Patriots – Cardinals Keys to the Game, Who Has the Razor’s Edge?

Steve Balestrieri Senior Writer · PatsFans.com since 2011

Sep 9, 2016 at 5:00 am ET 7 min read 2.5k views

7 min read Patriots Commentary

Prediction:
This game and the first game of every season are always among the most difficult to predict because there are so many unknowns out there with no regular season film to watch. But when the schedule was released, this one was one we circled as it was going to be very difficult. Arizona is an early favorite to go to the Super Bowl, playing at home in front of a raucous crowd.

Coupled with the Patriots missing Tom Brady, Dion Lewis, and Rob Ninkovich and with Jimmy Garoppolo starting his first game in the NFL, the chances get slimmer for a New England win.

Photo-Jimmy-Garoppolo-oLE5u-250x250 Nobody handles the blitz better than Tom Brady, but Jimmy G. is sailing into uncharted waters. Look for Arizona to blitz him relentlessly on every passing down to try to force him into making mistakes. He will most probably struggle in the red zone, as most young QBs do.

The Patriots can take this one if they turn the tables on defense and force a few turnovers themselves. Chris Long, Sheard, and Mingo could be keys to that. But I see the NE defense spending a lot of time on the field Sunday night and getting worn down in the end.

I had the chance on a podcast this week to interview Cards insider Alexian Balekian who does the Cardinals pregame and post-game shows. He said the prevailing attitude without any braggadocios banter was that being at home and facing a Patriots team without Brady, Lewis, and Ninkovich and having Garoppolo playing in his first start, was a cause for a blowout. He stated that if the Cardinals struggle to blow out the Pats on Sunday night that they’d have some soul searching to do in the mirror. While I don’t see a blowout, I do see an Arizona victory. Nevertheless, that was some interesting comments there.

Cardinals 24-13

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About Steve Balestrieri

A former US Army Special Forces NCO and Officer, Steve has been following the Patriots since their days at Fenway Park. Steve has worked in the film industry and wrote as an Military Editor at SpecialOperations.com, 1945.com as a reporter for the Millbury Daily Voice, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, and the Grafton News. He's also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

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