It was a rare miss for the Patriots dependable kicker, but what a big miss it was.

After a frantic back-and-forth in the fourth quarter, the Patriots were in position to snatch victory from defeat at Gillette Stadium this afternoon but Stephen Gostkowski, who had been 4-for-4 on kicks against the Arizona Cardinals, including a pair of 50-plus yard field goals, pushed his 42-yard attempt wide left and the Patriots went down to a stunning 20-18 defeat.

Gostkowski took the heat for the Patriots loss.

“I had an opportunity to win the game,” Gostkowski said after the game in the locker room. “I had a good game up until that point, and I felt good going out there, it’s just one of those things, you get opportunities like that not very often, and I’ve got to do a lot better job of coming through for the team.

“We had a chance to win and it came down to me, and I didn’t pull through. It stinks. I feel bad for the fans and my teammates. I can’t take it back now, I went out there feeling good about the kick, just didn’t execute.”

Gostkowski said he felt confident that he could make the kick.

“It wasn’t the smoothest set, and I looked up and I saw it was left, and you know, sometimes the ball just doesn’t fly your way. There’s probably not another game where I’d be more confident going out for a kick like that, and it humbles you really quick.”

The Patriots kicker is ready to take the heat for the loss.

“I’m sure I’ll get ripped for it by the fans and stuff, but it’s well deserved,” he said. “My teammates have my back and no one feels worse about missing the kick than I do.”