The final match of Week 14 of the NFL 2022 season comes along in the Monday Night Football which this week comes from the venue where the Super Bowl will be played as the Arizona Cardinals take on the New England Patriots.
The results already this week have left the New England Patriots in control of their own destiny as they go about achieving a wildcard spot in the AFC but defeat here will open up the door for others. Arizona are probably looking at having to win out if they are going to be attendees at their own party.
Arizona Cardinals
This has not been the season that the Arizona Cardinals will have wanted. They would have had their eyes on the Super Bowl at the outset given that their stadium is hosting the big party. That would have been a realistic aim when they started the campaign because they had a good year in 2021 but 2022 has never really got going for them and with a 4-8 record they are not guaranteed a playoff berth even if they win out from here.
They do have a positive going into this match though. They had their bye week last week and that has allowed them to get some key players fit or rest those who were carrying knocks and hopefully get everything sorted out for a tilt at winning their last five matches. If they are going to give themselves a chance of doing that then they simply have to improve in the secondary or keep getting home to the quarterback. It would help if they can establish a decent run game too.
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New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have almost had a bye week themselves with their loss to the Buffalo Bills last week coming along in the Thursday Night Football. That was a second defeat in succession which has seen them drop to 6-6 for the season and they are going to need at least three wins and probably four from their last five if they are going to extend their campaign. Road wins are never easy to come by in the NFL but they match up well to the Cardinals so you would think this would have to be one of those wins.
If it is then Mac Jones will need to get the ball down the field a little more than he has been allowed to recently. He was visibly anguished at the play calling in the loss to the Bills last week and it will be interesting to see how he goes about things here. The Patriots should have plenty of joy with the running game but their defence is going to be tested, particularly in the back field, by a very strong set of Cardinals receivers. It could be that battle which decides the game.
Betting
I think the New England Patriots will win this match and if I had to bet on the outcome I would side with them but I’m always a little wary of taking teams who are drinking out in the last chance saloon, especially one off a bye week so I’m in no rush to back the Patriots, particularly when they come into this match off the back of a couple of defeats. They were to the Minnesota Vikings and the Buffalo Bills though and there have been no sign that the Arizona Cardinals are of that ilk.
With that in mind, I’m going to head to the player markets for a bet, one which comes in the form of Hunter Henry and his receiving yards. His line is 29.5 which looks very low when you consider that Arizona are very bad at defending tight ends, as you would expect for a team who generally bring the house to the quarterback on most defensive snaps. That pressure is sure to have Mac Jones under pressure at various times and the check down, easy option to his tight end will present itself a lot. Only Jakobi Meyers and Rhamondre Stevenson have had more targets than Henry this season and the former is out of this one with a concussion. That might naturally lead to more action for Henry anyway but he should have been a favourite to cover a tiny line like this anyway and I’ll back him to do so with the potential extra action he should enjoy.
Tips
Back H.Henry – Over 29.5 receiving yards for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with Bet365
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