THE STORY: The postseason would not be easy to reach in the the best of the Cardinals’ current circumstances, but step one remains to win games.
The Cardinals did that on Sunday, putting together a workmanlike 30-17 win over the New England Patriots at State Farm Stadium that snapped a three-game losing streak and pulled the Cardinals back to .500 on the season.
James Conner had 110 yards rushing and two touchdowns, and the Cardinals (7-7) had a goal line stand in the third quarter to keep the lead at the time to 13 points. Tight end Trey McBride had nine catches for 87 yards, and the defense held slippery Patriots quarterback Drake Maye to only 14 yards rushing on four attempts.
New England (3-11) was able to score a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns but they proved meaningless. The Cardinals were without linebackers Mack Wilson Sr. and Jesse Luketa, as well as cornerback Max Melton, after all left because of injuries.
The Cardinals escaped one near-disaster when a Kyler Murray improvised pass was intercepted at the Arizona 19 in the second half, but there was a roughing the passer penalty on the Patriots, negating what would have been the Cardinals’ lone turnover.
More to come on azcardinals.com.
