Highlights: Patriots beat Cardinals 20-17

Author Matt Dolloff

November 29th, 2020 11:28 AM

FINAL: Patriots 20, Cardinals 17. Nick Folk hits a 50-yard field goal as time expires to give the Patriots a 20-17 win off the clutch kick. Click here for a full game recap.

— Q4, 4:27: Cam Newton may have just blown the game. His pass attempt for Damiere Byrd is off the mark and intercepted by Dre Kirkpatrick to give the Cardinals the ball and a chance to take the lead back with the clock ticking…

— Q4, 8:02: Tie game. Patriots could have had a couple of stops in the red zone, but ill-timed penalties doomed them on this drive. First Jason McCourty commits holding on a fourth-down play that gifts the Cardinals a first down. Then Stephon Gilmore holds DeAndre Hopkins to reset the downs yet again. Kenyan Drake punches it in. We’re all knotted up, 17-17.

— Q4, 9:43: It looked like the Patriots got a stop on fourth-and-5 from the red zone, but a holding call on Jason McCourty gives the Cardinals a first down from the 8.

— Q4, 14:26: Cardinals start off their first drive of the fourth quarter with a completion to DeAndre Hopkins, but Bill Belichick challenges the ruling. It looked like there was a chance Hopkins never got his second foot down on the catch, but the ruling stands. Cardinals keep moving the ball and the Patriots lose a timeout.

— Q3, 0:21: No insurance points for the Patriots on this drive. Cam Newton escapes the pocket and has N’Keal Harry open, but waits too long to get rid of the ball and is nearly intercepted. Patriots have to punt after the three-and-out.

— Q3, 3:30: Patriots take their first lead. Cam Newton and the offense cash in on Adrian Phillips’ interception, pitching it to James White as the back sprints to the pylon for the touchdown. Patriots lead 17-10.

— Q3, 6:21: Patriots get the ball back after forcing a turnover on defense. Kyler Murray’s pass is tipped at the line by Adam Butler and it flutters into the hands of safety Adrian Phillips. A big-time play for the Pats D, which has come to play against the league’s highest-scoring offense. Patriots offense gets the ball with a short field and a chance to take the lead.

— Q3, 7:46: And the questionable call burns the Patriots in the end. The offense can’t reach the end zone after Cam Newton’s third-down attempt for Damiere Byrd sails high. They settle for a Nick Folk field goal, so the game is tied 10-10.

— Q3, 11:43: It looked like Gunner Olszewski had himself a punt return touchdown, but a flag on Anfernee Jennings wiped that out The Patriots start on the Cardinals’ 39-yard line, though, after the big return.

— HALFTIME: Cardinals 10, Patriots 7. The Patriots’ defense is keeping them in this game. New England heads to the locker room at halftime down just three points after a goal line stand by the Pats defense, stuffing Arizona on a fourth-down try from the 1-yard line as the clock expired on the half.

— Q2, 2:00: Cardinals threatening at the Patirots’ 14-yard line. They’ve already driven it 58 yards with a chance to cash in right before the end of the half – and getting the ball again to start the third quarter. It looks like they’ll get at least three. A big 17-yard throw by Kyler Murray to tight end Dan Arnold on third-and-7 kept Arizona’s drive alive. DeAndre Hopkins has two catches for 22 yards on the drive so far.

— Q2, 10:09: The Patriots may be starting to settle in on defense. Cardinals gain 19 yards on seven plays before having to punt. Kyler Murray’s third-down attempt was errant and made under pressure, and Jonathan Jones nearly came up with the interception off the deflection. Patriots take back over at their own 14-yard line after Gunner Olszewski calls for a fair catch.

— Q2, 14:15: Good things happen when James White touches the football in key situations. Facing a fourth-and-2 from the 7-yard line, Cam Newton pitches it to White on an option play and No. 28 snakes between multiple defenders to shimmy his way into the end zone. Despite a lackluster start for the Patriots, they close out the first quarter and start the second quarter well to keep the game within three. 10-7 Cardinals.

https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1333120731442507783

— Q2, 15:00: First quarter runs out with the Patriots trailing by 10. But a 53-yard kickoff return by Donte Moncrief set up the Patriots with nice field position, and now they’re threatening. But they face third-and-2 from the 7-yard line, so the next play will be crucial.

— Q1, 1:49: The Patriots nearly gave up a 97-yard touchdown drive. But the Cardinals stall out at the Pats’ 29-yard line after a strong march down the field. They settle for a field goal to extend their lead to 10-0.

New England appeared to have problems with substitutions on defense. They committed a 12 men on the field penalty as part of the last drive.

— Q1, 7:29: The inauspicious start continues for the Patriots. This time they’re able to run nine plays, but netted only 25 yards and ended up having to punt. Cam Newton was only 1-for-5 passing on the drive with a 17-yard screen to Damiere Byrd. He had three incompletions and took a sack on the other four dropbacks. The drive could’ve been a three-and-out without a bailout flag by the officials.

— Q1, 12:09: Cardinals cash in on Cam Newton’s costly interception. Kenyan Drake plows it in from the 1-yard line to give Arizona an early 7-0 lead.

— Q1, 13:38: Again, a blitzer is untouched on third down. This time Cardinals LB Jordan Hicks tips Cam Newton’s throw and it lands in the arms of Markus Golden for the interception. Three plays in and Newton already having trouble recognizing blitzes and setting protections.

— Patriots WR Donte Moncrief was back to take the opening kickoff, with Gunner Olszewski playing in coverage. It’s a touchback and we’re underway in Foxboro.

— 12:35PM: Based on the groupings in warmups, here’s how it will look on the Patriots’ offensive line in their first game without left tackle Isaiah Wynn, who went on IR.

LT: Jermaine Eluemunor
LG: Joe Thuney
C: David Andrews
RG: Shaq Mason
RT: Michael Onwenu

Patriots opt to keep the other four recent starters at their current positions.

Here’s what the Patriots’ base defense will look like, based on warmups.

DL: Lawrence Guy, Adam Butler, Deatrich Wise
LB: Chase Winovich, John Simon, Ja’Whan Bentley, Terez Hall
DB: Stephon Gilmore, J.C. Jackson, Devin McCourty, Kyle Dugger

— 11:35AM: The Patriots and Cardinals’ inactive players have been announced. RB Sony Michel and OT Justin Herron are not on the inactive list, so they return to the active lineup after stints on IR.

— Some shots of Patriots center David Andrews in shorts, plus some masked-up Pats warming up:

Live Blog By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com

Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff or send him a nasty email at [email protected].

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Author Matt Dolloff

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