It is not often that the Patriots travel west to Arizona to visit the Cardinals, but they will do so this week almost two years to the day of their last visit. New England won at Arizona on Dec. 12, 2022, 27-13. But since the Cardinals fled St. Louis for Arizona following the 1987 season, this will mark only the eighth time the Patriots have visited the Cardinals in 37 years.
Of course, the Patriots did play two Super Bowls in what is now called State Farm Stadium – losing to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII and beating the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX. In fact, two of the Super Bowl’s most famous plays occurred in that stadium while the Patriots competed for a championship. David Tyree’s infamous (in New England) helmet catch, and Malcolm Butler’s miraculous championship-clinching interception were made in Glendale, Ariz.
This will mark the 17th meeting between the two teams whether the Cardinals were called St. Louis, Phoenix or Arizona, and New England leads the all-time series, 9-7.
The Patriots have controlled the series of late, winning eight of the last nine meetings with the only loss coming in the Patriots 2012 home opener when Stephen Gostkowski missed a 42-yard game-winning field goal with :05 left in the game in a 20-18 loss at Gillette Stadium
The matchup history dates to the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, a game the Cardinals won in St. Louis, 31-0. In fact, the Cardinals won six of the first seven meetings between the two clubs from 1960-1991. The last two of those meetings came after the Cardinals had departed St. Louis for Arizona and were known as the Phoenix Cardinals.
Since 1993 when the Patriots took control of the series – at least in terms of wins and losses – New England is 5-0 in Arizona against the Cardinals. But “control” might be a bit of a stretch. Three of the last four meetings have been decided by a field goal or less.
The most lopsided game in the series for New England was a 47-7 blowout win in the snow at Gillette Stadium on Dec. 21, 2008. That was the season, ironically, that Arizona represented the NFC in the Super Bowl with Kurt Warner calling signals for the Cards.
One of the best Patriots teams of all-time went to Arizona in 2004 and won, 23-12, behind Corey Dillon’s 158 rushing yards and a strong defense that limited Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith to just 31 yards on 13 carries. Arizona honored fallen former Cardinals defensive back and green beret Pat Tillman that day. Tillman was killed fighting in Afghanistan after leaving the Cardinals to enlist in the United States Army.
The Patriots last trip to Arizona came in 2022 when they outscored the Cardinals, 17-0, in the second half to turn a 13-10 halftime deficit into a 27-13 win. Mac Jones completed 24-of-35 passes for 235 yards and interception that afternoon, but the Patriots defense sacked Colt McCoy six times and intercepted him once while Raekown McMillan returned a DeAndre Hopkins fumble 23-yards for a touchdown.
Unfortunately, this year’s matchup might not carry a ton of importance, though the Cardinals, at 6-7, sit in third place in the NFC West, but only one game behind the Rams and two behind the division-leading Seahawks. So a loss to the 3-10 Patriots would likely end any playoff hopes to which the Cardinals might be clinging.
There are a couple of interesting notes regarding the series. In the 16 previous matchups, both teams have won by a 31-0 score. The Cardinals did it in the inaugural matchup back in 1970 and the Patriots won by that same score in 1996 at Foxboro Stadium.
Additionally, when the teams met two years ago, Arizona was coming off its bye. This season, they limp into the meeting on a 3-game losing streak. The Patriots, however, are coming off their bye this year but are still suffering through a three-game losing streak of their own.
The series:
- The Patriots lead the all-time series, 9-7
- The Patriots longest winning streak against the Cardinals is five games (1993-2008)
- The Cardinals longest winning streak against New England is four games (1981-1991)
- The Patriots are 3-3 at home and 6-4 on the road in the series
- The two teams have never played an overtime game in the series
- New England has won 8-of-9 in the series
- The series dates to Nov. 8, 1970 (a 31-0 Cardinals win in St. Louis)
- The Cardinals largest margin of victory is 31 (31-0 home win on Nov. 8, 1970)
- The Patriots largest margin of victory is 40 (47-7 home win on Dec. 21, 2008)
