FINAL: Patriots 20, Cardinals 17 - New England scores 17 straight points, makes it stand up ... somehow

The Patriots had "scoring" drives of 46, 35, 31 and 33 yards. Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury botched game management about five different times. Cam Newton was a total liability. The defense committed about five different penalties to allow the Cardinals to tie the game, ... and the Patriots somehow emerged with a victory to stay in the playoff race at 5-6.

WTH.

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• Cardinals tie the game after the Patriots commit about 35 penalties on third down. PATRIOTS 17, CARDINALS 17. 


• Newton throws an interception. Defense has to come up big.


• They hold, and Cardinals miss a 45-yard FG to take the lead with 1:47 left.

• Patriots get the stop, and a punt return for a TD, but Anfernee Jennings is correctly flagged for a crack back block because he was blocking back to his goal line. Patriots fail to convert with goal to go when Newton doesn't give Byrd a chance to catch it. CARDINALS 10, PATRIOTS 10.


• Patriots get an INT on a tipped pass. Can take the lead here.


• Patriots convert on third and goal with White to the pylon. PATRIOTS 17, CARDINALS 10.

• N'Keal Harry doing his best job to get cut this drive with a holding penalty and a drop.


• Herron can't execute his block on third down, but Patriots go for it on fourth down and the speed option to White gets it in. CARDINALS 10, PATRIOTS 7.


• Patriots get off the field with a punt thanks to some good pressure from Uche and Winovich.

• Not a good start for Cam Newton. He's slow on the first third down, leading to an interception, and then he's wide with on first down the next series. In between, the Cardinals scored off the INT. CARDINALS 7, PATS 0.


• A terrible throw on next third down, but a hold gives the Patriots a first down. Another sack on second down, but a tunnel screen to Damiere Byrd converts 3rd and 16.


• Incomplete on third down. Newton is 1 of 4 for 17 yards and his only completion was the tunnel screen. He's not ready to play.


• Patriots blitz Murray on third down to force an incompletion and hold them to a FG. CARDINALS 10, PATS 0.