Home Cooking Is Next for Patriots

Getting a punt blocked, throwing an interception in the red zone and racking up nine penalties usually is a recipe for defeat. Unless the opponent is the Detroit Lions.

Antowain Smith ran for 80 yards and a touchdown, and Tedy Bruschi returned an interception 27 yards for a score as the New England Patriots beat Detroit, 20-12, Thursday.

“Today wasn’t one of the most attractive wins of the year,” said New England’s Troy Brown, who caught 10 passes for 111 yards. “It will be tough to win playing ugly now, because we’ve got three division teams coming up, and we’re all fighting for a spot.”

The Patriots (7-5) have won four of five games -- after losing four in a row -- to pull within half a game of AFC East-leading Miami. The Super Bowl champions play Buffalo, the New York Jets and the Dolphins at home in December.

The Lions (3-9) had their losing streak extended to four and lost consecutive games on Thanksgiving for the first time since 1992-93.

After Jason Hanson’s fourth field goal cut Detroit’s deficit to 20-12 with 9:46 left, the Patriots ran out the clock by driving from their 19 to the Detroit one. Tom Brady then took a knee to end the game.

During the 17-play drive, New England was penalized twice on third-and-seven but converted both times.

In the second quarter, Brady had a chance to add to New England’s 10-3 lead after Deion Branch’s 63-yard kickoff return, but he threw an interception to Chris Cash at the Detroit 16. The Lions then gained 14 yards before punting.

On the Patriots’ next drive, Chris Claiborne blocked a punt, but three plays later, Willie McGinest leaped for an interception at the Patriot 16.

“It was pretty even, but we were able to make the right plays at the right time,” Patriot Coach Bill Belichick said. “We converted turnovers, we picked up some big third-down conversions and we played good defense.”