The New England Patriots suffered a disappointing 30-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The defeat drops the Patriots’ record to 3-11, while the Cardinals improved to 7-7 after snapping a three-game losing streak.
Key Takeaways:
* Lackluster performance from Jerod Mayo’s team
The Patriots struggled in their first game back from the bye week, with many operational issues hindering their efforts. The offense was unable to set up drives effectively, while the defense allowed 163 rushing yards and five carries per carry.
* Tough stretch ahead for the Patriots
New England faces a challenging schedule over the next three weeks, including games against the Buffalo Bills, who have scored 45 points in the second half of their games. The Patriots’ defense will face Josh Allen twice, while Justin Herbert is sandwiched in between.
Positive Signs:
* Drake Maye shines despite mistakes
Maye returned from his first bye week and looked like a key player for the team. He completed 19 passes for 202 yards with one touchdown, but also threw an interception.
* Evaluation of young players ongoing
The Patriots expect to get evaluations on their young players over the next four games. Layden Robinson had a mixed performance, while Ja’Lynn Polk saw only one target and finished without a catch.
Christian Gonzalez’s outstanding performance: The rookie cornerback allowed just three catches out of seven targets for 31 yards, showcasing his skills in coverage and run defense.
Source: https://nesn.com/2024/12/four-takeaways-from-patriots-dreadful-loss-to-cardinals