How the Cardinals have fared in Foxborough vs. the Patriots

The Arizona Cardinals will look to win Sunday in a place that’s been quite inhospitable to them in the past, facing the New England Patriots in Foxborough.

The Cardinals haven’t fared well against the Patriots since moving to Phoenix, posting a 3-6 mark against New England dating back to 1990.

Arizona has made three trips to New England since moving to the Valley, in 1996, 2008 and 2012.

Here’s how the Cardinals fared in each of those contests.

Sept. 15, 1996

New England wins, 31-0

Weather: 64 degrees and sunny

Quarterbacks: Drew Bledsoe, New England/Boomer Esiason & Kent Graham, Arizona

Coaches: Bill Parcells, New England/Vince Tobin, Arizona

The Cardinals made their first trek to New England as Valley residents in 1996, getting shut out by Bill Parcells’ squad, 31-0, to fall to 0-3 for the year.

Arizona found itself on the wrong end of then-New England running back Curtis Martin, who gashed the Cardinals for 92 yards on 27 carries and a touchdown in the one-sided affair.

It would be a long season for Tobin and the Cardinals, who finished 7-9 and finishing fourth in the NFC East.

Dec. 21, 2008:

New England wins, 47-7

Weather: 30 degrees and snowing

Quarterbacks: Matt Cassell, New England,/Matt Leinart & Kurt Warner, Arizona

Coaches: Bill Belichick, New England/Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona

The Cardinals were spared having to face Tom Brady in 2008, though it didn’t do them much good. Backup QB Matt Cassell unloaded on Arizona’s defense in a snowstorm, throwing for 345 yards and three touchdowns while backs Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan combined to gain 166 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

The game was one of the worst in Kurt Warner’s entire career. He completed 6-of-18 passes for 30 yards before Matt Leinart replaced him in the second half, hardly faring better. He finished with 6-of-14 passing for 138 yards, a touchdown, an interception and a lost fumble.

Arizona was outgained by a whopping 328 yards in the 40-point loss, though Warner and the Cardinals still found their way into the playoffs, making it all the way to Super Bowl XLIII, where they fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-23.

Sept. 16, 2012

Arizona wins, 20-18

Weather: 64 degrees and sunny

Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, New England/Kevin Kolb, Arizona

Coaches: Bill Belichick, New England/Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona

Arizona last defeated Belichick and company on the road in 2012, when they edged out New England 20-18 thanks to a missed Stephen Gostkowski field goal attempt from 42 yards out with five seconds left.

The Cardinals got two touchdowns from backup quarterback Kevin Kolb, who was making the start for an injured John Skelton. Kolb scored once by air (a two-yard pass to WR Andre Roberts) and once by ground (a five-yard run).

An interception from cornerback Patrick Peterson helped Arizona, too. He picked off a Brady pass intended for tight end Aaron Hernandez, who was later lost in the game due to an ankle injury.

The Cardinals rounded out their day with a pair of field goals by kicker Jay Feely, who connected from 38 and 47 yards during the contest.

Nov. 29, 2020

A new era in New England

Projected weather: 50 degrees and sunny (10% chance of rain)

Quarterbacks: Cam Newton, New England/Kyler Murray, Arizona

Coaches: Bill Belichick, New England/Kliff Kingsbury, Arizona

This year’s New England Patriots enter the game 4-6 and led by longtime Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton.

The Patriots are in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008, while the Cardinals find themselves in third place in the NFC West, at 6-4.

It’ll be the first time Newton has faced Arizona since Oct. 30, 2016, when he threw for 212 yards en route to a 30-20 victory over the Cardinals, who were 3-4-1 at the time. Arizona fans remember Newton’s NFL debut, when he threw for 422 yards in a 28-21 loss to Arizona — setting a league record for passing yards in a debut.

The game also marks former Patriots backup quarterback Kliff Kingsbury’s first time facing his former head coach in Belichick.

Sunday’s contest will give either the Cardinals or the Patriots an edge in the all-time series, as the two are 7-7 against each other, dating back to 1970.

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