Patriots Clip Cardinals' Wings with Crushing Victory to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

For whatever the reason, the New England Patriots have historically had some of their finest performances playing in Foxborough, Mass. when Mother Nature is at her worst.

It goes all the way back to “Plow-Gate,” when a prisoner on a work-release program operating a plow cleared a spot on the field so that the Patriots could kick a field goal. (Which of course led to the changing of the NFL rules during that next off-season, prohibiting that from ever occurring again.)

Sunday, Gillette Stadium at times appeared as if it were a snow globe, as the conditions were just about at white-out level. The weather hindered the performance of the Arizona Cardinals, but for Matt Cassel and the Pats, the conditions were perfect.

New England dominated in every aspect of this game: time of possession, total yards, and, most of all, scoreboard. They embarrassed the Cardinals, beating them by a 47-7 margin.

The Patriots had the ball for a total of 38:35, accumulating 514 yards; Arizona controlled the clock for only 21:25 and settled for 186 total yards. Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner had by far the worst game in his NFL career, completing just 6-of-18 passes for an anemic 30 yards. He was replaced by Matt Leinart, who was a little better in completing 6-of-14 passes for 138 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Cassel's roller-coaster season starting in place of the injured Tom Brady saw him at the top of his game Sunday. Cassel completed 20-of-36 passes for 345 yards with three touchdowns and no picks.

The New England quarterback spread the wealth, as Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Kevin Faulk all were recipients of touchdown passes. Jabar Gaffney also had five catches for 90 yards. The Patriots running game was also a force in this contest; LaMont Jordan had two touchdowns.

This may have been the most one-sided victory that New England has had all season as the Cardinals were never close to being a threat. The Patriots got on the board, with 8:57 left in the first quarter, when Jordan ran the ball one yard into the end zone.

New England kicker Stephen Gostkowski’s extra point sailed through the uprights, and it was the Patriots on top, 7-0. Jordan would sprint three yards into the end zone with 3:46 left in the first, the extra point was good, and New England held a 14-0 lead at the end of the period.

The Patriots pretty much took over the game in the second quarter. Kevin Faulk caught a 15-yard pass for a touchdown with 12:04 to play in the period, with the extra point New England led, 21-0.

Welker had his turn as Cassel threw him an 11-yard pass for a touchdown with 1:52 remaining, the extra point put the home team on top, 28-0. Gostkowski would end the first half on a positive note for the Pats kicking a 38-yard field goal with two seconds left on the clock. The Patriots walked into the locker room leading by a 31-0 score.

The play of the game came in the opening seconds of the third, as Randy Moss caught a 76-yard touchdown pass from Cassel with 14:41 left to play. The kick was good, and New England led, 38-0.

The offense the rest of the game for the Pats came via the foot of Gostkowski. The Patriots kicker got a 35-yard field goal with 8:20 left in the third, putting his team ahead 41-0. With 3:31 left in the quarter he kicked the ball through the goal posts from 24 yards away, and giving New England a 44-0 lead at the end of three quarters.

Gostkowski’s last field goal was in the opening seconds of the fourth, as he kicked one for 30 yards with 14:51 to play in the game, and the Patriots led by a whopping 47-0 margin.

Arizona finally got on the board with 6:17 left in the game, as Larry Fitzgerald caught a 78-yard Leinart pass for a touchdown. Arizona kicker Neil Rackers got the extra point, leading to the final score of 47-7.

Gaffney was the leading Patriots receiver with his 90 yards; Randy Moss had two receptions for 87 yards. Sammy Morris led the team in rushing with 15 carries for 88 yards; Jordan carried the ball 20 times for 78 yards.

New England, now 10-5, retains at least a share of the lead in the AFC East, as both the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins had late afternoon games. They will travel to Buffalo next Sunday to take on the Bills. Arizona now 8-7 will host the Seattle Seahawks.

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