in the week.
“Everyone picked up the slack,” Jonathan Gannon said. “And I thought the run game was good today.”
It wasn’t just the final yardage but how the Cardinals got there. Conner dominated with his bruising style, Trey Benson continued the growth that has defined his rookie season (although he exited late with an ankle injury), Murray got more involved than he has been in recent weeks and even Greg Dortch had an effective jet sweep before the fumble that Williams recovered for a touchdown.
The highlight, though, came in the first quarter, when Conner took a counter play 53 yards down the left sideline — sprung by a nice block from Harrison Jr.
Speaking of Harrison, he played better than his two-catch, 32-yard stat line would indicate. He had a 14-yard catch on a comeback route brought back when the Cardinals accepted a defensive penalty. Later, he beat Christian Gonzalez — one of the league’s better corners — on a fade route but couldn’t convert it into a touchdown on a contested catch attempt.
Cardinals pass defense was excellent
Last week, Cardinals corners struggled mightily against Seattle, a rare poor performance in an encouraging season for that group.
On Sunday, against a far less imposing group of Patriots receivers, the Cardinals’ pass defense once again impressed, at least until it allowed some explosive plays once the game was out of reach.
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye finished with just 202 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Neither nickel Garrett Williams nor outside corner Max Melton — two key young pieces — was charged with allowing a reception, per Pro Football Focus.
Again, the performance came against an offense devoid of much talent. But it was nonetheless a welcome response from the Cardinals' pass defense, both by the secondary and by a defensive line that kept Maye contained in the pocket.
“The quarterback had a lot to do with how we played today,” Gannon said. “And I thought for the most part, did a pretty good job of not letting them beat us with extension.”
Cardinals season is still alive
The Cardinals still need significant help to make the playoffs, but Sunday’s win kept their hopes alive.
If they can win out — against the Panthers, Rams and 49ers — they would need the Seahawks, who played the late Sunday game, to drop three of their final four games. Given that Seattle has Minnesota and the Rams among its final three games, that’s not impossible. There’s also a scenario in which Seattle finishes 2-2 and the Cardinals make the playoffs in a three-way tie among themselves, the Seahawks and the Rams at 10-7.
For the Cardinals, the schedule gets harder from here. Even the 3-11 Panthers should pose more of a test than the Patriots mustered on Sunday. But at least that game will matter.
“We're playing meaningful football in December right now,” Gannon said, repeating a phrase that the Cardinals have earned the right to repeat at least a little bit longer.