Dave Burns, co-host of Burns & Gambo: We had been circling this part of the schedule the moment we got our hands on it in May, and for good reason. On Sunday we found out why.

The Cards need all the help they can get right now to get into the playoffs, and having the Patriots on the schedule definitely counts as help. Next week’s game in Carolina should be, too, although there’s a bit of uncertainty as Bryce Young has stepped up his game of late and the Cardinals have struggled in this stadium in the past. However, the NFL graphic reminds us that, for now, the Cards remain “In the Chase” for a playoff spot. But they still need help.

They will need help from the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football. The Cards need to stack up wins while the Seahawks stack up losses. Seattle hosts the Packers and Vikings in the next two weeks. Another win for the Cards and two losses for Seattle turns the entire discussion on its head. You can’t expect it, but it’s reasonable enough to assume it could happen. The Cardinals also have to help themselves.

Kyler Murray and the offense were better, but suffered from what we’ve seen too much of late. Drives that didn’t end in touchdowns and quarterback decisions that could have been disastrous. It took a while to get it working the way they needed it to, but eventually it did. The Cardinals will need that confidence going forward; It’s been in short supply lately.

Right now, however, we’re in would/could/should territory. The loss in Seattle last week was so damaging. They’ll also need some help to raise the stakes for their showdown against the Rams in two weeks. The whole season could come down to this game.

Tyler Drake, Cardinals head writer and co-host of Cardinals Corner Podcast: Well, a win is a win, but man, was that a strange start? Trey McBride can’t find the end zone for another game, but Jonah Williams can!? The Cardinals only had a 13-3 lead at halftime?

But the same applies here: a victory is a victory.

The offense pulled itself together in the second half and looked back to its former self, but I think the defense deserves full credit. Aside from a few touchdown drives while the game was out of reach, Arizona had all the answers to New England’s test, particularly on third down.

It’s still a long climb to the NFC West title, the only path to the postseason in my opinion. But for now, the Cardinals did what they should have done — and needed to do — to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.