Winslow Townson / AP

Patriots running back LaMont Jordan (32) celebrates after scoring during New England's rout of Arizona on Sunday.

“In conditions like this, we had to establish the run,” Warner said. The Cardinals ran eight times on their first nine plays without a first down.

The snow began falling steadily four hours before the game and tapered off about the time Randy Moss scored on a 76-yard pass play, the longest of Cassel’s career, on the first snap of the third quarter. Cassel faked a handoff, then turned and threw to Moss on the left near the line of scrimmage.

He accelerated up the sideline and slowed to a trot as he approached the end zone with his longest gain in two seasons with the Patriots.

That gave them a 38-0 lead before Stephen Gostkowski kicked three of his four field goals.

LaMont Jordan scored on runs of 1 and 3 yards on the Patriots’ first two possessions. They punted on their next series, then scored on their next four on Cassel’s passes of 15 yards to Kevin Faulk and 11 yards to Wes Welker, Gostkowski’s 38-yard field goal and Moss’ touchdown.

“I can’t understand it or explain it,” Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “We may need to grow up, to show that we can play through adversity.”

The most trouble the Patriots seemed to have with the snow came when Welker was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct for making a snow angel just beyond the end line after his touchdown as the Patriots jumped into a 28-0 lead with 1:52 left in the half.

“I just got a little bit too excited there,” Welker said. “I really didn’t think it would be a penalty. I wouldn’t have done it if I thought it was.”

Notes: Gostkowski set a Patriots single-season record with his 34th field goal, breaking the mark of 32 set by Tony Franklin in 1986. ... The Cardinals have been outscored 167-70 in their last four losses. ... Moss tied Marshall Faulk for sixth in NFL history with his 136th touchdown. ... Arizona had just four first downs and 45 total yards through three quarters.

NFL game stories Quick look at Week 9 games STEELERS 28, BRONCOS 10: Roethlisberger throws 3 TDs COWBOYS 20, EAGLES 16: Austin’s TD puts Dallas atop NFC East COLTS 20, TEXANS 17: Indy's 17th-straight regular season win  |    Video SAINTS 30, PANTHERS 20: N.O. now 8-0 for first time in its history CHARGERS 21, GIANTS 20: N.Y. loses 4th straight  |    Video BUCS 38, PACKERS 28: Rookie QB leads Tampa to first win  |    Video PATRIOTS 27, DOLPHINS 17: Brady-Moss connection thrives  |    Video CARDINALS 41, BEARS 21: Warner tosses 5 TDs  |    Video BENGALS 17, RAVENS 7: Cincy cements AFC North status  |    Video FALCONS 31, REDSKINS 17: Atlanta gets into scuffle, still wins TITANS 34, 49ERS 27: Young improves to 2-0 as a starter this year SEAHAWKS 32, LIONS 20: Seattle overcomes 17-0 hole JAGUARS 24, CHIEFS 21: Chargers cast-off Chambers can't save K.C. Byes: Bills, Browns, Raiders, Rams, Vikings, Jets

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