GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- The New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals came within one win of the Super Bowl last season.
New England lost at Denver in the Patriots' sixth straight AFC championship game, Arizona was blown out at Carolina in the Cardinals' second appearance ever in the NFC title contest.
The Patriots and Cardinals, a combined 25-7 in the 2015 regular season, meet Sunday night, an intriguing matchup of New England coach Bill Belichick and Arizona's Bruce Arians.
Except the Patriots won't have their best player. Tom Brady must sit out the first four games as punishment for the ''Deflategate,'' episode.