Week 2 AFC East game picks: Cardinals at Patriots

Lead writer Nick St. Denis and AFC East Daily contributors Dan Begnoche, Sean Donovan and Sam Hollingsworth pick the New England Patriots' home matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.

Nick's take:

Even more unfortunate than the Cardinals' fate Sunday is the fact that we even have to waste time predicting the inevitable. This thing is a gimme for New England. The Patriots' revamped defense will get after backup-caliber quarterback Kevin Kolb all day, and their offense will do what it always does. Tom Brady has a field day, and the rookie defenders make big plays to lead New England to victory with ease.
Prediction: Patriots 38, Cardinals 10

Sam's take:
The Patriots, just like with their Week 1 opponent (Titans), haven’t had any trouble with the Cardinals in recent years. Their last drubbing of Arizona came in 2008, when the Patriots scored 47 and didn’t let up a touchdown until late in the second half -- with Matt Cassell under center and in a blizzard. And that’s probably why the Patriots have been listed as 13.5-point favorites in their home-opener at Gillette Stadium. Expect them to perform accordingly.
Prediction: Patriots 40, Cardinals 13

Dan's take:
Kolb and the Cardinals pulled out an exciting win against Seattle last week, but don't expect the same last-second theatrics against the Pats. New England has pretty much guaranteed it will score at least three touchdowns, averaging more than 30 points a game the past two years, while the Cards' offense has yet to show it has anything more than Larry Fitzgerald going for them. Should be another easy win for New England in its home-opener.
Prediction: Patriots 35, Cardinals 13

Sean's take:
Kolb will start for the Cardinals after John Skelton injured his ankle in their opening game victory, but it won't matter; Arizona's weak offensive line and average skill players will struggle regardless to come close to matching the output of Brady and the lethal New England offense. The last time the Cardinals beat the Patriots, Bill Belichick was in his first year as a head coach -- of the Cleveland Browns in 1991. No reason to think the streak ends.
Prediction: Patriots 41, Cardinals 18

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