Patriots thrashed by Cardinals in 30-17 road loss
The New England Patriots fell to 3-11 on the 2024 season after a 30-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at State Farm Stadium, a defeat that wasn’t as close as the final score indicated.
Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye went 19-of-23 passing (82.6%) for 202 yards, one touchdown, and one “interception” that was actually dropped off the hands of the receiver. Maye added a late touchdown run for his second score of the day. The Patriots defense, however, had another rough day, allowing 395 total yards of offense to the Cards and getting gashed on third down at a 67% clip (10-for-15). Arizona also went 3-for-4 in the red zone.
The Pats’ first offensive drive was inauspicious. Maye and the offense managed to gain 41 yards and get into field goal range for Joey Slye, but not before a holding penalty by left guard Layden Robinson set them back. Then, Slye’s 53-yard field goal try sailed wide left, keeping it a scoreless game.
Arizona found the scoreboard on its first drive, netting 26 yards and finishing off with a field goal by former Patriot Chad Ryland, making it 3-0. The play that sparked this drive was a 23-yard catch-and-run by rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. on just their second play from scrimmage.
The Patriots then went three-and-out and punted on their next two drives, and in-between, the Cardinals found the end zone. And they accomplished that in unconventional fashion: receiver Greg Dortch fumbled at the goal line, and the ball rolled through the end zone, but tackle Jonah Williams was there to fall on it for a touchdown, putting the Cards up 10-0.
The Patriots finally got on the board late in the second quarter, as Maye papercut the Cardinals for 48 yards in 12 plays, setting up a 50-yard field goal to make it 10-3.
Arizona threatened again in the final minute of the first half, after a 39-yard catch-and-run by Dortch set up first-and-10 at the Patriots’ 21-yard line. But the Patriots held strong in the red zone on the ensuing series, especially cornerback Christian Gonzalez stopping two pass attempts toward Harrison. But Ryland drilled another field goal, putting the Cardinals up 13-3 at halftime.
Getting the ball back to start the second half, Murray and the Cardinals drove 44 yards in 10 plays before Ryland converted yet another field goal try to make it 16-3. The Patriots answered with an at-first-promising drive, going 66 yards in nine plays, the highlight being a 29-yard run by Antonio Gibson. But on a fourth-and-1 try at the 4-yard line, the Patriots’ Rhamondre Stevenson got stuffed for no gain, resulting in a turnover on downs.
Maye appeared to complete a deep ball to receiver Kayshon Boutte near the end of the third quarter, but instead, the ball slipped out of Boutte’s hands and into those of the Cardinals’ Sean Murphy-Bunting for an interception. The Cards took full advantage of the takeaway, driving 55 yards in nine plays for a James Conner touchdown run to extend their lead to 23-3.
Suddenly, the Patriots found an explosive play on their next drive – and the end zone. Maye first completed a 37-yard dime to Kendrick Bourne, who made an equally impressive catch, to set the Pats up in the red zone. Maye then completed the drive with a shuffle pass to DeMario Douglas for a touchdown, which made it 23-10 with 8:14 left in the game.
Unfortunately, the Patriots defense could not answer the bell with a chance to get the ball back to the offense in a suddenly-interesting game. The Cardinals promptly drove 70 yards in nine plays, capping the drive with another Conner touchdown to put them back up by 20 points at 30-10.
The Patriots went back down the field and scored again to cut it to 30-17, off a Drake Maye run into the end zone. But the Cardinals recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt, which officially iced the game.
Up Next: It’s not getting any easier for the Patriots. They now have to travel to Buffalo in Week 16 for their first game of the year against the Bills, at Highmark Stadium.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
