5 Keyz: Patriots vs. Cardinals

The Cardinals should provide the perfect test for the Patriots in their second to last game of the season. Their strengths on offense (throwing the ball) are the Pats biggest weaknesses and their weaknesses on offense (running the ball) are the Pats biggest strength. So expect them to spread the field and try to attack the Pats banged up secondary.

While the Pats need to win this game to stay in the playoff chase, if they can’t beat the Cardinals in Foxboro in December do they really belong in the playoffs anyway? Probably not.

So far the Patriots have yet to beat a team that will make the playoffs (unless you count that week 2 victory over the Jets should they get in, though I wouldn’t bet on it). No one’s moving the Pats into the top five teams in the NFL if the beat Arizona but it is a chance to prove that their pass defense isn’t the swiss cheese everyone makes it out to be.

Shutting down a solid passing attack like the Cardinals would provide some good confidence for New England heading in to the playoffs, assuming they get in. The Keyz to victory…

Play Time in the Secondary is Over: All season long the pass defense has been the Achilles heel of the Patriots team. In the games they lost it was their inability to get off the field on third downs that consistently killed them. This week they face as potent a passing attack as they’ve seen all season long. Their playoff lives are on the line. It’s now or never for the pass defense. They must show up and play lights out.

Nice Long Sunday Drives: One of the best ways to deal with a potent offense such as the Cardinals is to keep it off the field. The Patriots have had a knack for putting together long offensive drives this season. With the running game looking unstoppable last week (albeit against the horrid Raiders) they should be able to control the clock and keep Kurt Warner and pals on the sidelines. But even if they have long drives they’ll need to…

Stick It in the End Zone: Odds are good that playing the over this week is where the smart money is. The good thing for the Patriots is that even if their Pass D doesn’t show up they can still put up points with anyone. At least that has been the case of late, earlier in the year they were finishing drives with Field Goals (hence Stephen Gostkowski’s playing in his first Pro Bowl) and that was probably why they lost to the Colts and Chargers. Against the Cardinals the Pats will have to score 7 consistently.

Sacks Aren’t Just for Potatoes: The other weak link of the Patriots this year has been the pass rush, which with Mike Vrabel and Rosevelt Colvin is about 4 years past it’s prime. This weekend they will need to get to Kurt Warner. Watch Super Bowl 36 again, they were in Warner face all day long and he stunk. They will have to figure out a way to get to Warner, if not he will pick them apart all day long.

Win: Depending on the outcome of Saturday’s Baltimore/Dallas clash, a win for the Pats could put their destiny back in their own hands. Meaning if they won at Buffalo next week they would be in the playoffs no matter what. A win would also keep them in the hunt for the division title. It’s December, it's a home game against a team that doesn't need the win nor want to play in the cold.