Patriots vs Cardinals (Week 14 Monday Night Football) Betting: Will favored New England dig deep in the desert to bag big road win?

After hosting two of the best teams in the NFL in back-to-back weeks, the New England Patriots have a somewhat easier challenge ahead of them this week as they travel out west to take on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14’s Monday Night Football matchup.

After playing the Minnesota Vikings close in a 33-26 loss on Thanksgiving Day, the Pats were shut down by the Buffalo Bills last Thursday in a 24-10 loss.

Ultimately, however the losses happened, it’s the fact that they happened that now has New England in a perilous position.

With five games remaining in the regular season, the Patriots are a game outside of the final AFC playoff spot, and after they take on the Cardinals, the final four weeks is far less favorable.

The Cardinals aren’t mathematically out of the playoff hunt, but anything short of running the table would likely not be enough at this point. And based on their first 12 games, that doesn’t look at all likely.

That said, this is a winnable game for Arizona, and there are some things to be encouraged by from their last game, even if they weren’t able to close out the Chargers at home in Week 12.

Can they do some spoiling this week to pick up just their second home win of the season? Keep reading for our Patriots vs Cardinals prediction, as well as the bets that we recommend for Monday’s matchup at State Farm Stadium.

New England Patriots vs Arizona Cardinals Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: New England Patriots (6-6, 3-3 road, 4th in the AFC East) vs Arizona Cardinals (4-8, 1-6 home, 3rd in the NFC West)
• Venue & Location: State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
• Date: Monday, December 12, 2022
• Game Time: 8:15 pm ET (5:15 pm local time)
• How to Watch Patriots vs Cardinals: ESPN

Patriots vs Cardinals Early Odds

Game odds for Patriots vs Cardinals are via BetOnline as of Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at 9:50 am ET. This article may also include odds from our other recommended legal sports betting sites.

Spread

• New England Patriots -1.5 (-108)
• Arizona Cardinals +1.5 (-112)

Over/Under

• Over 44.5 (-110)
• Under 44.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• New England Patriots -130
• Arizona Cardinals +110

Patriots vs Cardinals Gameday Odds

Odds are via BetOnline.

Spread

• New England Patriots -1.5 (-114)
• Arizona Cardinals +1.5 (-106)

Over/Under

• Over 43.5 (-108)
• Under 43.5 (-112)

Moneyline

• New England Patriots -130
• Arizona Cardinals +110

Which Mac Jones Will Show Up for New England This Week?

After a rookie year in which he steered the Pats to the playoffs after a 1-4 start, Mac Jones was expected to do well in year two.

But as is the case with Kyler Murray, his opposite number in this matchup, this year has not gone according to plan for Jones.

Missing three games due to an ankle injury certainly didn’t help his cause, but he hasn’t been good, outside of his Turkey Day performance against the Vikings and perhaps his Week 11 performance against the Jets.

He hasn’t thrown an interception in his last four games, which is good, but after having more interceptions than touchdowns since Week 3, he finally has the same number of touchdowns as he does picks (seven) following his lone touchdown toss against the Bills last Thursday.

But after completing 71.8 percent of his passes and compiling season highs in yards (382) and touchdown passes (two) against the Vikings, along with averaging 9.8 yards per pass, he meandered back into mediocrity against Buffalo (22 of 36, 195 yards, TD, 5.4 yards per pass).

When New England doesn’t consistently run the ball well, Jones has to be more than so-so.

Those numbers can work if your running game is getting it done, but you can’t count on that happening every time out, and right now it’s hard to feel like Jones can be counted on.

Arizona is tied for last in the NFL in passing touchdowns allowed (24), 31st in opponent completion percentage (69.2), and 16th in yards allowed per pass, and they have picked off only seven passes this season.

So, the opportunity is there for Jones to have a positive performance this week. But will he make the most of that opportunity? At the moment, confidence in that is severely lacking.

New England Patriots vs Arizona Cardinals Prediction and Picks

Patriots vs Cardinals Prediction: Cardinals to win

Patriots vs Cardinals Pick: Patriots/Cardinals over (Best Value: over 44 @ -109 at BetUS)

The Pats are favored by a small margin, which I agree with. Arizona’s lone home win so far this season came against the New Orleans Saints in Week 7, so there’s not a lot of reason to believe in them here.

But there isn’t a lot of reason to believe in the Patriots either. Sure, we all know to never count out a Bill Belichick-coached team, but the shine has worn off of that one a bit this season.

While the aftermath of the Cardinals’ loss to the Chargers was far from ideal, with Murray openly criticizing the offensive scheme, there is something to be said for how well things went overall for the first three-plus quarters before three consecutive three and outs in the fourth quarter opened the door for the Bolts to rally and win.

I think the Cardinals can win this game as easily as the Patriots can, and I really have no interest in backing either side with how flawed they both are.

However, I do think that both teams can move the ball and score some points. New England’s defense is good but not impenetrable, and Arizona’s defense isn’t particularly good at anything.

Perhaps I’m just trying to wish an entertaining game into existence when this is about the last matchup anyone would want to see on Monday night at this juncture of the season.

But there have been at least 44 total points in each of Arizona’s last six games, and I think that is a very reasonable and reachable target here.

Other NFL Week 14 Content at Betting News

• NFL Week 14 Odds
• NFL Week 14 Picks
• Raiders vs Rams Prediction & Picks (Week 14 Thursday Night Football)
• Dolphins vs Chargers Prediction & Picks (Week 14 Sunday Night Football)