Just a few weeks ago, the Arizona Cardinals had everything ahead of them. After the bye in Week 11, they were 6-4 atop the NFC West with a tiebreaker and had a chance to beat Seattle with two games in three weeks. Now they are limping into a home game with the Patriots after a three-game deficit, but are considered clear favorites.

Here’s how to watch Patriots at Cardinals

It was impossible to pin down Arizona from week to week. At times it seemed like an offense with a combative big brother in defense, only to disappear on both fronts in the very next game.

Seattle took control of the division by handily defeating the Cardinals in Weeks 12 and 14. In between, the Cardinals played Minnesota until the end and were losing by one when Kyler Murray was intercepted on the final drive.

The 27-year-old is the perfect avatar of the team, breathtakingly dynamic but also too easily upset. He’s played every type of game this season and there are no projection stats available, leaving the Cardinals and their dwindling playoff chances a mystery. The Patriots’ defense is a perfect litmus test, practically a league-average unit that gives the Cardinals a wide-open playbook to work with.

But New England’s offense poses a hidden threat to a team like Arizona because it has an improving rookie quarterback who can also run and a volatile running back capable of explosive plays. Drake Maye is the least talked about rookie of the class, but he’s doing more than many expected on a struggling Patriots team. Despite the lack of an offensive line and a who’s who of “who?” at wide receiver, the number 3 ensured that New England’s offense looked functional and even efficient for long stretches. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson has declined in importance as the season has progressed, but can still force missed tackles and break up big runs.

On paper, Arizona should easily get its playoff pursuit back on track. But the 3-10 Patriots are playing for next season’s roster spots, and there’s nothing more dangerous than young guys with nothing to lose.

New England Patriots vs Arizona Cardinals odds

Expert picks for Patriots vs. Cardinals

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(Photo by Drake Maye: Winslow Townson/Getty Images)