Jimmy Garoppolo Shines as Patriots Beat Cardinals

New England backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has the unenviable task of replacing Tom Brady while Brady serves his four game suspension for Deflate Gate. To make things more difficult, his first game, indeed his first NFL start ever, was at Arizona on September 11th against a Cardinal team that went to the NFC Championship game last season.

Garoppolo was up to the task. He was 24 for 33 passing for 264 yards and one touchdown, and although he lost a fumble, he threw no interceptions and maintained his poise on the field. Sure, the Cardinals could have, and perhaps should have, won the game. Arizona missed a 47 yard field goal attempt with 41 seconds left, and New England won 23-21.

The Patriots also were without Rob Gronkowski, who is nursing a hamstring injury. But Bill Belichick somehow always manages to use whoever is available in the beat way possible. New England will host Miami on September 18th, while Arizona will regroup against Tampa Bay in another home game.