Martellus Bennett will start for Patriots at Arizona

Jimmy Garoppolo will start in place of the suspended Brady for the first four games of the season. The Giants went on to lose four more games after clock problems last season. The Sunday night prime time nationally televised tilt is the Patriots’ first visit to Arizona to play the Cardinals since 2004.

Combine that with running back David Johnson, who averaged over 12 yards a carry in his rookie season, and the multiple options provide a defensive headache for Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. In preseason, completed 36 of 54 (66.7 pct.) for 406 yards with 1 TD & 0 INTs for 95.1 rating.RB LE GARRETTE BLOUNT rushed for 120 yards & 2 TDs in only game vs. Az. Enjoy the weekend of games and pray for my fantasy team, CJ Anderson scored 25 against me last night.

The Cardinals had prepared for a healthy Gronkowski. They are without Rob Ninkovich.

There wasn’t a whole lot of video on Garoppolo for the Cardinals to study but that didn’t stop Arians from heaping on the praise.

He started by praising the inherent ability of Jimmy Garoppolo, whom he compared to Tony Romo. He doesn’t get the ball out of his hands almost as quickly, and it’s not almost as accurate.

The Cardinals should know not to take a backup quarterback lightly. After a two-game suspension kept him sidelined for part of last season, a PCL tear ended his year after only playing six games for the Steelers.

David Johnson on the big number of returning players from previous year: The main thing is everyone coming back without injuries. Belichick is about exploiting weakness – better than perhaps other coaches – and in-game adjustments are crucial. They also are two of the top three coaches in wins the last 60 games.

“I have great respect for the guys that fought to stand up for the rights of the players, just as myself and certain players did in 2011”, he said on the program. He’s urging players to stand together on the issues that really matter because they’ll have a lasting impact. They have a good system. But Bill Belichick doesn’t want to discuss either of them as he prepares for the 2016 season.

“They have a philosophy and a plan that they follow”, Arians said. What an appetizer last night to get us all salivating for the upcoming slate of games. Every year you get away from 35, you’re stealing years because history tells us that quarterbacks don’t last that long. In addition to spending a first-round draft pick on Robert Nkemdiche, the team shipped Jonathan Cooper to the Patriots in exchange for linebacker Chandler Jones.

“I haven’t thought about it much”, he said. Arizona has playmakers all over the field offensively and a talented defense that upgraded its pass rush and will throw a full serving of varied blitz packages at the young signal-caller.

Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald (two TDs) caught three of his eight passes on the closing drive to help the Cardinals reach field-goal range with 41 seconds left.

Did Jones offer some insight into the Patriots?

“There’s so much going on right now”, Garoppolo said.

There were also fewer opportunities in the preseason to further develop chemistry with receiver Julian Edelman, who played sparingly in the exhibition season. Is he ready for the role? Likewise, Seahawks QB Russell Wilson will try to get in better rhythm with his supporting cast after being shut out in the first half against Minnesota in Week 2.