DETROIT ? 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 straight – 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) lost consecutive games on Thanksgiving Day 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 1. Tom Brady then kneeled to end the game.

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 Patriots 16.

New England scored two TDs off Joey Harrington’s three first-half interceptions.

“When they got a pick, they scored,” Cash said. “When we got our pick, we didn’t come up with anything.”

Brady was 18-of-30 for 210 yards with an interception and no touchdowns. Harrington, a rookie, finished 22-of-44 for 210 yards with no TD passes.

“It’s not fun,” Harrington said. “But they don’t know what’s going on like we do.”

New England needed fewer than six minutes to grab a 10-0 lead and never let the Lions get closer than 7.