Arizona Cardinals (4-9) – New England Patriots (7-6): 13-27
Closing of week 14 this Monday night between the Cardinals who no longer play much and the Patriots on the hunt for the playoffs. In a match rather mastered by the men of Bill Belichick, it is however not the information that we will retain.
Kyler falls alone, and doesn’t get up
On the first series of the match, Kyler Murray escapes from the pocket for one of those gains on the ground of which he has the secret. On a change of direction, Murray collapses without being touched, squirms in pain, and will not get up. In slow motion, one seems to discern a knee twist, later confirmed by Arizona and commented on by Kliff Kingsbury at halftime on ESPN.
” It’s hard. He won’t return to the pitch tonight, that’s all I know at the moment. It’s really something we hate to see. »
End of the game, and maybe even of the season for the Arizona pitcher, who is transported off the field on a stretcher, his head down and covered with a towel. According to several internal sources, there would be little doubt about a rupture of the cruciate ligaments. If the medical examinations which will be carried out soon confirm this first diagnosis, the start of next season (training camps, pre-season) of the Cards could also be disrupted.
New England Masters
On the side of the field, Colt McCoy (27/40, 246 yards, 1 interception) takes over. Far from being ridiculous, the 36-year-old veteran manages to score his team 3 times in his first four series, including a touchdown for James Conner (15 runs, 85 yards, 1 touchdown). The Cardinals are even in the lead at halftime (13-10). Then as often with Bill Belichick, halftime is synonymous with drastic adjustments.
In attack, the playbook is open and allows Mac Jones (24/35, 235 yards, 1 interception) to ventilate the ball to Hunter Henry (3 receptions, 70 yards), or even Bourne, Agholor, Thornton or Parker, all authors more than 20 yards on reception. Belichick also lets us take advantage of his specialty: releasing an unexpected runner, to the chagrin of all fantasy fans. Rhmondre Stevenson? Nay. It’s Pierre Strong Jr, author of 5 yards since the start of the season, who ends the game with 70 yards and a touchdown.
On the other side of the ball, the defensive line harasses Colt McCoy (6 sacks, 9 QB hits). The more the match progresses, the more the squad increases in power. Matt Judon (1.5 sacks) joins Nick Bosa at the top of the league’s top sacks chart with 14.5. Linebacker Josh Uche manages to sacker McCoy 3 times. This constant pressure forces the Cards attack to make mistakes: interception by Marcus Jones, or even fumble by DeAndre Hopkins (7 receptions, 79 yards, 1 fumble lost) returned for a TD. The Cards will not register a single point in the second period.
With this victory, the Pats return to third position in the AFC East, and now temporarily occupy the last jump seat for the AFC playoffs, to the detriment of the Jets who even pass in 9th position, with the Chargers on the lookout.
For the Cardinals, this end of the season is a nightmare. Nothing works in the franchise, Kliff Kingsbury is on an ejection seat, and now his potential replacement could be stuck with the second highest paid quarterback in the league stuck in the infirmary. A little respite would not be refused for the residents of Glendale.
