Patriots Game 15: Patriots 47 - Cardinals 7
The Good:
Despite inclement conditions, Quarterback Matt Cassel completed 20-of-36 passes (55.6 percent) for 345 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, good for a 116.1 passer rating.
Wide receiver Wes Welker returned an Arizona punt 28 yards to the Cardinals’ 33-yard line, allowing the Patriots to begin their first offensive possession in Arizona territory and set up a 33-yard drive that ended in a LaMont Jordan touchdown and a 7-0 Patriots lead.
Arizona running backs Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower finished with 36 yards on 14 carries, while New England's backs totaled 170 yards on 37 carries, including New England's first two touchdowns by LaMont Jordan and 88 yards from Sammy Morris.
Wide receiver Randy Moss raced away with a 76-yard touchdown reception on a screen pass from Matt Cassel on the first play of the third quarter as the Patriots extended their lead over the Cardinals to 38-0.
Brandon Meriweather recorded a strip-sack of Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart and Jarvis Green recovered for the Patriots at the Arizona 15 late in the third quarter.
The Bad:
The most trouble the Patriots seemed to have with the snow came when Welker was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct for making a snow angel just beyond the end line after his touchdown as the Patriots jumped into a 28-0 lead with 1:52 left in the half. NFL definitely stands for No Fun League.
Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour left the game in the second quarter with a back injury and did not return, but the injury is not considered serious.
The Ugly:
Ummm, the Weather!
Final Thoughts:
"We are happy to win. Now, we have to get back at it and get back into the division against Buffalo next week. Whatever else happens, happens. There’s nothing we can do about that. We just have to do what we can do, which is win today and go out there and play well against Buffalo next week. A lot of guys played well. It’s hard to single anybody out today. We had a lot of guys step up all the way around in all three phases of the game. It was a real good team win." -- New England Coach Bill Belichick
"I’ve never played in snow before, so it was a first for me, but it actually was a lot of fun." -- New England QB Matt Cassel
Kicker Stephen Gostkowski set a Patriots single-season record with his 34th field goal, breaking the mark of 32 set by Tony Franklin in 1986.
Wide Receiver Randy Moss tied Marshall Faulk for sixth in NFL history with his 136th touchdown.
The Patriots won for the 12th consecutive time in December. New England is 10-0 at home when snow is falling at kickoff.
The Patriots have enjoyed tremendous recent success in cold weather and improved to 17-1 since 1993 when the kickoff temperature is 30 degrees or colder.
The Patriots scored 47 points today, marking their fourth game this season scoring 40 or more points, tying a Patriot team record.
Playoff Scenarios:
To earn a wild-card berth, the Patriots will need the Ravens (10-5) to lose to the Jaguars (5-10), or tie, at home in the season finale.
To win the AFC East, the Patriots will need the Dolphins (10-5) to lose to the Jets (9-6), or tie, on the road in the season finale.
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