Patriots vs Cardinals Betting Odds: Gut Check Time for Desperate Teams

NFL Odds Side With Patriots in Arizona

With just five games remaining in this 2022 NFL season, both New England and Arizona know there is a minimal margin for error. For the Patriots, the playoffs are still within reach while Arizona’s staff and players are playing for their jobs. The Patriots vs Cardinals betting odds are tight but lean towards the Patriots as Arizona comes back from a bye facing what could be the nail in their season’s coffin.

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Patriots Have Been the NFL’s “Mid” Team

You can insert the Thanos meme: “Perfectly balanced, as all things should be” to describe New England. At 6-6, the Patriots are also 5-1 as a favorite and 1-5 as an underdog. On the point spreads, the Pats are 6-5-1, and on the totals, 3-3 on the road. Simply put, New England is one of the easier teams to predict.

You can chalk that up to a lot of factors such as Bill Belichick’s all-too-conservative play calling to Mac Jones’s limitations as a starting quarterback. But their biggest issue may lie in their skill positions, namely at wide receiver. While Jakobi Meyers is a talented pass-catcher, the Patriots do not have that “stud” receiver as Charlie Weis, a former Patriots offensive coordinator points out.

“So you want Mac Jones to get better? Go get him a couple of those guys,” Weis said. “Go get the Tyreek Hills and add him to your roster. Tell me how much better Mac Jones would be. You want me to give you the answer to that? You want me to give you the secret? He’d be a lot better! OK?”

As it stands, Belichick is not the type of manager to spend on top-tier receivers or running backs. Even Tom Brady had to work with Julian Edelman and a hobbled Ron Gronkowski as his best options. Still, the Pats front the seventh-best scoring defense and have consistently beaten the bad teams of the NFL (4-2 against teams below .500).

Arizona is one of these also-rans thus the Patriots vs Cardinals betting odds. New England is also 11-5 during Monday Night Football dating back to the 2010 season. As 1-point favorites, the Pats should win even if their offense lacks the star power.

Cardinals Could be Facing Big Changes

Even if Jones and the Pats do not scare anyone, Arizona is the type of team that may just get blown out. For one, the Cardinals have the second-worst scoring defense as they give up 26.8 points per game. The Cardinals allow the third-highest passer rating (101.) against opposing quarterbacks with the 25th-ranked expected points from the unit (-69.5). In short, their defense stinks.

And to exacerbate their lack of defense, the offense has been paltry as well. Kyler Murray has been getting clowned by both former teammates and fans as the 25-year-old has regressed with an 87.1 passer rating. To his defense, he has been banged up and the team has been hit with plenty of NFL injuries.

Despite the defense generously giving up points, only half of the team’s games have gone over the total. Right now, the total at 43.5 could go either way.

But Arizona’s inconsistent offense is also why this team’s totals don’t keep going over. Despite the defense generously giving up points, only half of the team’s games have gone over the total. Right now, the total at 43.5 could go either way. New England has neutralized quarterbacks like Jared Goff and Zach Wilson but has been gashed by Josh Allen and Justin Fields.

Murray is being paid to perform like the latter two. If he can take his game back to the early half of last season, he may just upset the Patriots vs Cardinals betting odds.Otherwise, this Monday Night Football Week 14 could be the last time he plays under the current regime of Kliff Kingsbury and Steve Kaim. Maybe things get better or things get worse. Either way, big changes are coming with the franchise.

For NFL betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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