Foxboro, MA (My Sportsbook) - Matt Cassel threw three touchdowns passes and LaMont Jordan added two scores on the ground, as the New England Patriots walloped the Arizona Cardinals, 47-7, at a snowy Gillette Stadium.

Cassel, who was taken out in the fourth quarter with New England in firm control, totaled 345 yards on 20-of-36 passing for the Patriots (10-5), who kept pace with the Dolphins atop the AFC East.

Miami outslugged Kansas City, 38-31, on Sunday, while the 9-5 Jets are battling the Seahawks in Seattle.

Jabar Gaffney had 90 yards on five receptions, while Wes Welker registered 68 yards and one score on seven grabs for New England. Sammy Morris rushed for 88 yards on 15 carries and Jordan finished with 78 yards rushing.

The Patriots collected points on nine of their first 10 drives.

The wintry conditions and New England's defense hamstrung Arizona's explosive offense. Kurt Warner was a putrid 6-of-18 for 30 yards before he was lifted late in the third quarter in favor of Matt Leinart. Leinart completed 6-of-14 passes for 138 yards with one touchdown and an interception for the NFC West champion Cardinals (8-7), who are limping into the postseason, having dropped four of their last five contests.

Arizona's previous sojourns to the Eastern Time Zone this season have also been fruitless, losing to the Redskins (24-17), Jets (56-35), Panthers (27-23) and Eagles (48-20). In fact, the Cardinals are 3-7 overall outside the underwhelming NFC West.

Arizona went three-and-out to open the contest and the Patriots had to travel only 33 yards following a Welker 28-yard punt return.

The Patriots pounded Arizona's defense with the ground game and Jordan eventually punched it in from a yard out to put the home squad on the board.

Arizona's next series did not produce a first down and Jordan capped another seven-play trek with a three-yard score, giving the Patriots a 14-0 lead with 3:46 remaining in the first quarter and triggering celebratory snow balls from a bundled fan base.

The Patriots struck again early in the second frame. After Jordan was wrapped up for a two-yard loss at his own 48, Cassel hooked up with Gaffney over the middle for a 37-yard gain on second down, setting up a screen pass to Kevin Faulk two plays later that turned into a 15-yard touchdown.

Arizona, which didn't move the chains once on its first four possessions, marched to the New England 31, where, on 4th-and-1, Warner threw incomplete to end the promising drive.

New England continued to pull away as Welker hauled in an 11-yard touchdown pass inside the two-minute warning and proceeded to make a snow angel for which he received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 38-yard field goal with two seconds remaining to give the Patriots a comfortable 31-0 lead at halftime. Arizona mustered just three first downs and 55 yards of total offense in the opening 30 minutes.

The Patriots found the end zone again on the first play of the third quarter. Cassel connected with Randy Moss on a quick screen and he rumbled untouched down the left sideline for a 76-yard touchdown, the 136th of his career, tying Marshall Faulk for sixth place on the NFL's all-time touchdowns list.

A 35-yard Gostkowski field goal extended the lead to 41-0 and the third-year pro nailed a 24-yarder with 3:31 remaining in the frame. Gostkowski (33) broke the Patriots record for most made field goals in a season set by Tony Franklin (32) during the 1986 campaign.

After Gostkowski booted a 30-yarder early in the fourth quarter, Larry Fitzgerald caught a 78-yard touchdown pass to spoil New England's shutout bid with 6:17 left in the game.

Game Notes

New England has won the last five meetings with the Cardinals...Cassel's touchdown pass to Moss was the longest completion of his career...The Patriots outgained Arizona, 514-186...Arizona's Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower were limited to 36 yards on 14 carries...Fitzgerald had 101 yards on three receptions...The Cardinals recorded just eight first downs compared to New England's 27...The Patriots notched their 11th consecutive win in the month of December and own a 23-2 record in December since 2003...New England concludes the regular season next Sunday at Buffalo, while the Cardinals host Seattle on Sunday as well...New England defensive tackle Richard Seymour left the game with a back injury and did not return...Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin was inactive because of a shoulder injury.