The Patriots listed five other players as questionable for Sunday’s season opener against the Cardinals: Chris Hogan (shoulder), Trey Flowers (shoulder), Shaq Mason (hand), Shea McClellin (shoulder) and Malcolm Mitchell (elbow).
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The Cardinals responded with a quick drive as David Johnson picked up 45-yards on an incredible run where he eluded a handful of Patriots tacklers to set up a flawless fade pass to Larry Fitzgerald for a touchdown. Gostkowski connected on a 32-yard field goal to take back a 23-21 lead. But a makeable game-winning field goal from Chandler Catanzaro drifted wide after a bungled snap, and the Patriots escaped.
There was no Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, or for that matter either of Bill Belichick’s usual starting offensive tackles, who were also missing.
“He’s incredible”, Patriots safety Devin McCourty said of Garoppolo. The Cardinals were trying to set up an easier field goal, but were called for a holding penalty to knock them out of field goal range. Rookie cornerback Brandon Williams was beaten badly for the second time on Garoppolo’s 28-yard pass to the Arizona 8.
The second TD was the 100th of Fitzgerald’s career, moving him into a tie with Steve Largent and Tim Brown for eighth place.
“I thought I was going to take it to the house”, Johnson said. Garoppolo settled down nearly immediately, though, completing each of his next four passes for 75 yards, which included a 37-yarder to Hogan down the left sideline for a touchdown. He caught 208 passes for over 2,000 yards and 14 touchdowns. Chandler Catanzaro’s extra point made it 21-20, Arizona.
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A celebration dance by Jones and D.J. Swearinger drew a 15-yard penalty after the turnover, but the Cardinals still drove for a score. LaGarrette Blount bulled it in from there and the Patriots led 17-7 with 10 minutes left in the first quarter.
