Patriots QB Garoppolo set for first start

GLENDALE, Ariz. — 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 in the NFC title game.

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. Quarterback Tom Brady must sit out the first four games as punishment for the “Deflategate,” episode.

In his place, Jimmy Garoppolo will make his first career start on national TV in the noisy atmosphere of University of Phoenix Stadium.

Garoppolo has thrown 31 passes in his two-year career, completing 20, in his two seasons as Brady’s backup. In 2015, Garoppolo was 1 for 2 for 6 yards.

Garoppolo called it “a great opportunity.”

He won’t have Rob Gronkowski to throw to, with the star tight end ruled out of the game because of a hamstring injury. The team confirmed Friday night that Gronkowski had been downgraded from questionable to out for the game. Also missing the game will be offensive linemen Jonathan Cooper and Nate Solder.

The Cardinals had prepared for a healthy Gronkowski. Arizona defensive coordinator James Boettcher called him “the best in the game right now at tight end.’”

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. Arians said Garoppolo reminds him of a young Tony Romo.

“Very athletic, very accurate,” Arians said. “Not a real powerful, deep throwing arm, but very accurate. He gets it out of his hand fast. Tony was the same way coming out and had a lot of success early.”

The Cardinals should know not to take a backup quarterback lightly. Pittsburgh third-stringer Landry Jones rallied the Steelers to a victory over Arizona last year.

Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer barely played in the preseason and shrugs off the two interceptions he had returned for touchdowns.