(Reuters) - Even without their stars and other starters as well, the New England Patriots proved they are no pushovers when playing short-handed.
Just ask the Arizona Cardinals, who fell 23-21 Sunday night in the season-opener for both teams at University of Phoenix Stadium.
"I'm happy to win, fortunate to win," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "We're going to need to play better next week and succeeding weeks."
It was good enough, though, to earn a road victory over a team that went 13-3 a year ago and advanced to the NFC Championship Game.