Mac Jones, Patriots use dominant second half to seal win over Cardinals

GLENDALE,Ariz.-- After Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was transported off three plays into the game, Mac Jones and the New England Loyalists toughed out a 27- 13 palm on" Monday Night Football." 

 

 No platoon has scored more points off successions than the Loyalists( 7- 6), and that was the formula they demanded to overcome the Cardinals( 4- 9). Safety Kyle Dugger's forced bobble that linebacker Raekwon McMillan returned 23 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter was the turning point in the game. The Loyalists also turned an interception by novitiate cornerback Marcus Jones on the preceding Cardinals drive into a rushing touchdown. 

Cardinals coagulate quarterback Colt McCoy brought a sense of calm in a situation that rattled the Cardinals in the immediate fate of Murray's injury, but he was sacked five times as he played behind a patchwork obnoxious line. 

 

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬

The Loyalists have scored 85 points off successions, followed by the Eagles( 80) and cowhands( 80). McMillan's bobble return for a touchdown was the platoon's fifthnon-offensive touchdown of the season, which ties the Cardinals for utmost in the NFL. 

Winning with defense seems like it will have to be the Patriots' formula if they have hope of making the postseason.

Describe the game in two words: Survival mode. It seldom looks easy for the offense, while the defense delivered the key plays to help the Patriots pull away in the second half.

Promising trend: Without starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who left because of an ankle injury in the first half, the Patriots had no choice but to turn to rookies Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong Jr. They were the only healthy running backs on the game-day roster with Damien Harris (thigh) a pregame scratch. Harris (14-yard TD to help 32nd-ranked red zone offense) and Strong (44-yard rush) delivered despite having played just 13 and 10 offensive snaps this season, respectively. Harris became the first Patriots rookie with a rushing touchdown on "Monday Night Football" since Shane Vereen in 2011 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

𝐐𝐁 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧: Mac Jones was under consistent pressure, and he once again let his frustration show early in the third quarter when the Patriots had to burn a timeout and television cameras showed him shouting an expletive as he headed toward the sideline. The Patriots got the ball out of his hands quickly early; he averaged 2.19 seconds in the first half, per NFL Next Gen Stats. They opened things up a bit more in the second half. Jones finished 24-of-35 for 235 yards, with no touchdowns and 1 interception.

Under-the-radar stat that matters: The Patriots held the Cardinals to 1-for-4 on fourth down, improving their standing as the league's No. 1-ranked defense in those situations.

Troubling trend: Injuries are piling up. Stevenson (ankle), starting receiver DeVante Parker (evaluated for concussion) and rookie cornerback Jack Jones (knee) -- who was starting in place of Jalen Mills (groin) -- were all knocked out of action in the first half and didn't return. -- Mike Reiss

𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬

Whenever he has been called upon, McCoy has responded. Monday night was no different.

The 13-season veteran was thrust into action three plays into the first quarter after Murray was carted off. He threw for 246 yards, no touchdowns and 1 interception.

𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐨𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲: He's set to start the third-most games of his career if he finishes the last four as Arizona's starting quarterback. He last started six games in a season in 2011 for the Cleveland Browns.

Describe the game in two words: Kyler Murray. From the moment Murray went down early in the first quarter, the quarterback's injury cast a large shadow over the rest of the game.

𝐁𝐮𝐲/𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: Buy on wide receiver Robbie Anderson's performance. The recently acquired Anderson had two catches for 13 yards in his first six games with the Cardinals but finished Monday with three catches for 44 yards. With the Cardinals' offense laboring all season, the emergence of another playmaker could pay dividends for McCoy going forward.

𝐏𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲: The first-and-10 run by Murray on the game's third play less than 90 seconds into the first quarter. It left Murray on the ground with a non-contact knee injury that could change the direction of Murray's career depending on how he can come back from the injury. -- Josh Weinfuss