The Arizona Cardinals, who were an afterthought heading into the season, are 2-0 after upsetting the New England Patriots 20-18 at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.

A humdrum three and a half quarters gave way to sheer chaos in the game’s final minute.

Cardinals running back Ryan Williams seemingly coughed up the game with a fumble at the Arizona 30 with just over a minute left. However, a collection of New England gaffes gave Williams a pardon:

• Rob Gronkowski was called for holding on Danny Woodhead’s 30-yard touchdown run.
• Moments later, Gronkowski was called for a false start; subsequently pushing Gostkowski’s field goal attempt back five yards.

Those two Gronk errors led to Gostkowski offering up a “Cundiff special” and kicking the ball near the Mass Pike.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dl2v867pTI

We’re going in on the final moments on Monday morning because quite frankly, some of the other maneuvers in the final 1:01 of the game were bewildering.

The loss marked the first time the Patriots lost a home opener since September 23, 2001 against the Jets.

It was that game which swung the Patriots’ fortunes and led to Tom Brady becoming New England’s starting quarterback.

New England hits the field next Sunday night in Baltimore to face the Ravens.

Photo courtesy of RevengeoftheBirds.com.