Pats' 'D' keeps Cards, Murray grounded

New England Patriots kicker Nick Folk kicks a game-winning field goal as time expires in an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots kicker Nick Folk kicks a game-winning field goal as time expires in an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Patriots' comeback started with a goal-line stand to end the first half and ended with yet another big win to keep alive their playoff hopes.

Nick Folk kicked a 50-yard field goal as time expired, and New England rallied in the second half to beat the Arizona Cardinals 20-17 on Sunday.

It was the second time this month that Folk hit a last-second game-winning field goal. His 51-yarder beat the New York Jets 30-27 on Nov. 9.

James White rushed for two touchdowns for the Patriots (5-6).

Cam Newton struggled, finishing 9-of-18 passing for 84 yards and 2 interceptions. But New England won the game despite finishing with 179 yards by taking advantage of mistakes by the Cardinals (6-5).

"I'd rather have an ugly win than a pretty loss," Newton said. "We didn't play our best game offensively. But when we needed it, we got the job done and that's all that counts."

New England's defense was solid throughout, holding Arizona's top-ranked offense, which entered the game averaging 414 yards, to 298 yards.

The Patriots had a pivotal goal-line stand before halftime and also had a 53-yard kickoff return by Donte Moncrief -- elevated from the practice squad Saturday -- to set up their first touchdown of the game.

Kenyan Drake rushed for 78 yards and two touchdowns for Arizona.

Kyler Murray finished 23-of-34 passing for 170 yards and an interception. Murray had 31 rushing yards and was held without a touchdown pass for the first time this season, but he said he wasn't limited by his recent shoulder injury.

"I didn't adjust anything," Murray said. "I wasn't going to play if I couldn't be myself."

Trailing 10-0 early, New England used a turnover in the third quarter to take its first lead of the game.

Facing third down, Murray's pass intended for DeAndre Hopkins was deflected at the line of scrimmage by Adam Butler and intercepted by Adrian Phillips at the Arizona 31. Six plays later, White scored on a 1-yard run to make it 17-10.

"Today we really made sure that no matter what we're gonna pressure this guy, we're gonna bring it after him," Phillips said of Murray. "We're not just fixing to let him run around."

After a Patriots' punt, Arizona tied it up again in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard TD run by Drake with 8:02 remaining.

A promising drive by New England was then halted when Dre Fitzpatrick intercepted Newton's short pass intended for Damiere Byrd with 4:37 remaining.

Arizona had a chance to take the lead, but Zane Gonzalez missed wide right on a 45-yard field-goal attempt with 1:47 left.

Newton's streak of four consecutive games without an interception ended just three plays into the Patriots' opening drive. Cardinals linebacker Jordan Hicks was unblocked on a blitz and hit Newton as he threw, allowing Markus Golden to come up with the easy pick.

Arizona took over on the New England 23 and used a 19-yard pass from Murray to Andy Isabella to set up a 1-yard TD run by Drake two plays later.

Arizona appeared to extend its lead just before halftime on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Murray to KeeSean Johnson, but a review showed Johnson's knee was down before he crossed the goal line.

The Cardinals went for it on fourth and 1, but Drake's run was stopped short by Akeem Spence and Ja'Whaun Bentley as time expired.

"It's an unfortunate turn of events," Murray said. "Obviously we get points right there, we put ourselves in a better situation. I didn't see anything wrong with the play call. We just didn't execute."

New England Patriots kicker Nick Folk celebrates his game-winning field goal with lineman Joe Thuney, left, and holder Jake Bailey, rear, as time expires in an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots kicker Nick Folk celebrates his game-winning field goal with lineman Joe Thuney, left, and holder Jake Bailey, rear, as time expires in an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots running back James White celebrates his touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots running back James White celebrates his touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots defensive back Adrian Phillips, center, celebrates his interception of a pass by Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots defensive back Adrian Phillips, center, celebrates his interception of a pass by Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots running back James White, center, celebrates his touchdown run against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots running back James White, center, celebrates his touchdown run against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Markus Golden, right, celebrates his interception of a pass by New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton, left, in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Markus Golden, right, celebrates his interception of a pass by New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton, left, in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Jordan Hicks, left, hits the arm of New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton (1) causing an errant pass and an interception in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Jordan Hicks, left, hits the arm of New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton (1) causing an errant pass and an interception in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton, front, scrambles away from Arizona Cardinals linebackers De'Vondre Campbell, left, and Kylie Fitts in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton, front, scrambles away from Arizona Cardinals linebackers De'Vondre Campbell, left, and Kylie Fitts in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray passes against the New England Patriots in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray passes against the New England Patriots in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots cornerback Jason McCourty, rear, tackles Arizona Cardinals wide receiver KeeSean Johnson short of the goal line near the end fo the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots cornerback Jason McCourty, rear, tackles Arizona Cardinals wide receiver KeeSean Johnson short of the goal line near the end fo the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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