The Cardinals need a win against the Patriots to keep in stalking distance of the NFC West leaders and a big play late in the first half helped put them in position to get one.
Wide receiver Greg Dortch caught a short pass from quarterback Kyler Murray on a third down with 46 seconds left in the second quarter and turned it into a 39-yard gain that put the Cardinals into field goal range. Murray took a couple of shots for rookie wideout Marvin Harrison in the end zone, but the Cardinals wound up kicking a field goal with 16 seconds to go.
Former Patriot Chad Ryland hit the kick and the Cardinals lead 13-3 in Arizona.
Murray was 13-of-17 for 112 yards and Dortch almost scored earlier in the half, but his miscue wound up working out for the Cardinals. Dortch fumbled into the end zone and the Cardinals were fortunate to have right tackle Jonah Williams fall on the ball before it went out of bounds for a touchback.
Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye is 10-of-10 through the air, but his passes have only netted 71 yards and sacks and penalties have thwarted their offensive momentum at various points. Both have been frequent issues for the Patriots this season and things haven’t improved much heading into the final weeks.
