There are actually competing theories as to the origins of the Aztecs, although there are some similarities in the cultures of the Southwest and Aztec culture there are also massive differences. For example, in the various Southwest cultures human sacrifice was not really a thing, instead they used, of all things, parrots as 'proxies' for humans and would sacrifice them (yes, there are parrots native to the Southwest US). The ball game also existed (we have ball courts throughout the Southwest, including the best preserved ones period in Snaketown) but again, unlike the Aztecs the losing team didn't get sacrificed but rather they paid a forfeit in goods to the winning team (apparently, there are no records so this is based on interpretation of artwork and tribal traditions). Southwestern ball courts at least lack the associated mass graves of further south in Mesoamerica.