New England Patriots face off against Arizona Cardinals after critical bye week

In Glendale, Arizona, the Arizona Cardinals are preparing to face the New England Patriots, marking a significant moment for quarterback Kyler Murray. It has been almost two years since Murray inflicted a serious injury on himself, specifically tearing his ACL in a match against the Patriots. As the Cardinals approach the game with a record of 6-7, they find themselves clinging to hopes of playoff contention, contrasting with the Patriots’ poor standing at 3-10, having been eliminated from playoff contention already. The game holds extra sentiment for Murray, who has been slowly making his way back since the injury and has displayed growth during the current season despite some recent setbacks. Murray's performance has been notably strong overall, having accumulated over 2,800 passing yards with 15 touchdown passes thus far during the season. However, he is coming off a poor game where he threw a pair of interceptions, which also led directly to scores for the opposing team, highlighting the inconsistency that has sometimes plagued Arizona's offense this season. Meanwhile, the Patriots, who are coming off a bye week after their last match in early December against the Indianapolis Colts, are hoping to redeem themselves in a game where they will be heavily reliant on their defense. Despite the Patriots leading their all-time series against the Cardinals, recent history shows they have been able to dominate the matches more consistently over recent years. Thus, this upcoming game will serve as a crucial juncture for both teams, especially for the Cardinals who hope to keep their season's aspirations alive.