Arizona Cardinals vs. New England Patriots: 2020 Week 12 Recap

Game story

In Week 12 of the 2020 NFL season on 2020-11-29, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 20–17 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 10 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Murray (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with +2.87 total EPA, and +1.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. White (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.40 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+24.6% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (:03) 6-N.Folk 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 J. White · New England Patriots · Rushing · +4.40 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.88 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Meyers · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.46 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.58 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Murray · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +2.87 total EPA · 42 snaps · +0.07 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Newton · New England Patriots · Rushing · +2.47 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Edmonds · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +0.98 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Arnold · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +0.87 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Isabella · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +0.84 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
8. 8 K. Drake · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +0.69 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Arizona Cardinals — K. Drake (Q1 57:13)
• New England Patriots — J. White (Q2 44:21)
• New England Patriots — J. White (Q3 18:35)
• Arizona Cardinals — K. Drake (Q4 8:06)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — Z. Gonzalez (Q1 46:53)
• New England Patriots — N. Folk (Q3 22:50)
• New England Patriots — N. Folk (Q4 0:03)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 10–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q1 57:13) — (12:13) (Shotgun) 41-K.Drake left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the NE 20 (Q1 57:09) — 5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the NE 29 (Q1 46:53) — (1:53) 5-Z.Gonzalez 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the ARI 7 (Q2 44:21) — (14:21) 28-J.White right tackle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q2 44:15) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 10–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the ARI 4 (Q3 22:50) — (7:50) 6-N.Folk 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the ARI 1 (Q3 18:35) — (3:35) 28-J.White left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. NE 28-White 2nd career multi-rush TD game; New England Patriots added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q3 18:30) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 7–3. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q4 8:06) — (8:06) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 41-K.Drake left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q4 8:02) — 5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the ARI 32 (Q4 0:03) — (:03) 6-N.Folk 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• New England Patriots (Q4 0:03) — (:03) 6-N.Folk 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey. [WPA +24.6% · EPA +1.03]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 1:52) — (1:52) 5-Z.Gonzalez 45 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee. [WPA -22.6% · EPA -3.29]
• New England Patriots (Q4 0:56) — (:56) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton left end pushed ob at NE 46 for 14 yards (48-I.Simmons). PENALTY on ARI-48-I.Simmons, Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact, 15 yards, enforced at NE 46. [WPA +17.1% · EPA +1.65]
• New England Patriots (Q4 4:37) — (4:37) 1-C.Newton pass short left intended for 10-D.Byrd INTERCEPTED by 20-D.Kirkpatrick at ARI 40. 20-D.Kirkpatrick to NE 47 for 13 yards (62-J.Thuney). [WPA -15.6% · EPA -4.43]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 3:00) — (3:00) (Shotgun) 29-C.Edmonds left tackle to NE 36 for 4 yards (41-M.Bryant). [WPA +15.1% · EPA +0.71]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• New England Patriots (Q1 58:45) — (13:45) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left intended for 15-N.Harry INTERCEPTED by 44-M.Golden (58-J.Hicks) at NE 24. 44-M.Golden to NE 23 for 1 yard (72-J.Eluemunor). [WPA -13.6% · EPA -5.10]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 21:29) — (6:29) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short left intended for 10-D.Hopkins INTERCEPTED by 21-A.Phillips (70-A.Butler) at ARI 31. 21-A.Phillips to ARI 31 for no gain. [WPA -9.5% · EPA -4.60]
• New England Patriots (Q4 4:37) — (4:37) 1-C.Newton pass short left intended for 10-D.Byrd INTERCEPTED by 20-D.Kirkpatrick at ARI 40. 20-D.Kirkpatrick to NE 47 for 13 yards (62-J.Thuney). [WPA -15.6% · EPA -4.43]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 30:03) — (:03) (Shotgun) 79-J.Jones reported in as eligible. 41-K.Drake up the middle to NE 1 for no gain (52-A.Spence, 51-J.Bentley). The Replay Official reviewed the short of the goal line ruling, and the pl [WPA -14.4% · EPA -3.86]

Quarterback report card

K.Murray led all passers in efficiency for Arizona Cardinals, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• K.Murray (Arizona Cardinals) · 42 dropbacks · 54.8% completion · +1.4% CPOE · +0.07 EPA/play · +2.87 total EPA
• C.Newton (New England Patriots) · 22 dropbacks · 40.9% completion · -16.9% CPOE · -0.45 EPA/play · -9.98 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Arizona Cardinals -0.07, New England Patriots -0.10) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Arizona Cardinals: 9 drives, -6.16 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 9 drives, -6.47 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• New England Patriots leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• J. White (New England Patriots) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Newton (NE) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q1 57:13 · NE 1 · Score 6-0
   (12:13) (Shotgun) 41-K.Drake left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 57:09 · NE 20 · Score 7-0
   5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.
3. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q1 46:53 · NE 29 · Score 10-0
   (1:53) 5-Z.Gonzalez 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.
4. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 44:21 · ARI 7 · Score 10-6
   (14:21) 28-J.White right tackle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 44:15 · ARI 15 · Score 10-7
   6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.
6. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q3 22:50 · ARI 4 · Score 10-10
   (7:50) 6-N.Folk 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.
7. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 18:35 · ARI 1 · Score 10-16
   (3:35) 28-J.White left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. NE 28-White 2nd career multi-rush TD game
8. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 18:30 · ARI 15 · Score 10-17
   6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.
9. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 8:06 · NE 1 · Score 16-17
   (8:06) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 41-K.Drake left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 8:02 · NE 15 · Score 17-17
    5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.
11. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q4 0:03 · ARI 32 · Score 17-20
    (:03) 6-N.Folk 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.