The New England Patriots’ (5-6) topsy-turvy season continued in Foxboro this season, as they downed the upstart Arizona Cardinals (6-5) 20-17 off of Nick Folk’s 19th field goal make in a row, and second game-winning kick this season.
The Patriots offense mightily struggled again, but the story of the game was Bill Belichick’s defense rattling Kyler Murray and the mighty Cardinals offense.
The Patriots limited Murray to just 201 total yards and an interception on Sunday with a game plan that featured a variety of different formations, often utilizing three or more safeties, with many lining up near the box to help in run coverage (versus Murray and Arizona running backs) as well as shallow zone coverage in the passing game.
Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury, a former Belichick draft pick for the Patriots in 2003, was seemingly flustered throughout the game.
We broke down the Patriots’ defensive performance here.
