And follow the curse of the Cardinals before Patriots.
Nick Folk he hit a 50-yard field goal on the last play of the game and New England took advantage of all of Arizona’s errors to win 20-17 at home.
The Cardinals have failed to beat New England since 2012 and have lost seven of the eight most recent in the series.
In this Week 12 game they had plenty of chances to win, but they couldn’t make a yard at the end of the first half and then their kicker missed a field goal to take a three-point lead, two minutes from the end of the game.
It was game 454 of Bill Belichick as head coach in the NFL, with whom he tied Tom Landry in third place of all time, behind 506 of George Halas and the 526 of Don Shula.
Belichick also avoided going 0-3 against the NFC West this year, following losses in Seattle and against San Francisco. The Patriots are 58-16 (the best in the NFL) in interconference games since 2002.
It was Belichick’s first game against another of his former players. The Cardinals coach, Kliff Kingsbury, was drafted by Belichick in the sixth round of the 2003 Draft. Kingsbury spent that season on injured reserve, but was eventually given his Super Bowl champion ring as well.
The Cardinals have played five straight games that have been decided by seven points or less and are 2-3 in that stretch.
ERROR CONCERT
In the first offensive series of the game, Cam Newton was intercepted after being hit by the linebacker. Jordan Hicks; the ball fell into the hands of the linebacker Markus Golden at the 24 New England yard.
Three plays later, Kenyan Drake crossed the diagonals on a one-yard dash for a quick 7-0 in favor of the Cardinals.
A kickoff return of Donte Moncrief of 53 yards left the Patriots at Arizona 46. A helmet-to-helmet hit by rookie Isaiah Simmons gave New England 15 extra yards and, on fourth down, James White he scored on a seven-yard dash to bring the home team closer to 10-7 early in the second quarter.
In the closing seconds of the first half, Arizona carried the ball to New England’s one-yard line, but on fourth down Drake was unable to cross the imaginary plane. Officials reviewed the play, but found no evidence to change their decision and the Cardinals went empty-handed at halftime, leading 10-7.
An illegal block by Anfernee Jennings spoiled an 82-yard touchdown punt return from Gunner Olszewski that could give New England the lead. With a shortstop, the Patriots tied the game 10-10 thanks to a 22-yard kick from Nick Folk.
On Arizona’s next offense, a ball deflected on the line of scrimmage by Adam Butler was intercepted by Adrian Phillips on the 31st of the Cardinals.
Six runs later, the Patriots took the lead for the first time in the game. James White he scored on a one-yard play from outside left tackle and New England led 17-10, 3:30 left in the third period.
Drake had his second touchdown of the afternoon on a one-yard play to tie the game at 17 per side, with 8:02 left. Arizona’s offense stayed alive twice thanks to holding penalties from the Patriots defense.
Newton suffered the second interception of the game while looking for Damiere Byrd; the corner Dre Kirkpatrick He anticipated the shipment and got the ball.
But nevertheless, Zane Gonzalez he missed the 45-yard field goal attempt, leaving just under two minutes for Newton and the New England offense.
The Patriots’ own quarterback posted a first and 10 on third down and 13, and at the end of the race the rookie was wrong again Isaiah Simmons, who hit Newton helmet to helmet, for another 15 yards.
Thus, Folk decided the dramatic game at Foxborough with a 50-yard field goal on the last play of the game.
Newton he had a game to forget, with 9 of 18, 84 yards (the lowest in his career), two interceptions and a rating of 23.6. He only connected with three men and one of them was the runner James White.
Kyler Murray he had a low-key game, with 23 of 34, 270 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. He ran for 31 yards.
DeAndre Hopkins, who most of the game was covered by Stephon Gilmore, caught five balls, for 55 yards.
Murray missed his wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald Y Trent Sherfield, both places on the COVID-19 list on Thursday. Fitzgerald, 37, and 17 seasons in the NFL, had not missed a single game in since 2014.
In Week 13, Arizona (6-5), which has lost three of the last four, hosts Los Angeles Rams, while New England (5-6) visits Los Angeles Chargers.
