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History of the New England Patriots

October 19, 2023

This article contains an in-depth explanation of the history of the New England Patriots, a professional American football team that competes in the National Football League (NFL).

Regular season winning percentage, 1960–2010

Earlier NFL experience Edit

Boston had previously been home to several NFL teams. The first was the Boston Bulldogs, which lasted only one season (1929).[1] They were followed by the Boston Braves/Redskins, from 1932 to 1936.[2] They played first at Braves Field and then at Fenway Park.[2] The team moved to Washington following the 1936 season.[2] The Boston Yanks played from 1944 to 1948 before moving to New York to become the New York Yanks.[3][4]

1960–1969: AFL beginnings Edit

On November 16, 1959, Boston business executive Billy Sullivan was awarded the eighth and final franchise of the developing American Football League (AFL).[5] In addition to William and Joseph Sullivan, other initial investors in the team were John Ames, a lawyer,[6] Dean Boylan, president of Boston Sand & Gravel), George Sargent, an insurance executive, Dom DiMaggio, former Boston Red Sox center fielder,[7] Dan Marr, president of Marr Scaffolding Co, Ed McMann, president of the Northeast Packing Co, Paul Sonnabend, vice president of Hotel Corporation of America, and Edgar Turner, president of the 7-Up Distributors Corp.[8] Each of the founders invested $25,000 to capitalize the team.[8]

The following winter, locals were allowed to submit ideas for the Boston football team's official name.[9] The most common one, and the one that Sullivan selected, was the "Boston Patriots,"[10][11] with "Patriots" referring to those colonists of the Thirteen Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution and in July 1776 declared the United States of America an independent nation. Immediately thereafter, artist Phil Bissell of The Boston Globe developed the "Pat Patriot" logo.[12]

On July 30, 1960, the Boston Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills in the first AFL pre-season game.[13] The Boston Patriots played in the first-ever game in the American Football League, against the Denver Broncos on September 9, 1960, which they lost by a score of 10–13.[14] The Boston Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills in an AFL Eastern Division playoff game in 1963 and made it to the AFL Championship for the first time, but lost to the San Diego Chargers 51–10.[15][16] During the 1963 season, nine Patriots made the AFL All-star team, including Gino Cappelletti, Nick Buoniconti, and Babe Parilli.[17] In 1964, Linebacker Tom Addison, an original Patriot, founded and was selected President of the AFL Players Association.[18] In the late-1960s, fullback Jim Nance became a top offensive player for the Patriots, gaining 1,458 yards during the 1966 season and 1,216 during the 1967 season.[19] He was named the AFL MVP in 1966.[19]

1970-1973: Post AFL-NFL merger Edit

After the AFL–NFL merger in 1970, the league required that all teams reside in stadiums with at least 50,000 seats.[20] Prior to 1970, The Patriots did not have a regular home stadium. Nickerson Field,[21][22] Harvard Stadium,[23] Fenway Park, and Alumni Stadium, served as home fields during their time in the American Football League.[24] None of the four stadiums the Patriots had used up to that point qualified, and there was little room in Boston for a new stadium.[20] Due to this, discussions about a possible relocation to Tampa, Florida occurred.[25][26]

In 1971, the Patriots moved into a new stadium in suburban Foxborough, Massachusetts, built on land granted by the Bay State Raceway.[27] The team was renamed the New England Patriots on March 22, 1971, to reflect its new location.[28][29] The original choice, Bay State Patriots was rejected by the NFL.[30][31] The stadium, to be known as Schaefer Stadium, was built at a cost of about $6.2 million in only 327 days.[32] The stadium was one of the first stadiums in the country to be named after a corporate sponsor, as the Schaefer Brewing Company paid $1 million for naming rights.[32]

The first event held at the new Schaefer Stadium was a preseason game against the New York Giants on August 15, 1971.[32] A massive traffic jam on Route 1 prevented many fans from getting in until halftime.[33][34]

In 1971, the Patriots had a new quarterback, Heisman Trophy[35] winner Jim Plunkett.[36][37] Plunkett, from Stanford University, was the first overall selection in the 1971 NFL Draft.[37][38] The Patriots also signed free agent Randy Vataha, a wide receiver.[39]

1973–1978: Fairbanks era Edit

 
Hall of Fame offensive guard John Hannah, who played with the Patriots from 1973 to 1985, has been regarded among the best all-time offensive linemen.[40]

The Patriots added three players to the team from the 1973 NFL Draft; offensive guard John Hannah, who became the first career Patriot to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame;[41] running back Sam Cunningham, the team's all-time leading rusher;[42][43] and wide receiver Darryl Stingley.[44]

In 1973, the team hired Chuck Fairbanks, who had been head coach at the University of Oklahoma, as head coach.[45][46] The Patriots improved in Fairbanks's second season, 1974, finishing 7–7.[47] During the 1975 season, QB Plunkett was injured and the team ended the season 3–11.[48][49] Following the 1975 season, Plunkett was traded to the San Francisco 49ers,[50] and eventually would win two Super Bowls with the Oakland Raiders.[51]

The draft picks acquired in the Plunkett trade were used to select defensive backs Mike Haynes and Tim Fox.[51][52] The Patriots finished the 1976 season 11–3, their best record in team history to that point, and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1963 as a wild card-berth.[53]

1976 playoffs Edit

The Patriots played the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the playoffs. Late in the game, the Patriots were leading the Raiders, 21–17.[54] On a 3rd-down play late in the 4th quarter, Patriots defensive tackle Ray "Sugar Bear" Hamilton sacked Oakland quarterback Ken Stabler, which would have forced the Raiders into a 4th-down situation.[54] However, referee Ben Dreith called a roughing the passer penalty on Hamilton, nullifying the sack and giving the Raiders an automatic 1st down.[54] The penalty was debated later, but gave the Raiders the opportunity to score.[54][55] Stabler scored on a short touchdown run with less than a minute left, and the Raiders held on for a 24–21 win.[56]

1977-1978 Edit

The 1977 season was a disappointing one for the Patriots, due in part to contract holdouts by offensive linemen John Hannah and Leon Gray.[57] The Patriots finished 9–5, one game out of first place in the AFC East, and out of the playoffs.[58]

In a 1978 preseason game against the Raiders, wide receiver Darryl Stingley was paralyzed from the neck down from a tackle by Oakland's Jack Tatum.[59] The Patriots finished 11–5 for their first post-merger AFC East championship.[60] However, hours before the final game of the regular season, coach Chuck Fairbanks announced he would be leaving the team to become head coach at the University of Colorado.[61] Owner Billy Sullivan immediately suspended Fairbanks, and offensive coordinator Ron Erhardt and defensive coordinator Hank Bullough were left to coach the final game without a head coach.[62] Fairbanks was reinstated for the playoffs, but the team lost its divisional playoff game 31–14 to the Houston Oilers, which also was the first Patriots post-season game at Schaefer Stadium.[63]

1979–1984: Coaching changes Edit

For the next two years, the Patriots would suffer late-season losses that denied them return trips to the playoffs. In 1979, after starting 7–3, the team lost five out of their last eight games, to finish 9–7 and out of the playoffs.[64] In 1980, with running back Sam Cunningham holding out all season,[65] the Patriots started 6–1[66] but finished 10–6, again out of the playoffs.[67] The Patriots continued to slide in 1981, finishing 2–14.[68]

Following the 1981 season, Erhardt was fired[69] and replaced by Ron Meyer, who had been the head coach at Southern Methodist University.[70] The Patriots had the top draft pick overall in the 1982 NFL Draft and selected Kenneth Sims, a defensive end from the University of Texas at Austin.[71]

In the strike-shortened 1982 season, the highlight of the Patriots' campaign was the "Snow Plow Game", a controversial 3–0 late-season win over the Miami Dolphins.[72] The controversy came in the 4th quarter when the Patriots were preparing for a field goal attempt.[72] Mark Henderson, a convict on work release, used a tractor to clear a swath of field to aid the Patriots.[72] Kicker John Smith's 33-yard attempt was good, and they were the only points scored by either team that afternoon.[72] The win helped put the Patriots in the playoffs, but the first-round rematch in Miami was won by the Dolphins.[73][74]

In 1983, the naming-rights deal for the stadium with Schaefer expired, and the stadium was renamed Sullivan Stadium.[75] Also in 1983, quarterback Tony Eason was drafted in the first round.[76] Eason played sparingly in 1983, but became the Patriots' starting quarterback in 1984.[76][77] The team ended the season 8-8.[78]

The Patriots, with the top pick in the 1984 NFL Draft, selected Irving Fryar, a wide receiver from the University of Nebraska.[79] With Tony Eason starting at quarterback, the Patriots got off to a 5–2 start.[80][81] However, after a few losses, the Patriots fired head coach Ron Meyer and replaced him with former Baltimore Colts wide receiver Raymond Berry.[82] The team won three of their first four games under Berry.[83][84][85][86] The team lost several games late in the 1984 season, and finished out of the playoffs at 9–7.[87]

1985: First Super Bowl appearance Edit

Main article: 1985 New England Patriots season
 
Craig James rushes the ball against the Dolphins in the 1985–86 AFC Championship Game.

After struggling to start the 1985 season, and Eason suffering a shoulder injury in October, coach Raymond Berry replaced Eason with Grogan.[88] Grogan broke his leg during the 12th game of the season and Eason took over as starting quarterback.[89][90] New England won six straight games and finished 11–5.[91] They then beat the New York Jets 26–14, earning a wild card berth to the playoffs.[91]

In the divisional playoff against the Los Angeles Raiders, the Patriots forced six turnovers and won 27–20.[92] Dawson started the game with a touchdown, then when the Patriots were kicking off in the 4th quarter, a fumble by the Raiders resulted in a touchdown for Jim Bowman.[92] After beating the Raiders, the Patriots were set to play the Miami Dolphins in the AFC Championship.[92] Days before the championship game, Irving Fryar was injured in a domestic incident and had to have his hand cast.[93] The Patriots defeated the Dolphins 31–14.[94] Eason threw touchdowns to running back Tony Collins and tight end Derrick Ramsey early in the game.[94] Later, a touchdown by Mosi Tatupu won the Patriots the AFC Championship of 1985.[94] They went on to the Super Bowl XX, where they faced the Chicago Bears.[94]

 
The Patriots' defense attempting to stop a Bears' end zone rushing play during Super Bowl XX.

In the Super Bowl, the Patriots took an early 3–0 lead after Walter Payton fumbled in the 1st quarter, resulting a field goal by Tony Franklin.[95] The Bears would scored 44 points, including a touchdown by rookie defensive lineman William "The Refrigerator" Perry.[96] The Patriots made one touchdown,[97] at the end to make the final score 46–10.[95]

1986–1992: Ownership changes and struggles Edit

 
 
Defensive players Johnny Rembert (left) and Brent Williams (right) are members of the Patriots' All-1980s and All-1990s Team, respectively.

Soon after the 1985 Super Bowl, Boston Globe sportswriter Ron Borges wrote a story alleging that six Patriots players, including Fryar, cornerback Raymond Clayborn, safety Roland James, and running back Tony Collins were marijuana users.[98][99] In May 1986, allegations surfaced that Fryar was involved in gambling of NFL games.[100][101] In July 1986, offensive lineman John Hannah retired.[102]

In 1986, the Patriots' strength was their passing game, led by Eason and receiver Stanley Morgan, who gained nearly 1,500 yards receiving.[103] The Patriots led the AFC East with an 11–5 record and traveled to Denver to take on the Broncos in the divisional playoffs.[104] A 4th-quarter touchdown pass from John Elway to Vance Johnson won the game for Denver.[105]

In 1987, the Patriots acquired Doug Flutie from Natick, Massachusetts, who won the Heisman Trophy for Boston College in 1984.[106] He was acquired by the Patriots during the 1987 players' strike and crossed the picket line to play his first game for the Patriots.[107] However, late-season injuries put the Patriots out of playoff contention at 8–7.[108][109] In 1988, the Patriots finished the season 9–7, narrowly missed the playoffs.[110]

During this time, the Sullivan family lost millions of dollars on poor investments, most notably from producing The Jackson 5 1984 Victory Tour.[111] The Sullivans' losses from the Victory Tour impacted the operation of the Patriots.[111][112] The Sullivans had never been among the wealthier NFL owners, and had been forced to pledge Sullivan Stadium as collateral to finance the Victory Tour in 1984.[113][114] The losses from the Victory Tour were reportedly equivalent to the family's net worth, and the revenue from the Patriots was not enough to service the debt even after the team made it to the Super Bowl.[114] The losses from the Victory Tour forced the Sullivans to put the Patriots and Sullivan Stadium on the market in 1985.[111][113]

In August 1985, The Boston Globe reported that the Sullivans were looking to sell the Patriots, Sullivan Stadium, and their lease on Foxboro Raceway due to the family's financial and legal problems.[115] On April 10, 1986, a group of six Pennsylvania businessmen led by Fran Murray and Drew Lewis purchased a three-year option to acquire the team, stadium, and racetrack lease.[116] They later sold the option to Jeffrey Chodorow, however Chodorow and the Sullivans were unable to come to terms on a sale.[117] Buddy LeRoux began negotiations to purchase the team in December 1986, however, due to a lack of progress on the deal, he withdraw his offer on March 17, 1987.[118][119] The following year, the Sullivans entered negotiations to sell the team and stadium to Donald Trump, however, because Trump was funding a lawsuit against the league at that time, it was unlikely he would be approved by the league's owners and the deal was abandoned.[120][121] Robert Tisch, Robert Kraft, Peter de Savary, and Joe O'Donnell also made offers for the team.[122][123][124][125]

By the start of 1988, the Sullivans were heading for bankruptcy and at one point had to get a $4 million advance from the league to make payroll.[112] Sullivan sought to sell 50 percent of the team's shares to the public. The NFL turned down this request out of hand.[126] Instead, it appointed a four-man committee vested with what amounted to "wartime powers" to resolve the Patriots' finances by any means necessary–up to and including selling the team. However, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle made clear that it would be untenable for the Patriots to remain under the Sullivans' control. For all intents and purposes, the Sullivan era was over.[127]

After an attempt to sell a stake in the team to Reebok CEO Paul Fireman fell through, the Sullivans sold the team to Remington Products magnate Victor Kiam in 1988 for $90 million,[128][114] though Billy Sullivan remained team president.[129] However, the stadium lapsed into bankruptcy, and Kiam was outbid for it by Boston paper magnate Robert Kraft.[114]

In 1988, the Patriots missed the playoffs by one game.[130] The 1989 season was bad for the team. Three of the team's defense players, Andre Tippett, Garin Veris and Ronnie Lippett, were injured in the same preseason game.[131] The team rotated the quarterback job throughout the season.[132] The Patriots waived Eason during the season and he was picked up by the Jets.[133] The Patriots finished the season 5–11.[134]

Following the season, Flutie left for the Canadian Football League,[135] and general manager Dick Steinberg left to take a job with the New York Jets.[136] Berry was fired and replaced by Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Rod Rust for 1990.[137] The Patriots finished with the worst season in franchise history in 1990 – a 1–15 record.[138]

The day after the team's only win that year, Boston Herald reporter Lisa Olson accused several Patriots players of sexually and verbally assaulting her in the team's locker room.[139] Kiam called Olson a "classic bitch" after the report.[140] Following an investigation into the accusations, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue fined the team $50,000, and players Zeke Mowatt, Michael Timpson and Robert Perryman $12,500, $5,000, and $5,000 respectively.[139] Their season finale against the New York Giants was a sellout; however, most of the fans at the game were Giants fans.[141] The team lost that game, missing a game-tying field goal in the closing seconds.[142]

After the 1990 season, the Patriots changed their front office. Rust was fired[143] and replaced by Dick MacPherson, who had been the coach at Syracuse University.[144] Additionally, Sam Jankovich, who had been athletic director at the University of Miami and oversaw the improvement of their athletic program, was brought on as CEO of the Patriots.[145]

The Patriots improved in 1991. Hugh Millen took over as quarterback partway through the season.[146] The Patriots ended the season at 6–10 with several upsets over playoff teams, including wins against the Minnesota Vikings and future AFC Champion Buffalo Bills.[147][148][149]

In May 1992, St. Louis businessman James Orthwein purchased Kiam's majority ownership of the Patriots.[150] Rumors of a possible move of the Patriots to St. Louis, Missouri occurred given Orthwein's desired to bring an NFL team to his hometown of St. Louis.[150][151][152] The Patriots finished the 1992 season, 2–14,[153] leading to the departures of MacPherson and Jankovich.[154][155]

1993–1996: Parcells era Edit

1993 Edit

Main article: 1993 New England Patriots season

In 1993, the Patriots hired Bill Parcells, a two-time Super Bowl winner, as head coach.[156] Also in 1993, the uniforms and logo were changed.[157] The old "Pat Patriot" logo was retired and replaced with a Patriot head, designed in tandem with NFL Properties that many fans would eventually call "Flying Elvis".[158][159][160] The team's primary color changed from red to blue, and the helmets from white to silver.[157]

The Patriots had the first pick in the 1993 NFL Draft, and selected quarterback Drew Bledsoe from Washington State.[161] They also drafted linebacker Chris Slade.[162] Bledsoe started the season as the starting quarterback, but was injured and replaced with former Dolphins backup Scott Secules.[163][164][165][166]

The 1993 season began with a 1–11 record,[167] but ended the season by winning their last four games in a row, over Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis, and over Miami in overtime in the finale, eliminating the Dolphins from the playoffs.[168][169][170][171]

1993–94 offseason: Bob Kraft Buys the Team Edit

Throughout the 1993 season, rumors continued that the team was going to move to St. Louis. In the 1993 off-season, the issue reached its climax. Orthwein offered Robert Kraft, the team's landlord since 1988, $75 million to break the lease on Foxboro Stadium, which bound the team to continue playing there until at least 2002. However, Kraft refused.[172] Orthwein was not willing to continue operating the team in New England, and put it up for sale. Kraft knew that the terms of the operating covenant required any potential buyer to deal with him, and made an offer to buy the team himself for a then-NFL record $160 million in 1994.[172][173] Although future St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke offered more money than Kraft, Orthwein would have been saddled with all relocation costs, as well as any legal expenses resulting from breaking the lease. With Kraft making it clear that he would seek an injunction that would have forced Kroenke or any other potential buyer to keep the Patriots in Foxborough, Orthwein was all but forced to accept Kraft's bid.[172][174]

On February 26, 1994, Kraft's first full day as owner of the Patriots, the team sold a record number of season tickets.[175] In September, the Patriots sold out the entire 1994 season.[176]

1994 Edit

Main article: 1994 New England Patriots season
 
Quarterback Drew Bledsoe

Halfway through the 1994 season, the Patriots were 3–6 and had lost 4 straight games when they faced the Minnesota Vikings for Week 10.[177] Drew Bledsoe started a second-half comeback by switching to a no-huddle offense.[178][179] Bledsoe set single-game records for pass attempts and completions, and the Patriots won the game 26–20 in overtime.[178] The Patriots won their last seven games of the regular season, finishing 10–6 and making the playoffs as a wild card.[180] In the first round of the playoffs, the Patriots were beaten by the Cleveland Browns 20–13.[181]

1995 Edit

Main article: 1995 New England Patriots season

The Patriots drafted Curtis Martin in the third round of the 1995 NFL Draft.[182] The Patriots won their opening day match against the Browns.[183] Martin had a good season as a rookie, winning the conference rushing title and was named Rookie of the Year.[184] Bledsoe struggled with injuries,[185] the team struggled with inconsistency,[186] and the Patriots finished 6–10.[187]

During the 1995, the Patriots had their first home appearance on Monday Night Football since 1981.[188] During the Patriots' last appearance on the program, a number of fans in attendance proved to be rowdy and uncontrollable, and there were over 60 arrests at the game.[189] As a result of this behavior, the Town of Foxborough and the NFL refused to schedule Monday night home games in New England.[190] During 1995, Robert Kraft lobbied for the Town of Foxborough and the NFL to schedule the Patriots on a Monday night.[191] The NFL granted Kraft's request, scheduling the Patriots on Monday, October 23, in a game against the Buffalo Bills.[188] The Patriots won the game, 27–14, and the crowd was peaceful and orderly, with only a handful of isolated disturbances and arrests.[188]

Also during 1995, the primary home station for most Patriots regular season games changed. Since 1965, the games had aired on WBZ-TV, Boston's NBC affiliate.[192] After owner Westinghouse Broadcasting switched the station's affiliation to CBS, WHDH-TV took on airing the NFL on NBC package locally.[193]

1996: Second Super Bowl appearance Edit

Main article: 1996 New England Patriots season

In the 1996 NFL Draft, the Patriots selected wide receiver Terry Glenn with their first round draft pick.[194] The Patriots started out lackluster in 1996. After an early-season loss to the Redskins at home dropped the Patriots to 3–3,[195] the Patriots won their next four games,[196] and finished the season 11–5.[197] The Patriots won the AFC East and earned a first-round bye in the playoffs as the #2 seed.[198] The Patriots defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 28–3 in a divisional playoff game.[199] They then beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 20–6 in the first AFC Championship game played in Foxboro.[200] The team advanced to Super Bowl XXXI against the Green Bay Packers.[200]

In the months and years after Kraft's purchase of the Patriots, relations between Kraft and Parcells were increasingly strained. This was primarily due to a struggle over Parcells' authority over football operations as Kraft wanted Parcells to yield some of his authority over personnel moves to a separate general manager.[201] The conflict climaxed in the days leading up to the Super Bowl, with rumors that Parcells would leave the Patriots after the season to take the vacant head coaching job with the New York Jets.[202] During the game the Patriots were close to the Packers for much of the game, and took the lead briefly in the 2nd quarter.[203] However, two long Brett Favre touchdown passes and a Super Bowl record 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by MVP Desmond Howard gave the Packers their 12th title.[204] The final score was 35–21.[204]

1997–1999: Pete Carroll years Edit

1997 Edit

Main article: 1997 New England Patriots season

After the Super Bowl, Parcells resigned from the Patriots.[205] Kraft believed that Jets were trying to hire Parcells in time for him to have say in the Jets' selections in the 1997 NFL Draft.[206] Since The Jets couldn't hire Parcells as their head coach in 1997 because of an earlier contract renegotiation, they hired Parcells as a consultant and Bill Belichick as head coach.[207][208] Kraft requested a 1st-round draft pick in return for allowing Parcells to coach elsewhere.[207] He also called the Jets' agreement "a transparent farce" that "demonstrated it was the Jets' intention all along for Bill Parcells to become head coach of the Jets for the '97 season."[206] Parcells claimed the Jets had been given league permission for the consulting agreement, the NFL denied any permission was given,[207] and had commissioner Paul Tagliabue arrange an agreement between the two sides.[209] The Patriots received two picks in the 1997 NFL Draft, a second round pick in the 1998 Draft, and a first round pick in the 1999 Draft in return for allowing Parcells to become the Jets' head coach.[209]

After former San Francisco 49ers head coach George Seifert turned down the job, Kraft hired Pete Carroll as the new head coach of the Patriots.[210] In 1997, the Patriots won the AFC East with a 10–6 record, but some key losses meant the team had to play in the wild card round in the playoffs.[211] After beating the Miami Dolphins 17–3 in Foxboro, the Patriots played the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh.[212] A late fumble won the game for Pittsburgh, 7–6.[213]

1998 Edit

Main article: 1998 New England Patriots season

During the 1998 offseason, the Patriots offered restricted free agent running back Curtis Martin a $1.153 million contract.[214] However, the Jets signed Martin, and per restricted free agency rules, ceded their 1st- and 3rd-round picks in the 1998 NFL Draft to the Patriots.[215][216] With the 1st-round pick, the Patriots selected running back, Robert Edwards.[217]

Their game against the Buffalo Bills on November 29, 1998 was controversial due to a series of questionable calls.[218] With under a minute to go and down by four points, the Patriots played a long drive.[219] However, the Buffalo defense appeared to stop the Patriots on 4th down with a juggled catch out of bounds.[219] The referees needed to determine whether receiver Shawn Jefferson was inbounds, caught the ball, and achieved first down yardage.[219] The referee on the sideline signaled first down after a conference with other officials.[220] Several Bills claimed one said "just give it to them" in the huddle.[220] Television instant replays showed that Jefferson was short of first down yardage, but the NFL had discontinued use of instant replay after the 1991 season.[220] This call was followed by a questionable pass interference decision made in the end zone on what would have been the game's final play.[221] Bledsoe hit tight end Ben Coates for a touchdown on the final untimed play of the game.[221] In protest, the Bills left the field.[218]

Drew Bledsoe and Terry Glenn were both injured later the season,[222] and the Patriots got the last playoff spot with a 9–7 record.[223] The Patriots lost 25–10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first playoff game.[224]

Although Robert Edwards had a promising rookie season, his career was derailed after he suffered a dislocated knee in Hawaii while playing a game of flag football on the beach.[225]

Also during 1998, most Patriots games moved back to WBZ-TV after a three-year absence.[226]

1999 Edit

Main article: 1999 New England Patriots season

Taking Edwards' place in 1999 were veteran Terry Allen and rookie Kevin Faulk.[227] The Patriots opened with a 30–28 victory over the New York Jets,[228] followed by hosting the Indianapolis Colts and second-year quarterback Peyton Manning.[229] Manning raced the Colts to a 28–7 halftime lead, but was limited to just 13 second-half passing yards as Drew Bledsoe threw three touchdowns.[229][230] After an Edgerrin James fumble, Adam Vinatieri kicked the winning field goal in a 31–28 final.[230] After a 27–3 win over the Arizona Cardinals, Coates went to the media to protest that he was not being thrown to enough.[231] After this, the team stumbled and finished 8–8 and out of the playoffs.[232] Following the season, Carroll was fired,[233] while Vice President of Player Personnel Bobby Grier was retained only until the 2000 NFL Draft.[234]

2000–2019: Brady/Belichick dynasty Edit

See also: Brady–Belichick era

2000: Belichick hired and Brady drafted Edit

Main article: 2000 New England Patriots season
 
Head coach Bill Belichick transformed the Patriots into a perennial Super Bowl contender.

Pete Carroll was fired as head coach in January 2000[235] and owner Robert Kraft attempted to hire Jets assistant head coach Bill Belichick for the Patriots' head coaching position.[236] Belichick had been an assistant coach under Parcells with the Patriots in 1996, but followed Parcells to the Jets.[207] After the 1999 season, Parcells resigned as head coach of the Jets and retired from NFL coaching.[237] Belichick succeeded him as head coach,[237] but resigned at a press conference the following day, citing the uncertainty over the Jets' ownership after the death of Leon Hess as his reason.[238][239] The Jets denied Belichick permission to speak with other teams and the NFL upheld Belichick's contractual obligations to the Jets.[240][241] Belichick filed an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL.[242] After negotiations, the Patriots and Jets agreed to a compensation package that allowed Belichick to become the Patriots' head coach.[243] The deal had the Patriots send their first round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft and fourth and seventh round picks in the 2001 Draft to the Jets, while receiving the Jets' fifth round selection in 2001 and seventh round pick in 2002.[244]

Belichick restructured the team's personnel department in the offseason.[245] The Patriots finished the 2000 season 5–11 and missing the playoffs.[246] Also in 2000, the Patriots updated their uniforms.[247]

2001: First Super Bowl Championship Edit

Main article: 2001 New England Patriots season

In 2001, Drew Bledsoe signed a 10-year contract extension and offensive tackle Bruce Armstrong retired.[248][249][250] Wide receiver Terry Glenn didn't show up to training camp in August and was suspended by the NFL for the first four games of the season due to violating substance abuse policies.[251] During the training camp, quarterbacks coach Dick Rehbein died of cardiac arrest on August 6 at the age of 45.[252]

The Patriots lost their opener to the Cincinnati Bengals,[253] and in the first post-9/11 game, against the Jets, Bledsoe was injured, shearing a blood vessel in his chest after being tackled by Jets linebacker Mo Lewis.[254][255] Tom Brady, a sixth round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, took over for Bledsoe.[255] He remained the team's starting quarterback after Bledsoe was cleared to play two months later.[256] During the season, first-round draft pick Richard Seymour anchored the defensive line[257] and Antowain Smith, a free agent signed from Buffalo, ran over 1,000 yards.[258] The Patriots won their final six games to capture the AFC East with an 11–5 record.[259] The Patriots won a first-round bye as the #2 seed in the playoffs.[260]

In the final game played at Foxboro Stadium, the Patriots hosted the Oakland Raiders in a snowstorm.[261] This game became known as the "Tuck Rule Game", when a play originally ruled to be a Brady fumble was reversed by referee Walt Coleman as an incomplete pass based upon the obscure "tuck rule."[262] After review, Coleman ruled that, because Brady's arm was moving forward when he lost the ball, he was deemed to have been in the act of throwing when he lost control of the ball.[262] Had the original ruling stood, the Raiders would have clinched the win.[262] Instead, the Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri tied the game with a 45-yard field goal in the final 30 seconds.[262] The Raiders did not attempt to run a play at the end of regulation and, after losing the coin toss to start overtime, didn't get the ball again.[263] The Patriots drove downfield on their opening possession and won the game, 16–13.[263]

The Patriots faced the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game.[264] After Brady injured his ankle in the second quarter, Bledsoe came off the sideline and led the team to their only offensive touchdown of the game.[264][265] In the second half, with two special teams touchdowns and two fourth-quarter interceptions of passes thrown by Pittsburgh's Kordell Stewart, the Patriots upset the Steelers 24–17 to advance to Super Bowl XXXVI.[265][266]

 
Quarterback Tom Brady led the Patriots to six Super Bowl wins and nine Super Bowl appearances.

In the Super Bowl, the Patriots faced the St. Louis Rams, led by league MVP Kurt Warner.[267] During the game, Bill Belichick used a defensive game plan that used the blitz sparingly, but chipped the Rams receivers and running back Marshall Faulk as they went into their patterns.[268] This plan forced three turnovers.[269]

Belichick's defense held the Rams off until the 4th quarter, but after trailing 17–3 early in the quarter, St. Louis scored two touchdowns to tie the game at 17–17.[270] With 1:30 to go and no time-outs, Brady led New England's offense downfield to the Rams' 30-yard line, setting up Adam Vinatieri, who won the game with a 48-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Patriots their first Super Bowl win.[270][271] Brady was selected Super Bowl MVP.[271]

The Patriots' victory parade in Boston was attended by approximately 1.2 million fans.[272] During the offseason, Brady signed a long-term contract with the team and Bledsoe was traded to the Buffalo Bills for a 1st-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft.[273][274]

Gillette Stadium Edit

Main article: Gillette Stadium
 
Gillette Stadium

While owning the Patriots, Robert Kraft attempted to build a new stadium.[275] In 1998, Kraft came close to a deal with the Massachusetts Legislature for to build a new stadium adjacent to the old stadium, with the state providing $75 million for infrastructure improvements.[275] However, Massachusetts House Speaker Tom Finneran refused to support the bill and the deal failed.[276] Afterwards, Kraft reached a deal with Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland to build a new stadium in Hartford, Connecticut.[275] However, after the stadium plan was approved by the Connecticut General Assembly,[276] problems were discovered with the proposed site that would delay construction.[277] At this time, the NFL announced loan incentives where teams could borrow money from the league to build new stadiums.[278]

In 1999, Kraft announced that he was abandoning the Hartford stadium project.[279] Kraft reached a deal with the Massachusetts legislature for infrastructure improvements around the stadium.[280] The stadium received approval from the citizens of Foxborough for the new stadium.[281] The naming rights to the stadium were originally purchased by CMGi, an e-commerce company based in nearby Waltham, Massachusetts.[282] CMGi Corporation sold the naming rights to Boston-based Gillette.[282]

2002: Narrowly missing the playoffs Edit

Main article: 2002 New England Patriots season

Following their victory in Super Bowl XXXVI, the Patriots won their first game in the new Gillette Stadium in the NFL's prime-time Monday Night Football opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.[283] After three wins to begin the season, including a 44–7 road win against the division rival New York Jets,[284] the team lost five of its next seven games.[285] In the final week of the season, the Patriots defeated the Miami Dolphins on an overtime Adam Vinatieri field goal to give both teams a 9–7 record.[286] The Jets also finished with a 9–7 record after a win over the Green Bay Packers.[286] Due to their record, the Jets won the tiebreaker for the division title, which eliminated the Patriots and Dolphins from the playoffs.[287]

2003–04: Back-to-back Super Bowl titles Edit

Main articles: 2003 New England Patriots season and 2004 New England Patriots season
 
Patriot fans rally in front of Boston City Hall following the Super Bowl XXXVIII championship

Days before the start of the season, safety Lawyer Milloy was released,[288] prompting second-guessing of head coach Bill Belichick by fans. A report by ESPN analyst Tom Jackson stated that Patriots players "hated their coach".[289] The accusation was later denied by players.[289] Milloy signed with the Buffalo Bills, who defeated the Patriots 31–0 in the season opener.[289] After starting with a 2–2 record, the Patriots didn't lose another game.[290][291]

The Patriots had the NFL's best record at 14–2 and earned the top seed in the AFC 2003–04 playoffs, earning home-field advantage.[292] Their opponent in the divisional playoffs was the Tennessee Titans.[293] Played in a temperature of 8 °F (−13 °C), the Patriots and Titans played close until Adam Vinatieri kicked the go-ahead field goal with 4 minutes left.[294] An incomplete Steve McNair pass on 4th down with 1:40 left won the game 17–14 for New England.[294] The Patriots faced the Indianapolis Colts for the AFC Championship and won 24–14.[295] The Patriots returned to the Super Bowl, facing the Carolina Panthers.[295]

The first half of Super Bowl XXXVIII was a defensive battle between the teams.[296] The teams traded touchdowns late in the 2nd quarter, then more quick strikes by both teams made the score 14–10 Patriots at halftime.[297] The 3rd quarter was scoreless, but running back Antowain Smith scored on the first play of the 4th quarter to make it 21–10.[298] Carolina scored two more touchdowns, but failed to convert on both to take a 22–21 lead.[298] The Patriots played a trick pass to linebacker Mike Vrabel, followed by Kevin Faulk's run for a two-point conversion that put the Patriots up 29–22 with 2:51 left to play.[298] The Panthers drove downfield and Ricky Proehl's late touchdown catch tied the game, 29–29 with 1:08 to play.[298] Brady led the Patriots on a drive and Vinatieri kicked a 41-yard field goal with four seconds left.[298] The Patriots won their second Super Bowl, 32–29, and Brady was once again named MVP.[296]

 
Adam Vinatieri warms up prior to Super Bowl XXXIX.

Following their Super Bowl win, the Patriots traded a second-round draft pick for Cincinnati Bengals' running back Corey Dillon, who replaced Antowain Smith.[299] The Patriots set the NFL record for consecutive regular season victories after winning their first six games of the season.[300] During a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 31, cornerback Ty Law was injured.[301] Combined with the loss of other starting cornerback Tyrone Poole two weeks earlier, the Patriots completed the regular season and playoffs with second-year cornerback Asante Samuel, undrafted free agent Randall Gay, and wide receiver Troy Brown at cornerback.[302][303][304]

 
President George W. Bush poses with the New England Patriots during a ceremony honoring the Super Bowl XXXIX champions in the Rose Garden.

With a 14–2 record and the second seed in the AFC playoffs,[305] the Patriots defeated the Colts at home in the playoffs.[306] The Patriots then defeated the top-seeded Steelers on the road, 41–27, in the AFC Championship Game.[307] The Patriots' defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX 24–21 in their second straight Super Bowl victory.[308] As of 2021, the 2003–2004 New England Patriots are the most recent team to win back-to-back Super Bowls.[309]

2005–06: Playoff losses Edit

Main articles: 2005 New England Patriots season and 2006 New England Patriots season

Two weeks after winning Super Bowl XXXIX, linebacker Tedy Bruschi suffered a stroke.[310] Also during the off-season cornerback Ty Law was released.[311] During Week 3, Rodney Harrison was injured and didn't play for the rest of the season.[312] Beginning the season with a 4–4 record, the Patriots lost their first game at home since 2002 against the San Diego Chargers in Week 4.[313] Bruschi returned to the field against the Buffalo Bills on October 31.[314] The team ended the season on a 5–1 run to finish 10–6, earning their third straight AFC East title.[315] With the #4 seed in the AFC playoffs, the Patriots defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 28–3 in the wild-card round.[316] The Patriots fell to the Denver Broncos 27–13 on the road in the Divisional Playoffs, committing five turnovers in the game.[317]

The Patriots entered the 2006 season without their two starting wide receivers from 2005; David Givens left in free agency[318] and Deion Branch was traded to Seattle after a contract hold out.[319] They were replaced by Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney.[320][321] Losses in November ended the team's streak of 57 games without consecutive losses, three games shy of the NFL record.[322] With a 12–4 record and their fourth straight division title, the Patriots entered the playoffs as the #4 seed, defeating the New York Jets 37–16 in the Wild Card game of the playoffs.[323][324] A 24–21 win over the top-seeded San Diego Chargers on the road set the Patriots up to face the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship.[325] Despite a 21–3 lead in the 2nd quarter, the Patriots stumbled down the stretch and the Colts emerged with a 38–34 victory.[326]

2007: 18–1 season Edit

Main article: 2007 New England Patriots season

In 2007, the Patriots added Donte' Stallworth, a free agent, and traded for Wes Welker and Randy Moss.[327][328] Welker led the NFL in receptions in 2007, and Moss set an NFL record with 23 touchdown catches.[329][330] In September, head coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots were penalized by the NFL for videotaping opponents' defensive signals from an unauthorized location during their Week 1 game against the New York Jets.[331] The press called this situation Spygate.[331] Belichick was fined $500,000, the maximum allowed under league rules, and the Patriots were fined $250,000 and required to forfeit their first round pick in the 2008 draft.[332]

 
Randy Moss caught a league-record 23 touchdowns in 2007, which greatly helped Tom Brady pass for 50, also a record.
 
Wes Welker (right) was known by few before becoming a Patriot.

The Patriots won the AFC East before their eleventh game, the fourth time since the NFL introduced the 16-game schedule in 1978 that a team won a division title by its eleventh game.[333] The Patriots finished the regular season with the first 16–0 record in NFL history.[334] During the game, Brady and Moss connected on two touchdown passes, with Moss setting his 23-touchdown record and Brady setting a then-NFL record with 50 touchdown passes on the season.[335] It was the first undefeated regular season in the NFL since the 1972 Miami Dolphins finished 14–0.[335] Tom Brady earned his first NFL MVP award, while the Patriots' offense broke multiple records, including those for points scored and total touchdowns.[336][337]

With the #1 seed in the AFC playoffs,[338] the Patriots defeated both the Jacksonville Jaguars 31–20 and San Diego Chargers 21–12 before advancing to Super Bowl XLII.[339][340] The Patriots had the chance for a perfect 19–0 season with a victory over the New York Giants and analysts saw the 2007 Patriots as being the greatest team in NFL history.[341]

Despite being Super Bowl favorites, the Patriots faltered against a Giants drive late in the fourth quarter.[342] A dramatic pass from Eli Manning to David Tyree put the Giants deep in Patriots territory, and a Manning touchdown pass to Plaxico Buress gave the Giants a 17–14 lead with 35 seconds left.[342][343][344]

2008: The Cassel year Edit

Main article: 2008 New England Patriots season
 
Matt Cassel throws a pass in place of injured Tom Brady in 2008.

In the 2008 season opener, quarterback Tom Brady suffered a serious knee injury and missed the remainder of the season.[345] Backup quarterback Matt Cassel replaced Brady.[346] During Cassel's first start in Week 2 he led the Patriots to a win, which extended the team's regular-season winning streak record to 21 games.[347]

The Dolphins, Ravens and Patriots all finished the season with identical 11–5 records.[348] Miami qualified for the playoffs by winning the AFC East division over the Patriots on the fourth divisional tiebreaker.[348] Baltimore qualified for the playoffs as a wild card team, defeating the Patriots on the second wild card tiebreaker.[348]

2008–09 offseason: Changes Edit

During the offseason, the Patriots' offseason made a number of front office, coaching, and personnel changes. Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli departed to become the general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs.[349] Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was hired as the head coach of the Denver Broncos.[350] Quarterback Matt Cassel, was traded to the Chiefs along with veteran linebacker Mike Vrabel in March.[351] Defensive starters Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison both retired,[352][353] while All-Pro defensive end Richard Seymour was traded to the Oakland Raiders for a 1st-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.[354]

2009–10: Early playoff exits Edit

Main articles: 2009 New England Patriots season and 2010 New England Patriots season

In the 2009 season opener on Monday Night Football, the Patriots celebrated their 50th season with an American Football League "legacy game" against the Buffalo Bills.[355] Down 11 points late in the 4th quarter, the Patriots scored two touchdowns, winning the game.[355] It was also Brady's first game back after his injury in the 2008 opener.[356] In November, the 6–2 Patriots traveled to face the undefeated Indianapolis Colts; with a six-point lead late in the 4th quarter, the Patriots tried to convert a 4th and 2 situation inside their own 30-yard line but failed, setting up a Colts touchdown and the Patriots' third loss of the season.[357] After losing two of their next three games, the Patriots went on to win three in a row to secure a division title.[358][359] With the #3 seed in the AFC playoffs,[360] the Patriots faced the Baltimore Ravens at home in the Wild Card Playoffs.[361] The Ravens opened up a 24–0 lead in the 1st quarter, and the Patriots ended their season with a 33–14 loss.[361]

The Patriots went into 2010 without either a named offensive or defensive coordinator following the departure of defensive coordinator Dean Pees.[362] After beating Cincinnati in the season opener, they lost 28–14 to the Jets.[363][364] They finished the season 14–2.[365] By defeating the Bills in Week 16, New England swept that team for the sixth consecutive season, along with earning another AFC East title and the #1 seed.[365][366] Tom Brady finished the regular season with an NFL-record 335 consecutive pass attempts without an interception, while the Patriots committed an NFL-record low 10 turnovers on the season.[367][368]

[369]

The Patriots were favored to go to Super Bowl XLV, but lost to the Jets team in the divisional playoffs.[369]

2011: Return to the Super Bowl Edit

Main article: 2011 New England Patriots season

During the 2010 off-season, the Patriots drafted Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett.[370] The team also made two trades for defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth and wide receiver Chad Ochocinco.[371][372]

In the first game of the 2011 season, the Patriots played the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football, and New England won 38–24.[373] Brady set a personal single-game record with 517 passing yards, highlighted by an NFL record-tying 99-yard touchdown reception by Wes Welker.[373] They beat the San Diego Chargers in Week 2 in their home opener,[374] but their 15-game win streak against the Buffalo Bills ended when Tom Brady threw four interceptions, and the Patriots lost 34–31 on a last-second field goal.[375][376] The team then won three games in a row.[377][378][379] During the Patriots' bye in Week 7, an incident occurred where tight end Rob Gronkowski was seen in a photo with an adult film actress wearing his game shirt.[380] Following a 25–17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers,[381] wide receiver Julian Edelman was arrested for indecent assault following an incident in a Back Bay nightclub on Halloween.[382] The Patriots won their last eight games to take the top seed in the AFC playoffs.[383]

After defeating the Denver Broncos 45–10 in the Divisional Game,[384] the Patriots won the AFC Championship Game over the Baltimore Ravens 23–20, after Ravens receiver Lee Evans dropped a potential touchdown and kicker Billy Cundiff missed a game-tying 31-yard field goal attempt in the closing seconds.[385] The Patriots lost to the NFC champion New York Giants 21–17 in Super Bowl XLVI.[386]

2012–13: Playoff Losses in AFC Championship Edit

Main articles: 2012 New England Patriots season and 2013 New England Patriots season
 
Rob Gronkowski in 2013.

In their 2012 season opener, the Patriots defeated the Tennessee Titans before losing at home to the Arizona Cardinals.[387][388] In Week 3, New England lost to the Baltimore Ravens 30–28 on a last-second field goal.[389] The first three games of the season were officiated by replacement referees, as the regular referees were locked out during a contract dispute.[390] The replacement referees were criticized, and at the end of the Ravens game, Bill Belichick made contact with a referee as he was leaving the field to argue a call, which the league fined him for.[390][391] In Week 4, the Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills 52–28.[392] After that, the Patriots went on the defeat the Denver Broncos 31–21, but lost to the Seattle Seahawks 24–23 the following week.[393][394] The Patriots then defeated the New York Jets in overtime, 29–26, and continued on a seven-game win streak.[395][396] The Patriots ended the season as the #2 seed in the AFC.[397] The Patriots were given a bye week before they had to face the Houston Texans, who they defeated 41–28.[397][398] They then had faced the Baltimore Ravens and lost 28–13.[399]

The 2013 season saw turnover on the offensive side, as Wes Welker, signed a contract with the Denver Broncos,[400] and tight end Aaron Hernandez was released from the team due to legal issues.[401] The Patriots opened the season 4–0 before losing to the Cincinnati Bengals 13–6 in Week 5.[402] After a home win against the New Orleans Saints in Week 6,[403] the Patriots fell to the rival New York Jets 30–27 on a converted Nick Folk field goal following an unsportsmanlike penalty to rookie Chris Jones.[404] The team then had a pair of wins against the Miami Dolphins and the Pittsburgh Steelers,[405][406] but lost 24–20 on Monday Night Football to the Carolina Panthers following the bye week on a controversial end-game interception by Luke Kuechly.[407][408] New England finished as the AFC East champions, earning the No. 2 seed and a first round bye.[409]

2014: Fourth Super Bowl Championship Edit

Main article: 2014 New England Patriots season

In 2014, the Patriots finished 12–4 and won their sixth straight AFC East title.[410] They were the top seed, had a first round bye and had home field advantage for the AFC playoffs.[410]

The Patriots defeated the Baltimore Ravens 35–31 in the divisional round of the playoffs.[411] They then defeated the Indianapolis Colts 45–7 to advance to Super Bowl XLIX against the defending Super Bowl champions Seattle Seahawks.[412] After a scoreless first quarter, both teams exchanged two touchdowns to make it 14–14 at halftime.[413] Seattle then scored a field goal and a touchdown to take a 10-point lead going into the final quarter.[413] The Patriots rallied, scoring two touchdowns to take a 28–24 lead with 2:02 remaining.[413] After the Seahawks drove all the way to the 1 yard line with under a minute to go, rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler caught an interception on Seattle's final offensive play, winning the game for the Patriots.[413] Brady won his third Super Bowl MVP award.[414]

2015: AFC Championship Loss Edit

Main article: 2015 New England Patriots season

The Patriots started the year 10–0, before losing on Sunday Night Football to the Denver Broncos, 30–24 in overtime.[415] During the season, multiple players were injured; at one point nineteen players were placed on injured reserve.[416] At the end of the season, they earned a first round bye, with the second seed in the AFC.[417][418]

In the divisional round of the playoffs, the Patriots defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 27–20.[419] Advancing to the AFC Championship game, the Patriots were matched up against the top-seeded Broncos.[420] The final game in the Tom Brady–Peyton Manning rivalry was a defensive struggle.[421] The Broncos beat the Patriots 20–18 and advanced to Super Bowl 50.[421]

2016: Fifth Super Bowl Championship Edit

Main article: 2016 New England Patriots season

Due to sanctions on the team stemming from Deflategate, Tom Brady didn't play in the first four games of the 2016 season.[422] The Patriots used quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who helped the Patriots win their opening night game against the Arizona Cardinals.[422] After a shoulder injury to Garoppolo in the second game of the season against the Miami Dolphins, rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett entered the game and helped the Patriots win.[423] On Thursday Night Football, Brissett helped the Patriots secure a 27–0 shutout victory against the Houston Texans.[424] The Patriots lost their fourth game at home in a shutout to the Buffalo Bills.[425] Brady returned the following week and helped the Patriots win four games.[426][427] The Patriots closed the regular season winning seven straight games, along with their eighth consecutive division title and the #1 seed overall in the AFC.[428]

In the playoffs, the Patriots hosted the Texans in the divisional round.[429] The first half was tight, but the Patriots pulled away from Houston, winning 34–16.[429] In the AFC Championship game, the Patriots beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 36–17 and advanced to the Super Bowl.[430]

On February 5, 2017, the Patriots faced the Atlanta Falcons, which included NFL MVP Matt Ryan, in Super Bowl LI.[431] Three bad quarters resulted in the Patriots being down 28–3.[432] The Patriots made a comeback with Tom Brady going 43-for-62 with 466 yards, two touchdowns and one interception to help the Patriots tie the score 28–28 in the closing minutes of the game.[433] In the first overtime in Super Bowl history, the Patriots won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball.[433] Brady led the Patriots down the field, to the 1-yard line of the Falcons.[433] Running back James White ran a toss into the end zone, giving the Patriots a 34–28 comeback victory and their second league title in three seasons.[433] Brady was named Super Bowl MVP for a record fourth time and surpassed Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw with his fifth Super Bowl victory as a quarterback, the most all-time.[433][434]

2017: Fifth Super Bowl loss Edit

Main article: 2017 New England Patriots season

The Patriots lost several players during the offseason, including halfback LeGarrette Blount and cornerback Logan Ryan.[435][436] To fill these vacancies, the Patriots signed cornerback Stephon Gilmore and running backs Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead.[437][438][439] They also traded a second round draft pick to the Carolina Panthers for defensive end Kony Ealy.[440]

During their first game versus the Kansas City Chiefs, the Chiefs beat them at home 42–27.[441] During the game, the Patriots' defense allowed 537 total yards.[442] The Patriots then beat the Saints and Texans.[443][444] After their loss at home to the Carolina Panthers,[445] the Patriots went 11–1 for the rest of the season, finishing 13–3.[446] In Week 15 at Pittsburgh, the Patriots came back in the fourth quarter to take the lead, 27–24.[447] On the ensuing drive by the Steelers, a short pass from Ben Roethlisberger to wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster turned into a gain, leading the Steelers to the 10-yard line with 34 seconds left.[447][448] On Roethelisberger's next throw, tight end Jesse James caught a potential game-winning touchdown, but it was overturned after a review where officials ruled that James lost control as the ball hit the ground.[448] The Patriots won 27–24, winning another AFC East title and #1 seed.[447][448]

After beating the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round,[449] the Patriots faced the Jacksonville Jaguars.[450] In the fourth quarter, Brady led the team back from a ten-point deficit to take the lead, 24–20.[450] The Patriots won and earned a trip to their eighth Super Bowl.[450] In Super Bowl LII, Brady set a Super Bowl record with 505 yards passing.[451] Brady tried to lead a comeback to win the game in the fourth quarter, but defensive end Brandon Graham strip-sacked Brady, and the ball was recovered by the Eagles.[451][452] This, along with a failed last-second Hail Mary pass, resulted in the Patriots losing 41–33.[453]

2018: Sixth Super Bowl Championship Edit

Main article: 2018 New England Patriots season

During the offseason, the Patriots lost left tackle Nate Solder,[454] right tackle Cameron Fleming,[455] wide receiver Brandin Cooks,[456] starting running back Dion Lewis, and cornerback Malcolm Butler.[457] Also during the offseason, they added left tackle Trent Brown,[458] Bengals running back Jeremy Hill,[459] and wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson.[460] The Patriots also drafted left tackle Isaiah Wynn and running back Sony Michel in the first round.[461]

In September, the Patriots signed Josh Gordon.[462] During the Patriots week 5 game against the Indianapolis Colts Brady became the third Quarterback to throw 500 touchdowns in his career.[463] The Patriots had a six-game winning streak until losing at the Tennessee Titans in Week 10.[464] In weeks 14 and 15, the team had back-to-back losses against the Dolphins and Steelers, both on the road.[465][466] In late December, the Patriots lost Gordon, who left due to health reasons.[467] They finished the season with an 11–5 record and a first-round bye.[468]

The Patriots beat the Los Angeles Chargers in the divisional round, routing them 41–28, with rookie Sony Michel scoring 3 times on rushing touchdowns.[469] In the AFC Championship, they faced the Chiefs on the road.[470] The Patriots had a 14–0 lead at halftime.[471] Mahomes was able to rally back the Chiefs to a 21–17 lead in the 4th.[472] The score went back and forth until the Chiefs kicked a field goal, sending the game to overtime at 31–31.[473] The Patriots won the coin toss and Brady drove the Patriots down the field to score a Rex Burkhead rushing touchdown resulting in a 37–31 victory.[473]

In Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta, the Patriots faced off against the Los Angeles Rams.[474] The game remained tied 3–3 until the 4th quarter, when Brady and Gronkowski completed two long passes to put the Patriots inside the Rams 5 yard line, where Sony Michel would score the game's only touchdown, winning the game 13–3.[474][475] Wide receiver Julian Edelman was named Super Bowl MVP, with 10 catches for 141 yards.[476] The sixth Super Bowl victory tied the Patriots with the Steelers for most all time.[477]

2019: The end of an era Edit

Main article: 2019 New England Patriots season
 
Brady and running back Sony Michel during the 2019 Wild Card game against Tennessee. This would become Brady's final game in a Patriots uniform.

Prior to the season, Tom Brady signed a two-year extension worth $70 million, but also allowed him to become a free agent after the 2019 season.[478][479] On September 9, 2019, the Patriots signed Pro Bowl wide receiver Antonio Brown, whom was released by the Oakland Raiders following several off-the-field controversies, and a signing which some compared to the Randy Moss trade in 2007. Brown would last only one game with New England, getting released on September 22, 2019 due to more off-the-field issues. New England started the season with an 8–0 record.[480] The streak ended with a loss to the Baltimore Ravens.[481] The team won its 11th consecutive AFC East division title after a 24–17 win against the Buffalo Bills in Week 16, but New England didn't get a first-round bye for the playoffs.[482][483][484]

The Patriots were the #3 seed in the AFC playoffs,[482] but lost to the Titans at home during the wild card round 20–13.[485] This was Brady's last game with the Patriots.[486] On March 17, 2020, Brady announced that he would not re-sign with the Patriots.[486] On March 20, 2020, Brady signed a two-year, $50-million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[487][488] On April 21, 2020, the Patriots traded the rights to retired tight end Rob Gronkowski to the Buccaneers along with a seventh-round pick in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.[489]

2020–present: Post-Brady era Edit

2020 Edit

Main article: 2020 New England Patriots season

Prior to the season, the Patriots announced a uniform change, opting to go with their former NFL Color Rush jerseys as their new home uniforms with a corresponding white uniform with blue pants as their road outfits. Both uniforms featured truncated shoulder striping as a nod to the "Pat Patriot" uniforms.[490][491] Former Carolina Panthers quarterback, 2011 NFL draft first overall pick, and 2015 NFL season MVP Cam Newton was announced as New England's new starting quarterback prior to the season.[492] In addition, several veteran players such as Patrick Chung, Brandon Bolden, Marcus Cannon, and Dont'a Hightower opted out of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[493][494] Later in the Season, 3 other major players as Gunner, Burkhead, & Edelman, were injured who were instrumental in winning earlier, games.

After the Buffalo Bills beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 14, the Patriots were out of contention for the AFC East championship.[495] They were also eliminated from playoff contention with the loss to the Dolphins in week 15.[496] This was only the 4th time since 2000 the Patriots had missed the playoffs and failed to win the division.[497][498] Cam Newton and Brian Hoyer ended their Season going 7-9. In addition, their streak of 10+ win seasons that dated back to their 2003 Super Bowl-winning season, which was an NFL record, was also snapped.[499]

2021 Edit

See also: 2021 New England Patriots season
 
Quarterback Mac Jones, drafted 15th overall in 2021

The 2021 season started with the Patriots signing eleven free agents from other teams on the same day, including Hunter Henry, Nelson Agholor, Jonnu Smith, and Matthew Judon.[500]

On August 31, 2021, the Patriots released quarterback Cam Newton during final preseason roster cuts. As a result, rookie Mac Jones became the starting quarterback for the team. The Patriots started the season 2–4, but went on to win seven consecutive games, battling Buffalo for the division crown throughout the season. New England finished the season 10–7 in the first NFL season with 17 games, clinching the #6 seed in the playoffs, their first without Brady since 1998. They would lose to the Bills 47–17 in the wild-card round, their worst playoff loss under Belichick.[501] Despite the playoff loss, Jones broke several rookie quarterback records for the team.[502]

Notes and references Edit

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  4. ^ "Sports Its This Way". Newspapers.com. January 4, 1949. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  5. ^ Megliola, Lenny. "Jim Nance, Billy Sullivan were mainstays in the good old days". The Enterprise, Brockton, MA. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  6. ^ "JOHN S. AMES JR. (Published 1973)". The New York Times. July 11, 1973. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
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  8. ^ a b "FYI - The Boston Globe". archive.boston.com. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  9. ^ "Seek Nickname For Boston's New Pro Team". Newspapers.com. February 10, 1960. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
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  11. ^ "Oneth Get Name, Twoeth By Land Pro Club Named Patriots; Practice On Bunker Hill?". Newspapers.com. February 17, 1960. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
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  28. ^ "On this day 46 years ago, they officially became the New England Patriots". ESPN.com. March 22, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
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  30. ^ "It's Now The "BAY STATE" Patriot Squad". Gettysburg Times. February 19, 1971. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
  31. ^ "Patriots Switch Again, Adding Regional Flavor". The New York Times. March 23, 1971. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
  32. ^ a b c Wallace, William N. (August 15, 1971). "PATRIOTS TO OPEN STADIUM TONIGHT (Published 1971)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
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  34. ^ "If you want to see kickoff, you'd better camp early". Newspapers.com. August 16, 1971. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
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October 19, 2023
history, england, patriots, this, article, contains, depth, explanation, history, england, patriots, professional, american, football, team, that, competes, national, football, league, regular, season, winning, percentage, 1960, 2010, contents, earlier, experi. This article contains an in depth explanation of the history of the New England Patriots a professional American football team that competes in the National Football League NFL Regular season winning percentage 1960 2010 Contents 1 Earlier NFL experience 2 1960 1969 AFL beginnings 3 1970 1973 Post AFL NFL merger 4 1973 1978 Fairbanks era 4 1 1976 playoffs 4 2 1977 1978 5 1979 1984 Coaching changes 6 1985 First Super Bowl appearance 7 1986 1992 Ownership changes and struggles 8 1993 1996 Parcells era 8 1 1993 8 2 1993 94 offseason Bob Kraft Buys the Team 8 3 1994 8 4 1995 8 5 1996 Second Super Bowl appearance 9 1997 1999 Pete Carroll years 9 1 1997 9 2 1998 9 3 1999 10 2000 2019 Brady Belichick dynasty 10 1 2000 Belichick hired and Brady drafted 10 2 2001 First Super Bowl Championship 10 3 Gillette Stadium 10 4 2002 Narrowly missing the playoffs 10 5 2003 04 Back to back Super Bowl titles 10 6 2005 06 Playoff losses 10 7 2007 18 1 season 10 8 2008 The Cassel year 10 9 2008 09 offseason Changes 10 10 2009 10 Early playoff exits 10 11 2011 Return to the Super Bowl 10 12 2012 13 Playoff Losses in AFC Championship 10 13 2014 Fourth Super Bowl Championship 10 14 2015 AFC Championship Loss 10 15 2016 Fifth Super Bowl Championship 10 16 2017 Fifth Super Bowl loss 10 17 2018 Sixth Super Bowl Championship 10 18 2019 The end of an era 11 2020 present Post Brady era 11 1 2020 11 2 2021 12 Notes and referencesEarlier NFL experience EditBoston had previously been home to several NFL teams The first was the Boston Bulldogs which lasted only one season 1929 1 They were followed by the Boston Braves Redskins from 1932 to 1936 2 They played first at Braves Field and then at Fenway Park 2 The team moved to Washington following the 1936 season 2 The Boston Yanks played from 1944 to 1948 before moving to New York to become the New York Yanks 3 4 1960 1969 AFL beginnings EditOn November 16 1959 Boston business executive Billy Sullivan was awarded the eighth and final franchise of the developing American Football League AFL 5 In addition to William and Joseph Sullivan other initial investors in the team were John Ames a lawyer 6 Dean Boylan president of Boston Sand amp Gravel George Sargent an insurance executive Dom DiMaggio former Boston Red Sox center fielder 7 Dan Marr president of Marr Scaffolding Co Ed McMann president of the Northeast Packing Co Paul Sonnabend vice president of Hotel Corporation of America and Edgar Turner president of the 7 Up Distributors Corp 8 Each of the founders invested 25 000 to capitalize the team 8 The following winter locals were allowed to submit ideas for the Boston football team s official name 9 The most common one and the one that Sullivan selected was the Boston Patriots 10 11 with Patriots referring to those colonists of the Thirteen Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution and in July 1776 declared the United States of America an independent nation Immediately thereafter artist Phil Bissell of The Boston Globe developed the Pat Patriot logo 12 On July 30 1960 the Boston Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills in the first AFL pre season game 13 The Boston Patriots played in the first ever game in the American Football League against the Denver Broncos on September 9 1960 which they lost by a score of 10 13 14 The Boston Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills in an AFL Eastern Division playoff game in 1963 and made it to the AFL Championship for the first time but lost to the San Diego Chargers 51 10 15 16 During the 1963 season nine Patriots made the AFL All star team including Gino Cappelletti Nick Buoniconti and Babe Parilli 17 In 1964 Linebacker Tom Addison an original Patriot founded and was selected President of the AFL Players Association 18 In the late 1960s fullback Jim Nance became a top offensive player for the Patriots gaining 1 458 yards during the 1966 season and 1 216 during the 1967 season 19 He was named the AFL MVP in 1966 19 1970 1973 Post AFL NFL merger EditAfter the AFL NFL merger in 1970 the league required that all teams reside in stadiums with at least 50 000 seats 20 Prior to 1970 The Patriots did not have a regular home stadium Nickerson Field 21 22 Harvard Stadium 23 Fenway Park and Alumni Stadium served as home fields during their time in the American Football League 24 None of the four stadiums the Patriots had used up to that point qualified and there was little room in Boston for a new stadium 20 Due to this discussions about a possible relocation to Tampa Florida occurred 25 26 In 1971 the Patriots moved into a new stadium in suburban Foxborough Massachusetts built on land granted by the Bay State Raceway 27 The team was renamed the New England Patriots on March 22 1971 to reflect its new location 28 29 The original choice Bay State Patriots was rejected by the NFL 30 31 The stadium to be known as Schaefer Stadium was built at a cost of about 6 2 million in only 327 days 32 The stadium was one of the first stadiums in the country to be named after a corporate sponsor as the Schaefer Brewing Company paid 1 million for naming rights 32 The first event held at the new Schaefer Stadium was a preseason game against the New York Giants on August 15 1971 32 A massive traffic jam on Route 1 prevented many fans from getting in until halftime 33 34 In 1971 the Patriots had a new quarterback Heisman Trophy 35 winner Jim Plunkett 36 37 Plunkett from Stanford University was the first overall selection in the 1971 NFL Draft 37 38 The Patriots also signed free agent Randy Vataha a wide receiver 39 1973 1978 Fairbanks era Edit nbsp Hall of Fame offensive guard John Hannah who played with the Patriots from 1973 to 1985 has been regarded among the best all time offensive linemen 40 The Patriots added three players to the team from the 1973 NFL Draft offensive guard John Hannah who became the first career Patriot to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame 41 running back Sam Cunningham the team s all time leading rusher 42 43 and wide receiver Darryl Stingley 44 In 1973 the team hired Chuck Fairbanks who had been head coach at the University of Oklahoma as head coach 45 46 The Patriots improved in Fairbanks s second season 1974 finishing 7 7 47 During the 1975 season QB Plunkett was injured and the team ended the season 3 11 48 49 Following the 1975 season Plunkett was traded to the San Francisco 49ers 50 and eventually would win two Super Bowls with the Oakland Raiders 51 The draft picks acquired in the Plunkett trade were used to select defensive backs Mike Haynes and Tim Fox 51 52 The Patriots finished the 1976 season 11 3 their best record in team history to that point and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1963 as a wild card berth 53 1976 playoffs Edit The Patriots played the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the playoffs Late in the game the Patriots were leading the Raiders 21 17 54 On a 3rd down play late in the 4th quarter Patriots defensive tackle Ray Sugar Bear Hamilton sacked Oakland quarterback Ken Stabler which would have forced the Raiders into a 4th down situation 54 However referee Ben Dreith called a roughing the passer penalty on Hamilton nullifying the sack and giving the Raiders an automatic 1st down 54 The penalty was debated later but gave the Raiders the opportunity to score 54 55 Stabler scored on a short touchdown run with less than a minute left and the Raiders held on for a 24 21 win 56 1977 1978 Edit The 1977 season was a disappointing one for the Patriots due in part to contract holdouts by offensive linemen John Hannah and Leon Gray 57 The Patriots finished 9 5 one game out of first place in the AFC East and out of the playoffs 58 In a 1978 preseason game against the Raiders wide receiver Darryl Stingley was paralyzed from the neck down from a tackle by Oakland s Jack Tatum 59 The Patriots finished 11 5 for their first post merger AFC East championship 60 However hours before the final game of the regular season coach Chuck Fairbanks announced he would be leaving the team to become head coach at the University of Colorado 61 Owner Billy Sullivan immediately suspended Fairbanks and offensive coordinator Ron Erhardt and defensive coordinator Hank Bullough were left to coach the final game without a head coach 62 Fairbanks was reinstated for the playoffs but the team lost its divisional playoff game 31 14 to the Houston Oilers which also was the first Patriots post season game at Schaefer Stadium 63 1979 1984 Coaching changes EditFor the next two years the Patriots would suffer late season losses that denied them return trips to the playoffs In 1979 after starting 7 3 the team lost five out of their last eight games to finish 9 7 and out of the playoffs 64 In 1980 with running back Sam Cunningham holding out all season 65 the Patriots started 6 1 66 but finished 10 6 again out of the playoffs 67 The Patriots continued to slide in 1981 finishing 2 14 68 Following the 1981 season Erhardt was fired 69 and replaced by Ron Meyer who had been the head coach at Southern Methodist University 70 The Patriots had the top draft pick overall in the 1982 NFL Draft and selected Kenneth Sims a defensive end from the University of Texas at Austin 71 In the strike shortened 1982 season the highlight of the Patriots campaign was the Snow Plow Game a controversial 3 0 late season win over the Miami Dolphins 72 The controversy came in the 4th quarter when the Patriots were preparing for a field goal attempt 72 Mark Henderson a convict on work release used a tractor to clear a swath of field to aid the Patriots 72 Kicker John Smith s 33 yard attempt was good and they were the only points scored by either team that afternoon 72 The win helped put the Patriots in the playoffs but the first round rematch in Miami was won by the Dolphins 73 74 In 1983 the naming rights deal for the stadium with Schaefer expired and the stadium was renamed Sullivan Stadium 75 Also in 1983 quarterback Tony Eason was drafted in the first round 76 Eason played sparingly in 1983 but became the Patriots starting quarterback in 1984 76 77 The team ended the season 8 8 78 The Patriots with the top pick in the 1984 NFL Draft selected Irving Fryar a wide receiver from the University of Nebraska 79 With Tony Eason starting at quarterback the Patriots got off to a 5 2 start 80 81 However after a few losses the Patriots fired head coach Ron Meyer and replaced him with former Baltimore Colts wide receiver Raymond Berry 82 The team won three of their first four games under Berry 83 84 85 86 The team lost several games late in the 1984 season and finished out of the playoffs at 9 7 87 1985 First Super Bowl appearance EditMain article 1985 New England Patriots season nbsp Craig James rushes the ball against the Dolphins in the 1985 86 AFC Championship Game After struggling to start the 1985 season and Eason suffering a shoulder injury in October coach Raymond Berry replaced Eason with Grogan 88 Grogan broke his leg during the 12th game of the season and Eason took over as starting quarterback 89 90 New England won six straight games and finished 11 5 91 They then beat the New York Jets 26 14 earning a wild card berth to the playoffs 91 In the divisional playoff against the Los Angeles Raiders the Patriots forced six turnovers and won 27 20 92 Dawson started the game with a touchdown then when the Patriots were kicking off in the 4th quarter a fumble by the Raiders resulted in a touchdown for Jim Bowman 92 After beating the Raiders the Patriots were set to play the Miami Dolphins in the AFC Championship 92 Days before the championship game Irving Fryar was injured in a domestic incident and had to have his hand cast 93 The Patriots defeated the Dolphins 31 14 94 Eason threw touchdowns to running back Tony Collins and tight end Derrick Ramsey early in the game 94 Later a touchdown by Mosi Tatupu won the Patriots the AFC Championship of 1985 94 They went on to the Super Bowl XX where they faced the Chicago Bears 94 nbsp The Patriots defense attempting to stop a Bears end zone rushing play during Super Bowl XX In the Super Bowl the Patriots took an early 3 0 lead after Walter Payton fumbled in the 1st quarter resulting a field goal by Tony Franklin 95 The Bears would scored 44 points including a touchdown by rookie defensive lineman William The Refrigerator Perry 96 The Patriots made one touchdown 97 at the end to make the final score 46 10 95 1986 1992 Ownership changes and struggles Edit nbsp nbsp Defensive players Johnny Rembert left and Brent Williams right are members of the Patriots All 1980s and All 1990s Team respectively Soon after the 1985 Super Bowl Boston Globe sportswriter Ron Borges wrote a story alleging that six Patriots players including Fryar cornerback Raymond Clayborn safety Roland James and running back Tony Collins were marijuana users 98 99 In May 1986 allegations surfaced that Fryar was involved in gambling of NFL games 100 101 In July 1986 offensive lineman John Hannah retired 102 In 1986 the Patriots strength was their passing game led by Eason and receiver Stanley Morgan who gained nearly 1 500 yards receiving 103 The Patriots led the AFC East with an 11 5 record and traveled to Denver to take on the Broncos in the divisional playoffs 104 A 4th quarter touchdown pass from John Elway to Vance Johnson won the game for Denver 105 In 1987 the Patriots acquired Doug Flutie from Natick Massachusetts who won the Heisman Trophy for Boston College in 1984 106 He was acquired by the Patriots during the 1987 players strike and crossed the picket line to play his first game for the Patriots 107 However late season injuries put the Patriots out of playoff contention at 8 7 108 109 In 1988 the Patriots finished the season 9 7 narrowly missed the playoffs 110 During this time the Sullivan family lost millions of dollars on poor investments most notably from producing The Jackson 5 1984 Victory Tour 111 The Sullivans losses from the Victory Tour impacted the operation of the Patriots 111 112 The Sullivans had never been among the wealthier NFL owners and had been forced to pledge Sullivan Stadium as collateral to finance the Victory Tour in 1984 113 114 The losses from the Victory Tour were reportedly equivalent to the family s net worth and the revenue from the Patriots was not enough to service the debt even after the team made it to the Super Bowl 114 The losses from the Victory Tour forced the Sullivans to put the Patriots and Sullivan Stadium on the market in 1985 111 113 In August 1985 The Boston Globe reported that the Sullivans were looking to sell the Patriots Sullivan Stadium and their lease on Foxboro Raceway due to the family s financial and legal problems 115 On April 10 1986 a group of six Pennsylvania businessmen led by Fran Murray and Drew Lewis purchased a three year option to acquire the team stadium and racetrack lease 116 They later sold the option to Jeffrey Chodorow however Chodorow and the Sullivans were unable to come to terms on a sale 117 Buddy LeRoux began negotiations to purchase the team in December 1986 however due to a lack of progress on the deal he withdraw his offer on March 17 1987 118 119 The following year the Sullivans entered negotiations to sell the team and stadium to Donald Trump however because Trump was funding a lawsuit against the league at that time it was unlikely he would be approved by the league s owners and the deal was abandoned 120 121 Robert Tisch Robert Kraft Peter de Savary and Joe O Donnell also made offers for the team 122 123 124 125 By the start of 1988 the Sullivans were heading for bankruptcy and at one point had to get a 4 million advance from the league to make payroll 112 Sullivan sought to sell 50 percent of the team s shares to the public The NFL turned down this request out of hand 126 Instead it appointed a four man committee vested with what amounted to wartime powers to resolve the Patriots finances by any means necessary up to and including selling the team However NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle made clear that it would be untenable for the Patriots to remain under the Sullivans control For all intents and purposes the Sullivan era was over 127 After an attempt to sell a stake in the team to Reebok CEO Paul Fireman fell through the Sullivans sold the team to Remington Products magnate Victor Kiam in 1988 for 90 million 128 114 though Billy Sullivan remained team president 129 However the stadium lapsed into bankruptcy and Kiam was outbid for it by Boston paper magnate Robert Kraft 114 In 1988 the Patriots missed the playoffs by one game 130 The 1989 season was bad for the team Three of the team s defense players Andre Tippett Garin Veris and Ronnie Lippett were injured in the same preseason game 131 The team rotated the quarterback job throughout the season 132 The Patriots waived Eason during the season and he was picked up by the Jets 133 The Patriots finished the season 5 11 134 Following the season Flutie left for the Canadian Football League 135 and general manager Dick Steinberg left to take a job with the New York Jets 136 Berry was fired and replaced by Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Rod Rust for 1990 137 The Patriots finished with the worst season in franchise history in 1990 a 1 15 record 138 The day after the team s only win that year Boston Herald reporter Lisa Olson accused several Patriots players of sexually and verbally assaulting her in the team s locker room 139 Kiam called Olson a classic bitch after the report 140 Following an investigation into the accusations NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue fined the team 50 000 and players Zeke Mowatt Michael Timpson and Robert Perryman 12 500 5 000 and 5 000 respectively 139 Their season finale against the New York Giants was a sellout however most of the fans at the game were Giants fans 141 The team lost that game missing a game tying field goal in the closing seconds 142 After the 1990 season the Patriots changed their front office Rust was fired 143 and replaced by Dick MacPherson who had been the coach at Syracuse University 144 Additionally Sam Jankovich who had been athletic director at the University of Miami and oversaw the improvement of their athletic program was brought on as CEO of the Patriots 145 The Patriots improved in 1991 Hugh Millen took over as quarterback partway through the season 146 The Patriots ended the season at 6 10 with several upsets over playoff teams including wins against the Minnesota Vikings and future AFC Champion Buffalo Bills 147 148 149 In May 1992 St Louis businessman James Orthwein purchased Kiam s majority ownership of the Patriots 150 Rumors of a possible move of the Patriots to St Louis Missouri occurred given Orthwein s desired to bring an NFL team to his hometown of St Louis 150 151 152 The Patriots finished the 1992 season 2 14 153 leading to the departures of MacPherson and Jankovich 154 155 1993 1996 Parcells era Edit1993 Edit Main article 1993 New England Patriots season In 1993 the Patriots hired Bill Parcells a two time Super Bowl winner as head coach 156 Also in 1993 the uniforms and logo were changed 157 The old Pat Patriot logo was retired and replaced with a Patriot head designed in tandem with NFL Properties that many fans would eventually call Flying Elvis 158 159 160 The team s primary color changed from red to blue and the helmets from white to silver 157 The Patriots had the first pick in the 1993 NFL Draft and selected quarterback Drew Bledsoe from Washington State 161 They also drafted linebacker Chris Slade 162 Bledsoe started the season as the starting quarterback but was injured and replaced with former Dolphins backup Scott Secules 163 164 165 166 The 1993 season began with a 1 11 record 167 but ended the season by winning their last four games in a row over Cincinnati Cleveland Indianapolis and over Miami in overtime in the finale eliminating the Dolphins from the playoffs 168 169 170 171 1993 94 offseason Bob Kraft Buys the Team Edit Throughout the 1993 season rumors continued that the team was going to move to St Louis In the 1993 off season the issue reached its climax Orthwein offered Robert Kraft the team s landlord since 1988 75 million to break the lease on Foxboro Stadium which bound the team to continue playing there until at least 2002 However Kraft refused 172 Orthwein was not willing to continue operating the team in New England and put it up for sale Kraft knew that the terms of the operating covenant required any potential buyer to deal with him and made an offer to buy the team himself for a then NFL record 160 million in 1994 172 173 Although future St Louis Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke offered more money than Kraft Orthwein would have been saddled with all relocation costs as well as any legal expenses resulting from breaking the lease With Kraft making it clear that he would seek an injunction that would have forced Kroenke or any other potential buyer to keep the Patriots in Foxborough Orthwein was all but forced to accept Kraft s bid 172 174 On February 26 1994 Kraft s first full day as owner of the Patriots the team sold a record number of season tickets 175 In September the Patriots sold out the entire 1994 season 176 1994 Edit Main article 1994 New England Patriots season nbsp Quarterback Drew BledsoeHalfway through the 1994 season the Patriots were 3 6 and had lost 4 straight games when they faced the Minnesota Vikings for Week 10 177 Drew Bledsoe started a second half comeback by switching to a no huddle offense 178 179 Bledsoe set single game records for pass attempts and completions and the Patriots won the game 26 20 in overtime 178 The Patriots won their last seven games of the regular season finishing 10 6 and making the playoffs as a wild card 180 In the first round of the playoffs the Patriots were beaten by the Cleveland Browns 20 13 181 1995 Edit Main article 1995 New England Patriots season The Patriots drafted Curtis Martin in the third round of the 1995 NFL Draft 182 The Patriots won their opening day match against the Browns 183 Martin had a good season as a rookie winning the conference rushing title and was named Rookie of the Year 184 Bledsoe struggled with injuries 185 the team struggled with inconsistency 186 and the Patriots finished 6 10 187 During the 1995 the Patriots had their first home appearance on Monday Night Football since 1981 188 During the Patriots last appearance on the program a number of fans in attendance proved to be rowdy and uncontrollable and there were over 60 arrests at the game 189 As a result of this behavior the Town of Foxborough and the NFL refused to schedule Monday night home games in New England 190 During 1995 Robert Kraft lobbied for the Town of Foxborough and the NFL to schedule the Patriots on a Monday night 191 The NFL granted Kraft s request scheduling the Patriots on Monday October 23 in a game against the Buffalo Bills 188 The Patriots won the game 27 14 and the crowd was peaceful and orderly with only a handful of isolated disturbances and arrests 188 Also during 1995 the primary home station for most Patriots regular season games changed Since 1965 the games had aired on WBZ TV Boston s NBC affiliate 192 After owner Westinghouse Broadcasting switched the station s affiliation to CBS WHDH TV took on airing the NFL on NBC package locally 193 1996 Second Super Bowl appearance Edit Main article 1996 New England Patriots season In the 1996 NFL Draft the Patriots selected wide receiver Terry Glenn with their first round draft pick 194 The Patriots started out lackluster in 1996 After an early season loss to the Redskins at home dropped the Patriots to 3 3 195 the Patriots won their next four games 196 and finished the season 11 5 197 The Patriots won the AFC East and earned a first round bye in the playoffs as the 2 seed 198 The Patriots defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 28 3 in a divisional playoff game 199 They then beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 20 6 in the first AFC Championship game played in Foxboro 200 The team advanced to Super Bowl XXXI against the Green Bay Packers 200 In the months and years after Kraft s purchase of the Patriots relations between Kraft and Parcells were increasingly strained This was primarily due to a struggle over Parcells authority over football operations as Kraft wanted Parcells to yield some of his authority over personnel moves to a separate general manager 201 The conflict climaxed in the days leading up to the Super Bowl with rumors that Parcells would leave the Patriots after the season to take the vacant head coaching job with the New York Jets 202 During the game the Patriots were close to the Packers for much of the game and took the lead briefly in the 2nd quarter 203 However two long Brett Favre touchdown passes and a Super Bowl record 99 yard kickoff return for a touchdown by MVP Desmond Howard gave the Packers their 12th title 204 The final score was 35 21 204 1997 1999 Pete Carroll years Edit1997 Edit Main article 1997 New England Patriots season After the Super Bowl Parcells resigned from the Patriots 205 Kraft believed that Jets were trying to hire Parcells in time for him to have say in the Jets selections in the 1997 NFL Draft 206 Since The Jets couldn t hire Parcells as their head coach in 1997 because of an earlier contract renegotiation they hired Parcells as a consultant and Bill Belichick as head coach 207 208 Kraft requested a 1st round draft pick in return for allowing Parcells to coach elsewhere 207 He also called the Jets agreement a transparent farce that demonstrated it was the Jets intention all along for Bill Parcells to become head coach of the Jets for the 97 season 206 Parcells claimed the Jets had been given league permission for the consulting agreement the NFL denied any permission was given 207 and had commissioner Paul Tagliabue arrange an agreement between the two sides 209 The Patriots received two picks in the 1997 NFL Draft a second round pick in the 1998 Draft and a first round pick in the 1999 Draft in return for allowing Parcells to become the Jets head coach 209 After former San Francisco 49ers head coach George Seifert turned down the job Kraft hired Pete Carroll as the new head coach of the Patriots 210 In 1997 the Patriots won the AFC East with a 10 6 record but some key losses meant the team had to play in the wild card round in the playoffs 211 After beating the Miami Dolphins 17 3 in Foxboro the Patriots played the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh 212 A late fumble won the game for Pittsburgh 7 6 213 1998 Edit Main article 1998 New England Patriots seasonDuring the 1998 offseason the Patriots offered restricted free agent running back Curtis Martin a 1 153 million contract 214 However the Jets signed Martin and per restricted free agency rules ceded their 1st and 3rd round picks in the 1998 NFL Draft to the Patriots 215 216 With the 1st round pick the Patriots selected running back Robert Edwards 217 Their game against the Buffalo Bills on November 29 1998 was controversial due to a series of questionable calls 218 With under a minute to go and down by four points the Patriots played a long drive 219 However the Buffalo defense appeared to stop the Patriots on 4th down with a juggled catch out of bounds 219 The referees needed to determine whether receiver Shawn Jefferson was inbounds caught the ball and achieved first down yardage 219 The referee on the sideline signaled first down after a conference with other officials 220 Several Bills claimed one said just give it to them in the huddle 220 Television instant replays showed that Jefferson was short of first down yardage but the NFL had discontinued use of instant replay after the 1991 season 220 This call was followed by a questionable pass interference decision made in the end zone on what would have been the game s final play 221 Bledsoe hit tight end Ben Coates for a touchdown on the final untimed play of the game 221 In protest the Bills left the field 218 Drew Bledsoe and Terry Glenn were both injured later the season 222 and the Patriots got the last playoff spot with a 9 7 record 223 The Patriots lost 25 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first playoff game 224 Although Robert Edwards had a promising rookie season his career was derailed after he suffered a dislocated knee in Hawaii while playing a game of flag football on the beach 225 Also during 1998 most Patriots games moved back to WBZ TV after a three year absence 226 1999 Edit Main article 1999 New England Patriots season Taking Edwards place in 1999 were veteran Terry Allen and rookie Kevin Faulk 227 The Patriots opened with a 30 28 victory over the New York Jets 228 followed by hosting the Indianapolis Colts and second year quarterback Peyton Manning 229 Manning raced the Colts to a 28 7 halftime lead but was limited to just 13 second half passing yards as Drew Bledsoe threw three touchdowns 229 230 After an Edgerrin James fumble Adam Vinatieri kicked the winning field goal in a 31 28 final 230 After a 27 3 win over the Arizona Cardinals Coates went to the media to protest that he was not being thrown to enough 231 After this the team stumbled and finished 8 8 and out of the playoffs 232 Following the season Carroll was fired 233 while Vice President of Player Personnel Bobby Grier was retained only until the 2000 NFL Draft 234 2000 2019 Brady Belichick dynasty EditSee also Brady Belichick era 2000 Belichick hired and Brady drafted Edit Main article 2000 New England Patriots season nbsp Head coach Bill Belichick transformed the Patriots into a perennial Super Bowl contender Pete Carroll was fired as head coach in January 2000 235 and owner Robert Kraft attempted to hire Jets assistant head coach Bill Belichick for the Patriots head coaching position 236 Belichick had been an assistant coach under Parcells with the Patriots in 1996 but followed Parcells to the Jets 207 After the 1999 season Parcells resigned as head coach of the Jets and retired from NFL coaching 237 Belichick succeeded him as head coach 237 but resigned at a press conference the following day citing the uncertainty over the Jets ownership after the death of Leon Hess as his reason 238 239 The Jets denied Belichick permission to speak with other teams and the NFL upheld Belichick s contractual obligations to the Jets 240 241 Belichick filed an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL 242 After negotiations the Patriots and Jets agreed to a compensation package that allowed Belichick to become the Patriots head coach 243 The deal had the Patriots send their first round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft and fourth and seventh round picks in the 2001 Draft to the Jets while receiving the Jets fifth round selection in 2001 and seventh round pick in 2002 244 Belichick restructured the team s personnel department in the offseason 245 The Patriots finished the 2000 season 5 11 and missing the playoffs 246 Also in 2000 the Patriots updated their uniforms 247 2001 First Super Bowl Championship Edit Main article 2001 New England Patriots season In 2001 Drew Bledsoe signed a 10 year contract extension and offensive tackle Bruce Armstrong retired 248 249 250 Wide receiver Terry Glenn didn t show up to training camp in August and was suspended by the NFL for the first four games of the season due to violating substance abuse policies 251 During the training camp quarterbacks coach Dick Rehbein died of cardiac arrest on August 6 at the age of 45 252 The Patriots lost their opener to the Cincinnati Bengals 253 and in the first post 9 11 game against the Jets Bledsoe was injured shearing a blood vessel in his chest after being tackled by Jets linebacker Mo Lewis 254 255 Tom Brady a sixth round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft took over for Bledsoe 255 He remained the team s starting quarterback after Bledsoe was cleared to play two months later 256 During the season first round draft pick Richard Seymour anchored the defensive line 257 and Antowain Smith a free agent signed from Buffalo ran over 1 000 yards 258 The Patriots won their final six games to capture the AFC East with an 11 5 record 259 The Patriots won a first round bye as the 2 seed in the playoffs 260 In the final game played at Foxboro Stadium the Patriots hosted the Oakland Raiders in a snowstorm 261 This game became known as the Tuck Rule Game when a play originally ruled to be a Brady fumble was reversed by referee Walt Coleman as an incomplete pass based upon the obscure tuck rule 262 After review Coleman ruled that because Brady s arm was moving forward when he lost the ball he was deemed to have been in the act of throwing when he lost control of the ball 262 Had the original ruling stood the Raiders would have clinched the win 262 Instead the Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri tied the game with a 45 yard field goal in the final 30 seconds 262 The Raiders did not attempt to run a play at the end of regulation and after losing the coin toss to start overtime didn t get the ball again 263 The Patriots drove downfield on their opening possession and won the game 16 13 263 The Patriots faced the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game 264 After Brady injured his ankle in the second quarter Bledsoe came off the sideline and led the team to their only offensive touchdown of the game 264 265 In the second half with two special teams touchdowns and two fourth quarter interceptions of passes thrown by Pittsburgh s Kordell Stewart the Patriots upset the Steelers 24 17 to advance to Super Bowl XXXVI 265 266 nbsp Quarterback Tom Brady led the Patriots to six Super Bowl wins and nine Super Bowl appearances In the Super Bowl the Patriots faced the St Louis Rams led by league MVP Kurt Warner 267 During the game Bill Belichick used a defensive game plan that used the blitz sparingly but chipped the Rams receivers and running back Marshall Faulk as they went into their patterns 268 This plan forced three turnovers 269 Belichick s defense held the Rams off until the 4th quarter but after trailing 17 3 early in the quarter St Louis scored two touchdowns to tie the game at 17 17 270 With 1 30 to go and no time outs Brady led New England s offense downfield to the Rams 30 yard line setting up Adam Vinatieri who won the game with a 48 yard field goal as time expired giving the Patriots their first Super Bowl win 270 271 Brady was selected Super Bowl MVP 271 The Patriots victory parade in Boston was attended by approximately 1 2 million fans 272 During the offseason Brady signed a long term contract with the team and Bledsoe was traded to the Buffalo Bills for a 1st round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft 273 274 Gillette Stadium Edit Main article Gillette Stadium nbsp Gillette StadiumWhile owning the Patriots Robert Kraft attempted to build a new stadium 275 In 1998 Kraft came close to a deal with the Massachusetts Legislature for to build a new stadium adjacent to the old stadium with the state providing 75 million for infrastructure improvements 275 However Massachusetts House Speaker Tom Finneran refused to support the bill and the deal failed 276 Afterwards Kraft reached a deal with Connecticut Governor John G Rowland to build a new stadium in Hartford Connecticut 275 However after the stadium plan was approved by the Connecticut General Assembly 276 problems were discovered with the proposed site that would delay construction 277 At this time the NFL announced loan incentives where teams could borrow money from the league to build new stadiums 278 In 1999 Kraft announced that he was abandoning the Hartford stadium project 279 Kraft reached a deal with the Massachusetts legislature for infrastructure improvements around the stadium 280 The stadium received approval from the citizens of Foxborough for the new stadium 281 The naming rights to the stadium were originally purchased by CMGi an e commerce company based in nearby Waltham Massachusetts 282 CMGi Corporation sold the naming rights to Boston based Gillette 282 2002 Narrowly missing the playoffs Edit Main article 2002 New England Patriots season Following their victory in Super Bowl XXXVI the Patriots won their first game in the new Gillette Stadium in the NFL s prime time Monday Night Football opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers 283 After three wins to begin the season including a 44 7 road win against the division rival New York Jets 284 the team lost five of its next seven games 285 In the final week of the season the Patriots defeated the Miami Dolphins on an overtime Adam Vinatieri field goal to give both teams a 9 7 record 286 The Jets also finished with a 9 7 record after a win over the Green Bay Packers 286 Due to their record the Jets won the tiebreaker for the division title which eliminated the Patriots and Dolphins from the playoffs 287 2003 04 Back to back Super Bowl titles Edit Main articles 2003 New England Patriots season and 2004 New England Patriots season nbsp Patriot fans rally in front of Boston City Hall following the Super Bowl XXXVIII championshipDays before the start of the season safety Lawyer Milloy was released 288 prompting second guessing of head coach Bill Belichick by fans A report by ESPN analyst Tom Jackson stated that Patriots players hated their coach 289 The accusation was later denied by players 289 Milloy signed with the Buffalo Bills who defeated the Patriots 31 0 in the season opener 289 After starting with a 2 2 record the Patriots didn t lose another game 290 291 The Patriots had the NFL s best record at 14 2 and earned the top seed in the AFC 2003 04 playoffs earning home field advantage 292 Their opponent in the divisional playoffs was the Tennessee Titans 293 Played in a temperature of 8 F 13 C the Patriots and Titans played close until Adam Vinatieri kicked the go ahead field goal with 4 minutes left 294 An incomplete Steve McNair pass on 4th down with 1 40 left won the game 17 14 for New England 294 The Patriots faced the Indianapolis Colts for the AFC Championship and won 24 14 295 The Patriots returned to the Super Bowl facing the Carolina Panthers 295 The first half of Super Bowl XXXVIII was a defensive battle between the teams 296 The teams traded touchdowns late in the 2nd quarter then more quick strikes by both teams made the score 14 10 Patriots at halftime 297 The 3rd quarter was scoreless but running back Antowain Smith scored on the first play of the 4th quarter to make it 21 10 298 Carolina scored two more touchdowns but failed to convert on both to take a 22 21 lead 298 The Patriots played a trick pass to linebacker Mike Vrabel followed by Kevin Faulk s run for a two point conversion that put the Patriots up 29 22 with 2 51 left to play 298 The Panthers drove downfield and Ricky Proehl s late touchdown catch tied the game 29 29 with 1 08 to play 298 Brady led the Patriots on a drive and Vinatieri kicked a 41 yard field goal with four seconds left 298 The Patriots won their second Super Bowl 32 29 and Brady was once again named MVP 296 nbsp Adam Vinatieri warms up prior to Super Bowl XXXIX Following their Super Bowl win the Patriots traded a second round draft pick for Cincinnati Bengals running back Corey Dillon who replaced Antowain Smith 299 The Patriots set the NFL record for consecutive regular season victories after winning their first six games of the season 300 During a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 31 cornerback Ty Law was injured 301 Combined with the loss of other starting cornerback Tyrone Poole two weeks earlier the Patriots completed the regular season and playoffs with second year cornerback Asante Samuel undrafted free agent Randall Gay and wide receiver Troy Brown at cornerback 302 303 304 nbsp President George W Bush poses with the New England Patriots during a ceremony honoring the Super Bowl XXXIX champions in the Rose Garden With a 14 2 record and the second seed in the AFC playoffs 305 the Patriots defeated the Colts at home in the playoffs 306 The Patriots then defeated the top seeded Steelers on the road 41 27 in the AFC Championship Game 307 The Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX 24 21 in their second straight Super Bowl victory 308 As of 2021 update the 2003 2004 New England Patriots are the most recent team to win back to back Super Bowls 309 2005 06 Playoff losses Edit Main articles 2005 New England Patriots season and 2006 New England Patriots season Two weeks after winning Super Bowl XXXIX linebacker Tedy Bruschi suffered a stroke 310 Also during the off season cornerback Ty Law was released 311 During Week 3 Rodney Harrison was injured and didn t play for the rest of the season 312 Beginning the season with a 4 4 record the Patriots lost their first game at home since 2002 against the San Diego Chargers in Week 4 313 Bruschi returned to the field against the Buffalo Bills on October 31 314 The team ended the season on a 5 1 run to finish 10 6 earning their third straight AFC East title 315 With the 4 seed in the AFC playoffs the Patriots defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 28 3 in the wild card round 316 The Patriots fell to the Denver Broncos 27 13 on the road in the Divisional Playoffs committing five turnovers in the game 317 The Patriots entered the 2006 season without their two starting wide receivers from 2005 David Givens left in free agency 318 and Deion Branch was traded to Seattle after a contract hold out 319 They were replaced by Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney 320 321 Losses in November ended the team s streak of 57 games without consecutive losses three games shy of the NFL record 322 With a 12 4 record and their fourth straight division title the Patriots entered the playoffs as the 4 seed defeating the New York Jets 37 16 in the Wild Card game of the playoffs 323 324 A 24 21 win over the top seeded San Diego Chargers on the road set the Patriots up to face the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship 325 Despite a 21 3 lead in the 2nd quarter the Patriots stumbled down the stretch and the Colts emerged with a 38 34 victory 326 2007 18 1 season Edit Main article 2007 New England Patriots season In 2007 the Patriots added Donte Stallworth a free agent and traded for Wes Welker and Randy Moss 327 328 Welker led the NFL in receptions in 2007 and Moss set an NFL record with 23 touchdown catches 329 330 In September head coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots were penalized by the NFL for videotaping opponents defensive signals from an unauthorized location during their Week 1 game against the New York Jets 331 The press called this situation Spygate 331 Belichick was fined 500 000 the maximum allowed under league rules and the Patriots were fined 250 000 and required to forfeit their first round pick in the 2008 draft 332 nbsp Randy Moss caught a league record 23 touchdowns in 2007 which greatly helped Tom Brady pass for 50 also a record nbsp Wes Welker right was known by few before becoming a Patriot The Patriots won the AFC East before their eleventh game the fourth time since the NFL introduced the 16 game schedule in 1978 that a team won a division title by its eleventh game 333 The Patriots finished the regular season with the first 16 0 record in NFL history 334 During the game Brady and Moss connected on two touchdown passes with Moss setting his 23 touchdown record and Brady setting a then NFL record with 50 touchdown passes on the season 335 It was the first undefeated regular season in the NFL since the 1972 Miami Dolphins finished 14 0 335 Tom Brady earned his first NFL MVP award while the Patriots offense broke multiple records including those for points scored and total touchdowns 336 337 With the 1 seed in the AFC playoffs 338 the Patriots defeated both the Jacksonville Jaguars 31 20 and San Diego Chargers 21 12 before advancing to Super Bowl XLII 339 340 The Patriots had the chance for a perfect 19 0 season with a victory over the New York Giants and analysts saw the 2007 Patriots as being the greatest team in NFL history 341 Despite being Super Bowl favorites the Patriots faltered against a Giants drive late in the fourth quarter 342 A dramatic pass from Eli Manning to David Tyree put the Giants deep in Patriots territory and a Manning touchdown pass to Plaxico Buress gave the Giants a 17 14 lead with 35 seconds left 342 343 344 2008 The Cassel year Edit Main article 2008 New England Patriots season nbsp Matt Cassel throws a pass in place of injured Tom Brady in 2008 In the 2008 season opener quarterback Tom Brady suffered a serious knee injury and missed the remainder of the season 345 Backup quarterback Matt Cassel replaced Brady 346 During Cassel s first start in Week 2 he led the Patriots to a win which extended the team s regular season winning streak record to 21 games 347 The Dolphins Ravens and Patriots all finished the season with identical 11 5 records 348 Miami qualified for the playoffs by winning the AFC East division over the Patriots on the fourth divisional tiebreaker 348 Baltimore qualified for the playoffs as a wild card team defeating the Patriots on the second wild card tiebreaker 348 2008 09 offseason Changes Edit During the offseason the Patriots offseason made a number of front office coaching and personnel changes Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli departed to become the general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs 349 Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was hired as the head coach of the Denver Broncos 350 Quarterback Matt Cassel was traded to the Chiefs along with veteran linebacker Mike Vrabel in March 351 Defensive starters Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison both retired 352 353 while All Pro defensive end Richard Seymour was traded to the Oakland Raiders for a 1st round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft 354 2009 10 Early playoff exits Edit Main articles 2009 New England Patriots season and 2010 New England Patriots season In the 2009 season opener on Monday Night Football the Patriots celebrated their 50th season with an American Football League legacy game against the Buffalo Bills 355 Down 11 points late in the 4th quarter the Patriots scored two touchdowns winning the game 355 It was also Brady s first game back after his injury in the 2008 opener 356 In November the 6 2 Patriots traveled to face the undefeated Indianapolis Colts with a six point lead late in the 4th quarter the Patriots tried to convert a 4th and 2 situation inside their own 30 yard line but failed setting up a Colts touchdown and the Patriots third loss of the season 357 After losing two of their next three games the Patriots went on to win three in a row to secure a division title 358 359 With the 3 seed in the AFC playoffs 360 the Patriots faced the Baltimore Ravens at home in the Wild Card Playoffs 361 The Ravens opened up a 24 0 lead in the 1st quarter and the Patriots ended their season with a 33 14 loss 361 The Patriots went into 2010 without either a named offensive or defensive coordinator following the departure of defensive coordinator Dean Pees 362 After beating Cincinnati in the season opener they lost 28 14 to the Jets 363 364 They finished the season 14 2 365 By defeating the Bills in Week 16 New England swept that team for the sixth consecutive season along with earning another AFC East title and the 1 seed 365 366 Tom Brady finished the regular season with an NFL record 335 consecutive pass attempts without an interception while the Patriots committed an NFL record low 10 turnovers on the season 367 368 369 The Patriots were favored to go to Super Bowl XLV but lost to the Jets team in the divisional playoffs 369 2011 Return to the Super Bowl Edit Main article 2011 New England Patriots season During the 2010 off season the Patriots drafted Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett 370 The team also made two trades for defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth and wide receiver Chad Ochocinco 371 372 In the first game of the 2011 season the Patriots played the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football and New England won 38 24 373 Brady set a personal single game record with 517 passing yards highlighted by an NFL record tying 99 yard touchdown reception by Wes Welker 373 They beat the San Diego Chargers in Week 2 in their home opener 374 but their 15 game win streak against the Buffalo Bills ended when Tom Brady threw four interceptions and the Patriots lost 34 31 on a last second field goal 375 376 The team then won three games in a row 377 378 379 During the Patriots bye in Week 7 an incident occurred where tight end Rob Gronkowski was seen in a photo with an adult film actress wearing his game shirt 380 Following a 25 17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers 381 wide receiver Julian Edelman was arrested for indecent assault following an incident in a Back Bay nightclub on Halloween 382 The Patriots won their last eight games to take the top seed in the AFC playoffs 383 After defeating the Denver Broncos 45 10 in the Divisional Game 384 the Patriots won the AFC Championship Game over the Baltimore Ravens 23 20 after Ravens receiver Lee Evans dropped a potential touchdown and kicker Billy Cundiff missed a game tying 31 yard field goal attempt in the closing seconds 385 The Patriots lost to the NFC champion New York Giants 21 17 in Super Bowl XLVI 386 2012 13 Playoff Losses in AFC Championship Edit Main articles 2012 New England Patriots season and 2013 New England Patriots season nbsp Rob Gronkowski in 2013 In their 2012 season opener the Patriots defeated the Tennessee Titans before losing at home to the Arizona Cardinals 387 388 In Week 3 New England lost to the Baltimore Ravens 30 28 on a last second field goal 389 The first three games of the season were officiated by replacement referees as the regular referees were locked out during a contract dispute 390 The replacement referees were criticized and at the end of the Ravens game Bill Belichick made contact with a referee as he was leaving the field to argue a call which the league fined him for 390 391 In Week 4 the Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills 52 28 392 After that the Patriots went on the defeat the Denver Broncos 31 21 but lost to the Seattle Seahawks 24 23 the following week 393 394 The Patriots then defeated the New York Jets in overtime 29 26 and continued on a seven game win streak 395 396 The Patriots ended the season as the 2 seed in the AFC 397 The Patriots were given a bye week before they had to face the Houston Texans who they defeated 41 28 397 398 They then had faced the Baltimore Ravens and lost 28 13 399 The 2013 season saw turnover on the offensive side as Wes Welker signed a contract with the Denver Broncos 400 and tight end Aaron Hernandez was released from the team due to legal issues 401 The Patriots opened the season 4 0 before losing to the Cincinnati Bengals 13 6 in Week 5 402 After a home win against the New Orleans Saints in Week 6 403 the Patriots fell to the rival New York Jets 30 27 on a converted Nick Folk field goal following an unsportsmanlike penalty to rookie Chris Jones 404 The team then had a pair of wins against the Miami Dolphins and the Pittsburgh Steelers 405 406 but lost 24 20 on Monday Night Football to the Carolina Panthers following the bye week on a controversial end game interception by Luke Kuechly 407 408 New England finished as the AFC East champions earning the No 2 seed and a first round bye 409 2014 Fourth Super Bowl Championship Edit Main article 2014 New England Patriots season In 2014 the Patriots finished 12 4 and won their sixth straight AFC East title 410 They were the top seed had a first round bye and had home field advantage for the AFC playoffs 410 The Patriots defeated the Baltimore Ravens 35 31 in the divisional round of the playoffs 411 They then defeated the Indianapolis Colts 45 7 to advance to Super Bowl XLIX against the defending Super Bowl champions Seattle Seahawks 412 After a scoreless first quarter both teams exchanged two touchdowns to make it 14 14 at halftime 413 Seattle then scored a field goal and a touchdown to take a 10 point lead going into the final quarter 413 The Patriots rallied scoring two touchdowns to take a 28 24 lead with 2 02 remaining 413 After the Seahawks drove all the way to the 1 yard line with under a minute to go rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler caught an interception on Seattle s final offensive play winning the game for the Patriots 413 Brady won his third Super Bowl MVP award 414 2015 AFC Championship Loss Edit Main article 2015 New England Patriots season The Patriots started the year 10 0 before losing on Sunday Night Football to the Denver Broncos 30 24 in overtime 415 During the season multiple players were injured at one point nineteen players were placed on injured reserve 416 At the end of the season they earned a first round bye with the second seed in the AFC 417 418 In the divisional round of the playoffs the Patriots defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 27 20 419 Advancing to the AFC Championship game the Patriots were matched up against the top seeded Broncos 420 The final game in the Tom Brady Peyton Manning rivalry was a defensive struggle 421 The Broncos beat the Patriots 20 18 and advanced to Super Bowl 50 421 2016 Fifth Super Bowl Championship Edit Main article 2016 New England Patriots season Due to sanctions on the team stemming from Deflategate Tom Brady didn t play in the first four games of the 2016 season 422 The Patriots used quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo who helped the Patriots win their opening night game against the Arizona Cardinals 422 After a shoulder injury to Garoppolo in the second game of the season against the Miami Dolphins rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett entered the game and helped the Patriots win 423 On Thursday Night Football Brissett helped the Patriots secure a 27 0 shutout victory against the Houston Texans 424 The Patriots lost their fourth game at home in a shutout to the Buffalo Bills 425 Brady returned the following week and helped the Patriots win four games 426 427 The Patriots closed the regular season winning seven straight games along with their eighth consecutive division title and the 1 seed overall in the AFC 428 In the playoffs the Patriots hosted the Texans in the divisional round 429 The first half was tight but the Patriots pulled away from Houston winning 34 16 429 In the AFC Championship game the Patriots beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 36 17 and advanced to the Super Bowl 430 On February 5 2017 the Patriots faced the Atlanta Falcons which included NFL MVP Matt Ryan in Super Bowl LI 431 Three bad quarters resulted in the Patriots being down 28 3 432 The Patriots made a comeback with Tom Brady going 43 for 62 with 466 yards two touchdowns and one interception to help the Patriots tie the score 28 28 in the closing minutes of the game 433 In the first overtime in Super Bowl history the Patriots won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball 433 Brady led the Patriots down the field to the 1 yard line of the Falcons 433 Running back James White ran a toss into the end zone giving the Patriots a 34 28 comeback victory and their second league title in three seasons 433 Brady was named Super Bowl MVP for a record fourth time and surpassed Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw with his fifth Super Bowl victory as a quarterback the most all time 433 434 2017 Fifth Super Bowl loss Edit Main article 2017 New England Patriots seasonThe Patriots lost several players during the offseason including halfback LeGarrette Blount and cornerback Logan Ryan 435 436 To fill these vacancies the Patriots signed cornerback Stephon Gilmore and running backs Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead 437 438 439 They also traded a second round draft pick to the Carolina Panthers for defensive end Kony Ealy 440 During their first game versus the Kansas City Chiefs the Chiefs beat them at home 42 27 441 During the game the Patriots defense allowed 537 total yards 442 The Patriots then beat the Saints and Texans 443 444 After their loss at home to the Carolina Panthers 445 the Patriots went 11 1 for the rest of the season finishing 13 3 446 In Week 15 at Pittsburgh the Patriots came back in the fourth quarter to take the lead 27 24 447 On the ensuing drive by the Steelers a short pass from Ben Roethlisberger to wide receiver JuJu Smith Schuster turned into a gain leading the Steelers to the 10 yard line with 34 seconds left 447 448 On Roethelisberger s next throw tight end Jesse James caught a potential game winning touchdown but it was overturned after a review where officials ruled that James lost control as the ball hit the ground 448 The Patriots won 27 24 winning another AFC East title and 1 seed 447 448 After beating the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round 449 the Patriots faced the Jacksonville Jaguars 450 In the fourth quarter Brady led the team back from a ten point deficit to take the lead 24 20 450 The Patriots won and earned a trip to their eighth Super Bowl 450 In Super Bowl LII Brady set a Super Bowl record with 505 yards passing 451 Brady tried to lead a comeback to win the game in the fourth quarter but defensive end Brandon Graham strip sacked Brady and the ball was recovered by the Eagles 451 452 This along with a failed last second Hail Mary pass resulted in the Patriots losing 41 33 453 2018 Sixth Super Bowl Championship Edit Main article 2018 New England Patriots seasonDuring the offseason the Patriots lost left tackle Nate Solder 454 right tackle Cameron Fleming 455 wide receiver Brandin Cooks 456 starting running back Dion Lewis and cornerback Malcolm Butler 457 Also during the offseason they added left tackle Trent Brown 458 Bengals running back Jeremy Hill 459 and wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson 460 The Patriots also drafted left tackle Isaiah Wynn and running back Sony Michel in the first round 461 In September the Patriots signed Josh Gordon 462 During the Patriots week 5 game against the Indianapolis Colts Brady became the third Quarterback to throw 500 touchdowns in his career 463 The Patriots had a six game winning streak until losing at the Tennessee Titans in Week 10 464 In weeks 14 and 15 the team had back to back losses against the Dolphins and Steelers both on the road 465 466 In late December the Patriots lost Gordon who left due to health reasons 467 They finished the season with an 11 5 record and a first round bye 468 The Patriots beat the Los Angeles Chargers in the divisional round routing them 41 28 with rookie Sony Michel scoring 3 times on rushing touchdowns 469 In the AFC Championship they faced the Chiefs on the road 470 The Patriots had a 14 0 lead at halftime 471 Mahomes was able to rally back the Chiefs to a 21 17 lead in the 4th 472 The score went back and forth until the Chiefs kicked a field goal sending the game to overtime at 31 31 473 The Patriots won the coin toss and Brady drove the Patriots down the field to score a Rex Burkhead rushing touchdown resulting in a 37 31 victory 473 In Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta the Patriots faced off against the Los Angeles Rams 474 The game remained tied 3 3 until the 4th quarter when Brady and Gronkowski completed two long passes to put the Patriots inside the Rams 5 yard line where Sony Michel would score the game s only touchdown winning the game 13 3 474 475 Wide receiver Julian Edelman was named Super Bowl MVP with 10 catches for 141 yards 476 The sixth Super Bowl victory tied the Patriots with the Steelers for most all time 477 2019 The end of an era Edit Main article 2019 New England Patriots season nbsp Brady and running back Sony Michel during the 2019 Wild Card game against Tennessee This would become Brady s final game in a Patriots uniform Prior to the season Tom Brady signed a two year extension worth 70 million but also allowed him to become a free agent after the 2019 season 478 479 On September 9 2019 the Patriots signed Pro Bowl wide receiver Antonio Brown whom was released by the Oakland Raiders following several off the field controversies and a signing which some compared to the Randy Moss trade in 2007 Brown would last only one game with New England getting released on September 22 2019 due to more off the field issues New England started the season with an 8 0 record 480 The streak ended with a loss to the Baltimore Ravens 481 The team won its 11th consecutive AFC East division title after a 24 17 win against the Buffalo Bills in Week 16 but New England didn t get a first round bye for the playoffs 482 483 484 The Patriots were the 3 seed in the AFC playoffs 482 but lost to the Titans at home during the wild card round 20 13 485 This was Brady s last game with the Patriots 486 On March 17 2020 Brady announced that he would not re sign with the Patriots 486 On March 20 2020 Brady signed a two year 50 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 487 488 On April 21 2020 the Patriots traded the rights to retired tight end Rob Gronkowski to the Buccaneers along with a seventh round pick in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft 489 2020 present Post Brady era Edit2020 Edit Main article 2020 New England Patriots season Prior to the season the Patriots announced a uniform change opting to go with their former NFL Color Rush jerseys as their new home uniforms with a corresponding white uniform with blue pants as their road outfits Both uniforms featured truncated shoulder striping as a nod to the Pat Patriot uniforms 490 491 Former Carolina Panthers quarterback 2011 NFL draft first overall pick and 2015 NFL season MVP Cam Newton was announced as New England s new starting quarterback prior to the season 492 In addition several veteran players such as Patrick Chung Brandon Bolden Marcus Cannon and Dont a Hightower opted out of the season due to the COVID 19 pandemic 493 494 Later in the Season 3 other major players as Gunner Burkhead amp Edelman were injured who were instrumental in winning earlier games After the Buffalo Bills beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 14 the Patriots were out of contention for the AFC East championship 495 They were also eliminated from playoff contention with the loss to the Dolphins in week 15 496 This was only the 4th time since 2000 the Patriots had missed the playoffs and failed to win the division 497 498 Cam Newton and Brian Hoyer ended their Season going 7 9 In addition their streak of 10 win seasons that dated back to their 2003 Super Bowl winning season which was an NFL record was also snapped 499 2021 Edit See also 2021 New England Patriots season nbsp Quarterback Mac Jones drafted 15th overall in 2021The 2021 season started with the Patriots signing eleven free agents from other teams on the same day including Hunter Henry Nelson Agholor Jonnu Smith and Matthew Judon 500 On August 31 2021 the Patriots released quarterback Cam Newton during final preseason roster cuts As a result rookie Mac Jones became the starting quarterback for the team The Patriots started the season 2 4 but went on to win seven consecutive games battling Buffalo for the division crown throughout the season New England finished the season 10 7 in the first NFL season with 17 games clinching the 6 seed in the playoffs their first without Brady since 1998 They would lose to the Bills 47 17 in the wild card round their worst playoff loss under Belichick 501 Despite the playoff loss Jones broke several rookie quarterback records for the team 502 Notes and references Edit Maroons Will Become Bulldogs Newspapers com September 6 1929 Retrieved March 4 2021 a b c Dupont Kevin Paul December 29 2013 Redskins name debate traces to Boston The Boston Globe BostonGlobe com Retrieved March 4 2021 Nason Jerry September 27 1944 Boston Yanks NFL debut at Fenway is a loss The Boston Globe BostonGlobe com Retrieved March 4 2021 Sports Its This Way Newspapers com January 4 1949 Retrieved March 4 2021 Megliola Lenny Jim Nance Billy Sullivan were mainstays in the good old days The Enterprise Brockton MA Retrieved March 4 2021 JOHN S AMES JR Published 1973 The New York Times July 11 1973 ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved March 8 2021 Red Sox legend Dom DiMaggio Joe s little brother and former Atkinson resident dead at 92 Eagle Tribune May 8 2009 Retrieved March 8 2021 a b FYI The Boston Globe archive boston com Retrieved March 8 2021 Seek Nickname For Boston s New Pro Team Newspapers com February 10 1960 Retrieved March 4 2021 Boston Patriots Selected as Name Newspapers com February 17 1960 Retrieved March 4 2021 Oneth Get Name Twoeth By Land Pro Club Named Patriots Practice On Bunker Hill Newspapers com February 17 1960 Retrieved March 4 2021 Historical Dates New England Patriots June 6 2015 Archived from the original on June 6 2015 Retrieved March 4 2021 New England Patriots Sports Ecyclopedia Retrieved January 13 2011 Denver Broncos Win AFL Opener 13 to 10 Newspapers com September 10 1960 Retrieved March 4 2021 Chargers Humble Patriots 51 10 Newspapers com January 6 1964 Retrieved March 4 2021 Babe Parilli s Best Game Says Coach Newspapers com December 31 1963 Retrieved March 8 2021 West Pick over East In AFL All Star Game Newspapers com January 19 1964 Retrieved March 4 2021 PLAYERS IN A F L FORM OWN UNION Owners to Get Proposals for Pensions Medical Plan Published 1964 The New York Times January 16 1964 ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved March 4 2021 a b Call The Morning June 17 1992 JIM NANCE 49 LED OLD AFL IN RUSHING IN 1966 AND 1967 mcall com Retrieved March 4 2021 a b Remembering the AFL NFL merger 50 years ago Boston com www boston com Retrieved March 4 2021 AFL Makes Billion Dollar Debut This Week Newspapers com September 4 1960 Retrieved March 8 2021 20 Things You Need To Know About Championship Sunday Newspapers com January 19 2014 Retrieved March 8 2021 NFL s Boston Patriots Spent A Year in Harvard Stadium News The Harvard Crimson www thecrimson com Retrieved March 8 2021 Pennington Bill January 28 2012 A Team s Ragtag Roots Published 2012 The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved March 8 2021 PATRIOTS LIKELY TO GET NO ARENA Published 1970 The New York Times March 22 1970 ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved March 4 2021 No byline March 12 1970 Pros in Tampa The Evening Independent Retrieved from Google Newspapers May 8 2014 Pennington Bill January 12 2019 Foxboro ugh Where Visiting N F L Teams Hate to Play Published 2019 The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved March 4 2021 On this day 46 years ago they officially became the New England Patriots ESPN com March 22 2017 Retrieved March 4 2021 Name no official It s N E Patriots Newspapers com March 23 1971 Retrieved March 4 2021 It s Now The BAY STATE Patriot Squad Gettysburg Times February 19 1971 Retrieved April 16 2008 Patriots Switch Again Adding Regional Flavor The New York Times March 23 1971 Retrieved April 16 2008 a b c Wallace William N August 15 1971 PATRIOTS TO OPEN STADIUM TONIGHT Published 1971 The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved March 4 2021 New Englanders beat Giants 20 14 Pats break through fans less lucky Newspapers com August 16 1971 Retrieved March 4 2021 If you want to see kickoff you d better camp early Newspapers com August 16 1971 Retrieved March 4 2021 Past Heisman Trophy Winners National Champs net Pro Football Draft History 1971 Archived 2006 01 07 at the Wayback Machine Pro Football Hall of Fame a b Patriots Plunkett Playing as Though He s No 1 Newspapers com August 30 1971 Retrieved March 4 2021 NFL 1970 Team Rankings home earthlink net Archived from the original on October 30 2005 Retrieved February 23 2019 It s in the numbers Randy Vataha the Los Angeles Times October 1 1992 Retrieved March 4 2021 https web archive org web 20171201095258 http www patriots com team players roster john hannah Archived 2017 12 01 at the Wayback Machine John Hannah New England Patriots Patriots com Blackwell Joey March 26 2020 From Destroying Defenses to Fixing Fences John Hannah Sports Illustrated Alabama Crimson Tide News Analysis and More Retrieved March 8 2021 All time Leaders Rushing Archived 2007 09 29 at the Wayback Machine Patriots com Leading the rush catching up with Sam Cunningham archive boston com Retrieved March 8 2021 Pierson Don April 11 2007 Stingley family hero chicagotribune com Retrieved March 8 2021 Patriots mourn Chuck Fairbanks Boston Herald April 3 2013 Retrieved March 8 2021 Chuck Fairbanks former New England Patriots coach and more UPI Retrieved March 8 2021 Dolphins Win But Was It Important Newspapers com December 16 1974 Retrieved March 8 2021 Patriots Plunkett Injured Will Be Out for 3 Weeks Published 1975 The New York Times September 8 1975 ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved March 8 2021 Pat Fans to Savor Newspapers com December 23 1975 Retrieved March 8 2021 Plunkett Has Plans Newspapers com April 30 1976 Retrieved March 8 2021 a b LaMarre Tom March 3 2021 The Resilience of Jim Plunkett a Raiders Legend Sports Illustrated Oakland Raiders News Analysis and More Retrieved March 8 2021 Fairbanks Happy With Five Pats Selections Newspapers com April 9 1976 Retrieved March 8 2021 Turning Patriots Around Earns Fairbanks UPI Honor Newspapers com December 29 1976 Retrieved March 8 2021 a b c d Stabler scrambles across in last 10 seconds for 24 21 win Newspapers com December 19 1976 Retrieved March 8 2021 Roughing the Passer The Patriots Raiders Game You Should Know About Boston com Retrieved March 8 2021 Patriots sunk 24 21 by Raiders penalties Newspapers com December 19 1976 Retrieved March 8 2021 Leon Gray 49 Star Blocker for Patriots Football Team Los Angeles Times November 13 2001 Retrieved March 8 2021 Bombs Make Colts Wins Nice Jones Newspapers com December 19 1977 Retrieved March 8 2021 The amazing courage of Derek Stingley Archived 2007 04 10 at the Wayback Machine Pro Football Weekly Cowboys pick to win 2nd straight National Football League title Newspapers com December 19 1978 Retrieved March 5 2021 Patriots ready to put freeze on red hot Oilers Newspapers com December 31 1978 Retrieved March 8 2021 Patriots Suspend Fairbanks For Accepting College Job Newspapers com December 19 1978 Retrieved March 8 2021 Borges Ron Butt of jokes to last laugh The Boston Globe Retrieved April 26 2008 Celtics story tops in New England Newspapers com December 30 1979 Retrieved March 15 2021 Trade Me Newspapers com December 25 1980 Retrieved March 12 2021 Patriots 37 Colts 21 Newspapers com October 20 1980 Retrieved March 12 2021 Chargers claim last playoff spot Newspapers com December 23 1980 Retrieved March 12 2021 They ll be lucky to get 15 000 at this game Newspapers com December 20 1981 Retrieved March 12 2021 Erhardt Didn t Get Much Help Newspapers com December 23 1981 Retrieved March 12 2021 Patriots hire Ron Meyer away from SMU Newspapers com January 16 1982 Retrieved March 12 2021 Sims signs with Patriots Newspapers com June 9 1982 Retrieved March 12 2021 a b c d Snow plow helps clear path for Pats Newspapers com December 13 1982 Retrieved March 12 2021 New England s a Pats y In Miami s Orange Bowl Newspapers com January 6 1983 Retrieved March 12 2021 Dolphins drown Patriots 28 13 Newspapers com January 9 1983 Retrieved March 12 2021 Schaefer Named Sullivan Stadium Newspapers com May 24 1983 Retrieved March 12 2021 a b Eason s First Start Dismal Newspapers com November 28 1983 Retrieved March 12 2021 Sunday s Heroes Newspapers com September 17 1984 Retrieved March 12 2021 Patriots drop finale in Seattle Newspapers com December 19 1983 Retrieved March 12 2021 Patriots Ink Irving Fryar Newspapers com April 12 1984 Retrieved March 15 2021 Tony Eason earns Pats starting job after performance against Seahawks Newspapers com September 18 1984 Retrieved March 15 2021 Pats hoping to breathe new life into race with win over Dolphins Newspapers com October 21 1984 Retrieved March 15 2021 Patriots fire Ron Meyer Raymond Berry takes over post Newspapers com October 26 1984 Retrieved March 15 2021 Patriots Eason bomb Colts 50 17 Newspapers com November 19 1984 Retrieved March 15 2021 Patriots 38 Bills 10 Newspapers com November 12 1984 Retrieved March 15 2021 Pats fumble Chance Newspapers com November 5 1984 Retrieved March 15 2021 Saints boot Browns Pats rally once more Newspapers com October 29 1984 Retrieved March 15 2021 Patriots 16 Colts 10 Newspapers com December 17 1984 Retrieved March 12 2021 Pats aim Grogan at high flying Jets Newspapers com October 20 1985 Retrieved March 15 2021 Grogan can t seem to get past the 12th game Newspapers com December 1 1985 Retrieved March 15 2021 New England at Indianapolis Newspapers com December 1 1985 Retrieved March 15 2021 a b Ignore history rip Jets Newspapers com December 30 1985 Retrieved March 15 2021 a b c Patriots surprise fumbling Raiders Newspapers com January 6 1986 Retrieved March 16 2021 Shula on Berry He Never Beat Me Deep Newspapers com January 11 1986 Retrieved March 16 2021 a b c d Bears Patriots head to a Super meeting Newspapers com January 13 1986 Retrieved March 16 2021 a b Bears come out smoking in rout Newspapers com January 28 1986 Retrieved March 16 2021 How They Scored Newspapers com January 27 1986 Retrieved March 16 2021 Super Bowl XX New England Patriots vs Chicago Bears January 26th 1986 Pro Football Reference com Retrieved February 23 2019 NFL union to challenge Patriots on drug testing Newspapers com January 30 1986 Retrieved March 16 2021 Patriots now say only two players used cocaine Newspapers com January 31 1986 Retrieved March 16 2021 Oates Bob September 5 1986 From Touchdowns To Turmoil Los Angeles Times Retrieved February 13 2010 NFL is investigating allegations that Patriots Fryar bet on games Newspapers com May 29 1986 Retrieved March 16 2021 Patriots John Hannah retires after thirteen seasons Newspapers com July 1 1986 Retrieved March 16 2021 Patriots statistics Newspapers com January 2 1987 Retrieved March 16 2021 AFC Playoffs Newspapers com January 1 1987 Retrieved March 16 2021 Broncos keep Patriots offense at bay 22 17 Newspapers com January 5 1987 Retrieved March 16 2021 Bears Deal Flutie to Patriots Newspapers com October 14 1987 Retrieved March 16 2021 Flutie comes out a winner so do Patriots Newspapers com October 19 1987 Retrieved March 16 2021 Patriots facings a no lose situation Newspapers com December 15 1987 Retrieved March 16 2021 Patriots beat Dolphins both end season at 8 7 Newspapers com December 29 1987 Retrieved March 16 2021 Broncos find spirit in last game Newspapers com December 19 1988 Retrieved March 16 2021 a b c Wuench Kavin The story of the Jackson Family NFL and the disastrous Victory tour Tampa Bay Times Retrieved March 16 2021 a b Players pleased sale finally completed Newspapers com October 6 1988 Retrieved March 16 2021 a b Harris David 1986 The League The Rise and Decline of the NFL New York City Bantam Books pp 629 32 ISBN 0 553 05167 9 a b c d Farinella Mark June 27 2009 Jackson s part in Pats history was real thriller The Sun Chronicle Retrieved September 25 2012 McDonough Will August 16 1985 Sullivans Put Patriots on Block The Boston Globe Thomsen Ian April 11 1986 Lewis group buys rights to Patriots The Boston Globe McDonough Will September 10 1987 Sullivans seeking to void Chodorow deal The Boston Globe Skwar Don February 12 1987 LeRoux seeks Patriots The Boston Globe Borges Ron March 18 1987 LeRoux out Patriots in trouble The Boston Globe Harber Paul February 17 1988 Donald Trump negotiating to purchase the Patriots The Boston Globe McDonough Will February 28 1988 Trump Appears Out of It The Boston Globe Donaldson Jim March 5 1988 Tisch hopeful on Pats Providence Journal McDonough Will September 30 1986 Sale shifts again The Boston Globe McDonough Will March 12 1988 Briton DeSavary is Patriots Mr X The Boston Globe O Donnell s Near Miss The Boston Globe March 31 1988 Billy Sullivan 86 Founder Of Football Patriots Dies New York Times Accessed 20 October 2007 Gerald Eskanazi March 18 1988 N F L Takes Over Indebted Patriots The New York Times Half the time football s best efforts go unnoticed Newspapers com October 25 1988 Retrieved March 17 2021 Kiam to take reins Closing today Newspapers com October 21 1988 Retrieved March 17 2021 Patriots eliminated after Colts Browns rally to win Newspapers com December 19 1988 Retrieved March 17 2021 Patriots are hurting Newspapers com September 2 1989 Retrieved March 17 2021 Flutie still likely to start next week Newspapers com October 2 1989 Retrieved March 17 2021 Glad to be ex Patriot Eason joins Jets Newspapers com November 9 1989 Retrieved March 17 2021 Rams 24 Patriots 20 Newspapers com December 25 1989 Retrieved March 17 2021 That s how Kapp is looking at Flutie Newspapers com June 23 1990 Retrieved March 17 2021 Steinberg Bowl not a pretty sight Newspapers com December 23 1990 Retrieved March 17 2021 Patriots Fire Berry Rust in Line for Job Newspapers com February 27 1990 Retrieved March 17 2021 Patriots end season 1 15 Newspapers com December 31 1990 Retrieved March 17 2021 a b George Thomas November 28 1990 Patriots and 3 Players Fined in Olson Incident The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved March 18 2021 A big year for the word eaters Newspapers com December 30 1990 Retrieved March 18 2021 Giants fans help Patriots get a sellout Newspapers com December 31 1990 Retrieved March 18 2021 Ol Mo not with the Giants Newspapers com December 31 1990 Retrieved March 18 2021 Patriots fire Rust after 1 15 season January 5 1991 MacPherson to take over Patriots job Newspapers com January 7 1991 Retrieved March 18 2021 Patriots name Jankovich CEO Newspapers com December 21 1990 Retrieved March 18 2021 Football Newspapers com September 19 1991 Retrieved March 18 2021 Jets seeking sudden impact Newspapers com December 31 1991 Retrieved March 18 2021 Patriots recover win in overtime Newspapers com October 21 1991 Retrieved March 18 2021 Just an off day Newspapers com November 25 1991 Retrieved March 18 2021 a b Pats owner official Newspapers com May 13 1992 Retrieved March 18 2021 Patriots on course for piece of history Newspapers com November 15 1992 Retrieved March 18 2021 If St Louis builds a stadium will football come Newspapers com December 27 1992 Retrieved March 18 2021 Dolphins get OT win then capture East Newspapers com December 28 1992 Retrieved March 18 2021 Patriots fire MacPherson Newspapers com January 9 1993 Retrieved March 18 2021 Patriots Jankovich becomes the second to go Newspapers com January 10 1993 Retrieved March 18 2021 Parcells makes return as Patriots coach Newspapers com January 22 1993 Retrieved March 18 2021 a b Patriots unveil new uniforms Newspapers com April 1 1993 Retrieved March 18 2021 Patriots retire logo Newspapers com March 27 1993 Retrieved March 18 2021 Sketchy details of logo fleshed out Newspapers com October 5 1993 Retrieved March 18 2021 Boston cursed no more Newspapers com February 5 2002 Retrieved March 18 2021 Patriots make Bledsoe top draft pick Newspapers com April 26 1993 Retrieved March 18 2021 Patriots lineback Slade intends to enter sack race Newspapers com May 2 1993 Retrieved March 18 2021 Promising start for Byrd on TV Newspapers com September 19 1993 Retrieved March 18 2021 Patriots Bledsoe injures knee Newspapers com October 11 1993 Retrieved March 18 2021 Mistakes crop up in fourth Newspapers com October 18 1993 Retrieved March 18 2021 Secules Backup role to leading man Newspapers com October 11 1993 Retrieved March 18 2021 Goal line stand helps Steelers hold off pesky Patriots 17 14 Newspapers com December 6 1993 Retrieved March 18 2021 NFL Standings Newspapers com December 13 1993 Retrieved March 18 2021 Turner draws the assignment and gets it done Newspapers com December 20 1993 Retrieved March 18 2021 Patriots final statistics reveal day of dominance Newspapers com December 27 1993 Retrieved March 18 2021 Blesoe recognizes a winner Newspapers com January 3 1994 Retrieved March 18 2021 a b c McG Thomas Jr Robert January 22 1994 Sold Time to Call Them the New England Permanents The New York Times Retrieved February 5 2018 State to spend 10m on Foxboro access Newspapers com March 3 1994 Retrieved March 18 2021 Stadium covenant a major roadblock Newspapers com January 22 1994 Retrieved March 18 2021 Record 5 958 Patriots season tickets sold Newspapers com February 27 1994 Retrieved March 18 2021 Patriots ticketed for success at box office at least Newspapers com September 12 1994 Retrieved March 18 2021 Browns Newspapers com November 7 1994 Retrieved March 22 2021 a b Can t beat Bledsoe 45 for 70 Newspapers com November 14 1994 Retrieved March 22 2021 Vikings blow 20 point lead Newspapers com November 14 1994 Retrieved March 22 2021 Patriots defeat Bears to earn playoff berth Newspapers com December 25 1994 Retrieved March 22 2021 Defense Vinny are keys to victory Newspapers com January 2 1995 Retrieved March 22 2021 Tough call in second Colorado s Johnson tabbed Newspapers com April 23 1995 Retrieved March 22 2021 Victory a close call by any measure Newspapers com September 4 1995 Retrieved March 22 2021 In the 1995 draft this was the year for bargains Newspapers com December 31 1995 Retrieved March 22 2021 19 Sep 1995 26 The Boston Globe at Newspapers com Newspapers com Retrieved March 22 2021 Finding it tough at home Newspapers com December 4 1995 Retrieved March 22 2021 Colts claim 1st playoff spot since 87 with 10 7 win Newspapers com December 24 1995 Retrieved March 22 2021 a b c Patriots Newspapers com October 24 1995 Retrieved March 22 2021 Tyson tripe shouldn t have aird Newspapers com October 23 1995 Retrieved March 22 2021 Patriots Newspapers com October 23 1995 Retrieved March 22 2021 Kraft s Patriots not so put together Newspapers com October 22 1995 Retrieved March 22 2021 Networks fans already lining up for kickoff Newspapers com July 21 1995 Retrieved March 22 2021 With an eye to remaking CBS Newspapers com November 29 1995 Retrieved March 22 2021 Pats go for receiver Newspapers com April 21 1996 Retrieved March 22 2021 Redskins beat back Pats 27 22 Newspapers com October 14 1996 Retrieved March 22 2021 Respect taking Jets only so far Newspapers com November 11 1996 Retrieved March 22 2021 Huge comeback Giant disappointment Newspapers com December 22 1996 Retrieved March 22 2021 Patriots survive for a bye Newspapers com December 22 1996 Retrieved March 22 2021 Patriots tougher than steel 28 3 Newspapers com January 6 1997 Retrieved March 22 2021 a b Plenty of work left to do Newspapers com January 13 1997 Retrieved March 22 2021 Vecsey George February 1 1997 Parcells Seeking New Kitchen The New York Times Retrieved June 17 2009 Namath likes taste of Tuna joining Jets Newspapers com January 24 1997 Retrieved March 22 2021 Sunday s Summary Newspapers com January 28 1997 Retrieved March 22 2021 a b Patriots let guard down in New Orleans Newspapers com January 28 1997 Retrieved March 22 2021 Patriot Games Newspapers com February 1 1997 Retrieved March 23 2021 a b Jacobs Newspapers com February 5 1997 Retrieved March 23 2021 a b c d Jets able to take care of the Bills Newspapers com February 5 1997 Retrieved March 23 2021 Tagliabue may have to step in Newspapers com February 5 1997 Retrieved March 23 2021 a b Parcells back on the job Newspapers com February 11 1997 Retrieved March 23 2021 Scoring a Niner Pats hire Carroll Newspapers com February 4 1997 Retrieved March 23 2021 Pats over Dolphins Two down one to go Newspapers com December 23 1997 Retrieved March 23 2021 Glenn makes welcome return Newspapers com December 29 1997 Retrieved March 23 2021 Depleted Patriots can t avoid final pitfall Newspapers com January 4 1998 Retrieved March 23 2021 The risk is that Martin can run free Newspapers com February 14 1998 Retrieved March 23 2021 Martin opts for 6 year deal Newspapers com April 14 1998 Retrieved March 23 2021 Jets grab for Martin Newspapers com March 21 1998 Retrieved March 23 2021 Seau blitzes Leaf with costly pranks Newspapers com August 15 1998 Retrieved March 23 2021 a b And Pats Keep Pace on Last Play Newspapers com November 30 1998 Retrieved March 23 2021 a b c Pats stay in playoff race Newspapers com November 30 1998 Retrieved March 23 2021 a b c Bills Newspapers com November 30 1998 Retrieved March 23 2021 a b Bills will probably file protest Newspapers com November 30 1998 Retrieved March 23 2021 This time Glenn done for good Newspapers com December 14 1998 Retrieved March 23 2021 Davis Surpasses 2 000 yards Newspapers com December 28 1998 Retrieved March 23 2021 AFC Wild Card Playoff Newspapers com January 4 1999 Retrieved March 23 2021 Edwards will miss season The Standard Times New Bedford Associated Press February 13 1999 Retrieved June 16 2009 Patriots close to deal with Hartford Newspapers com November 19 1998 Retrieved March 23 2021 Game provided a healthy dose of give and take Newspapers com October 25 1999 Retrieved March 23 2021 Patriots 30 Jets 28 Newspapers com September 13 1999 Retrieved March 23 2021 a b Patriots burn Colts Newspapers com September 20 1999 Retrieved March 23 2021 a b After Indianapolis self destructs Bledsoe there to pick up the pieces Newspapers com September 20 1999 Retrieved March 23 2021 Only Coates Isn t Satisfied Newspapers com November 1 1999 Retrieved March 23 2021 All for Pete s Sake Newspapers com January 3 2000 Retrieved March 23 2021 Pats fire Pete Carroll Sports Illustrated Associated Press January 3 2000 Retrieved June 16 2009 Patriots fire Grier The Standard Times New Bedford May 2 2000 Retrieved June 16 2009 Patriots fire Carroll Newspapers com January 3 2000 Retrieved March 24 2021 Pats may hurry Parcells decision Newspapers com January 3 2000 Retrieved March 24 2021 a b Packers Pats fire coaches Newspapers com January 4 2000 Retrieved March 24 2021 Belichick bails out Newspapers com January 5 2000 Retrieved March 24 2021 These tricks being done with mirrors Newspapers com January 5 2000 Retrieved March 24 2021 A parachute in New England Newspapers com January 5 2000 Retrieved March 24 2021 He still could land in New England Newspapers com January 5 2000 Retrieved March 24 2021 Belichick antitrust suit Newspapers com January 25 2000 Retrieved March 24 2021 Belichick gets nod as new Patriot coach Newspapers com January 28 2000 Retrieved March 24 2021 Bills for Bills Newspapers com January 28 2000 Retrieved March 24 2021 Freeman Mike July 26 2000 PRO FOOTBALL Belichick Has Patriots Ears Now the Hard Part The New York Times Retrieved June 1 2008 Patriots Dolphins ending an all timer Newspapers com December 31 2000 Retrieved March 24 2021 NFL Fun Facts Newspapers com September 1 2000 Retrieved March 24 2021 Patriots sign Bledsoe to contract extension Newspapers com March 8 2001 Retrieved March 24 2021 Patriots Armstrong retires Newspapers com September 29 2001 Retrieved March 24 2021 Zimmerman Paul September 5 2001 5 New England Patriots Sports Illustrated Archived from the original on January 2 2013 Retrieved June 6 2009 Injuries continue to take severe toll at various camps Newspapers com August 10 2001 Retrieved March 25 2021 Pats assistant dead at 45 Newspapers com August 7 2001 Retrieved March 25 2021 A false start by the Patriots Newspapers com September 10 2001 Retrieved March 25 2021 Vinny Martin lift Jets Newspapers com September 24 2001 Retrieved March 25 2021 a b No organ damage to Patriots Bledsoe Newspapers com September 26 2001 Retrieved March 25 2021 Brady earns start for rest of the season Newspapers com November 21 2001 Retrieved March 25 2021 1 August 2001 Patriots Seymour Studying Technical Studies Newspapers com Retrieved March 25 2021 Patriots sign ex Bills RB Antowain Smith Newspapers com June 8 2001 Retrieved March 25 2021 Patriots 38 Panthers 6 Newspapers com January 7 2002 Retrieved March 25 2021 Stars of show are all for fewer games Newspapers com January 7 2002 Retrieved March 25 2021 Snow boots Patriots knock out Raiders Newspapers com January 20 2002 Retrieved March 25 2021 a b c d Pats stun Raiders in OT Newspapers com January 20 2002 Retrieved March 25 2021 a b Raiders numbed by heartbreaking loss Newspapers com January 20 2002 Retrieved March 25 2021 a b Happy Returns Newspapers com January 28 2002 Retrieved March 25 2021 a b All around star Brown does a bit of everything Newspapers com January 28 2002 Retrieved March 25 2021 Muscle pulls defense through Newspapers com January 28 2002 Retrieved March 25 2021 Turnovers turn the Super Bowl in Patriots favor Newspapers com February 4 2002 Retrieved March 25 2021 Inside the chess game Newspapers com February 4 2002 Retrieved March 25 2021 Brady modestly credits victory to entire team Newspapers com February 4 2002 Retrieved March 25 2021 a b Young Brady named MVP Newspapers com February 4 2002 Retrieved March 25 2021 a b Brady credits team for MVP honor Newspapers com February 4 2002 Retrieved March 25 2021 Patriots fans celebrate title Newspapers com February 6 2002 Retrieved March 25 2021 Patriots sign quarterback Brady to contract extension Newspapers com August 29 2002 Retrieved March 25 2021 Patriots trade Bledsoe to Bills for draft pick Newspapers com April 22 2002 Retrieved March 25 2021 a b c How Kraft s stadium dream unraveled Newspapers com December 16 1998 Retrieved March 31 2021 a b Conn OK s Patriots stadium Newspapers com December 16 1998 Retrieved March 31 2021 In The End Kraft Made A Business Decision Newspapers com May 1 1999 Retrieved March 31 2021 NFL gives Patriots a hand Newspapers com May 27 1999 Retrieved March 31 2021 Mcmillan Jean May 1 1999 Pats call off Hartford move The Standard Times New Bedford Associated Press Retrieved June 16 2009 9 Jun 1999 64 The Boston Globe at Newspapers com Newspapers com Retrieved March 31 2021 Foxborough OK s Patriots stadium Newspapers com December 7 1999 Retrieved March 31 2021 a b Patriots field now Gillette Stadium Newspapers com August 6 2002 Retrieved March 31 2021 Brady Patriots crush Steelers Newspapers com September 10 2002 Retrieved March 31 2021 Rout 2 Patriots cruise past Jets Newspapers com September 16 2002 Retrieved March 31 2021 Raiders gain sweet revenge with win over Pats Newspapers com November 18 2002 Retrieved March 31 2021 a b Dolphins down for count Newspapers com December 30 2002 Retrieved March 31 2021 New England 27 Miami 24 OT Yahoo Sports December 29 2002 Retrieved January 28 2008 Ex mates express shock Newspapers com September 3 2003 Retrieved April 1 2021 a b c Patriots say they don t Hate Belichick ESPN com September 15 2003 Retrieved June 15 2009 REDSKINS Patriots bypass field goal attempt to tie game Newspapers com September 29 2003 Retrieved April 1 2021 Patriots razor sharp in wrecking the Bills Newspapers com December 28 2003 Retrieved April 1 2021 Patriots win to claim top seed home field Newspapers com December 28 2003 Retrieved April 1 2021 Patriots Titans compete in one of the coldest games Newspapers com January 11 2004 Retrieved April 1 2021 a b Patriots squeeze past Titans Newspapers com January 11 2004 Retrieved April 1 2021 a b One More Stop Newspapers com January 19 2004 Retrieved April 1 2021 a b Supermen II Newspapers com February 2 2004 Retrieved April 1 2021 Vinatieri saves Patriots Newspapers com February 2 2004 Retrieved April 1 2021 a b c d e Every play every down Newspapers com February 2 2004 Retrieved April 1 2021 Bengals trade disgruntled Dillon to Pats Newspapers com April 20 2004 Retrieved April 2 2021 Pats victorious in battle of unbeatens Newspapers com October 25 2004 Retrieved April 2 2021 It s Rothlisberger on a Roll Newspapers com November 1 2004 Retrieved April 2 2021 Breakdown This one was a system failure Newspapers com November 1 2004 Retrieved April 2 2021 Cornerback Gay happy to be given opportunity Newspapers com November 12 2004 Retrieved April 2 2021 Second guessing the secondary Newspapers com February 2 2005 Retrieved April 2 2021 Pats end with sloppy win Newspapers com January 3 2005 Retrieved April 2 2021 Cold clocked Newspapers com January 17 2005 Retrieved April 2 2021 Finally Getting Back Newspapers com January 24 2005 Retrieved April 2 2021 Pat ending Newspapers com February 7 2005 Retrieved April 2 2021 Soshnick Scott January 28 2008 NFL s Patriots Owe Dynasty to One Guy Named Mo Bloomberg Retrieved June 15 2009 Bruschi will miss year due to stroke Newspapers com July 21 2005 Retrieved April 2 2021 Patriots release Ty Law Newspapers com February 26 2005 Retrieved April 2 2021 Jets QB situation shaky after Pennington injury Newspapers com September 26 2005 Retrieved April 2 2021 Chargers put hurt on Patriots Newspapers com October 3 2005 Retrieved April 2 2021 Bruschi s return thrills Patriots fans Newspapers com November 1 2005 Retrieved April 2 2021 Patriots Let It Drop Newspapers com January 2 2006 Retrieved April 2 2021 Leftwich Swarmed Under Newspapers com January 8 2006 Retrieved April 2 2021 Broncos stop dynasty talk Newspapers com January 15 2006 Retrieved April 2 2021 Waiting to catch on Newspapers com March 12 2006 Retrieved April 2 2021 Patriots trade Deion Branch to Seattle Newspapers com September 12 2006 Retrieved April 2 2021 Catching on quickly Newspapers com August 3 2006 Retrieved April 2 2021 More professional athletes carrying guns for protection Newspapers com November 11 2006 Retrieved April 2 2021 Crouse Karen November 12 2006 NFL Jets end streak of losses to Patriots The New York Times Retrieved June 19 2007 via International Herald Tribune Belichick mate Newspapers com January 8 2007 Retrieved April 2 2021 Patriots clinch fourth straight AFC East title Newspapers com December 25 2006 Retrieved April 2 2021 Caldwell Has A Big Second Half Newspapers com January 15 2007 Retrieved April 2 2021 AFC Championship Newspapers com January 22 2007 Retrieved April 2 2021 Patriots sign receivers Stallworth Washington Newspapers com March 14 2007 Retrieved April 5 2021 New England trades for controversial Moss Newspapers com April 30 2007 Retrieved April 5 2021 Quite a catch Newspapers com January 29 2008 Retrieved April 5 2021 Pats complete feat Newspapers com December 30 2007 Retrieved April 5 2021 a b NFL Spygate Belichick sorry Newspapers com September 13 2007 Retrieved April 5 2021 Spygate Newspapers com September 14 2007 Retrieved April 5 2021 Young Shalise Manza November 26 2007 Pats tie earliest clinching of the AFC East The Providence Journal Retrieved November 26 2007 Sweep 16 Newspapers com December 30 2007 Retrieved April 5 2021 a b Patriots Overcome Giants Newspapers com December 30 2007 Retrieved April 5 2021 Turner Chargers have new outlook Newspapers com January 20 2008 Retrieved April 5 2021 Patriots offensive linemen are in charge of keeping Brady safe Newspapers com January 31 2008 Retrieved April 5 2021 Pats doing homework Newspapers com January 7 2008 Retrieved April 5 2021 Locked on target Newspapers com January 13 2008 Retrieved April 5 2021 Super imposing Newspapers com January 21 2008 Retrieved April 5 2021 Pierson Don December 29 2007 19 0 would make Patriots best team ever NBC Sports Archived from the original on June 3 2009 Retrieved June 16 2009 a b Defense Keeps Focus On Brady Newspapers com February 4 2008 Retrieved April 5 2021 Myers Gary January 27 2008 Giant upset over Pats has familiar ring to New England s shocker over Rams Daily News New York Retrieved June 16 2009 Battista Judy February 4 2008 Giants Stun Patriots in Super Bowl XLII The New York Times Retrieved June 16 2009 Patriots Brady out for season with knee injury NBC Sports Archived 2012 07 12 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 12 July 2012 Patriots Cassel looking forward to calling the shots Newspapers com September 13 2008 Retrieved April 5 2021 Cassel keeps Pats rolling Newspapers com September 15 2008 Retrieved April 5 2021 a b c Patriots miss playoffs as help fails Newspapers com December 29 2008 Retrieved April 5 2021 Patriots lose Pioli to Chiefs Newspapers com January 14 2009 Retrieved April 5 2021 Patriots McDaniels lands with Broncos Newspapers com January 13 2009 Retrieved April 5 2021 Patriots trade Cassel Vrabel to Chiefs for 2nd round pick Newspapers com March 1 2009 Retrieved April 5 2021 Pats Bruschi retires after 13 season Newspapers com September 1 2009 Retrieved April 5 2021 Patriots Harrison retires joins NBC Newspapers com June 4 2009 Retrieved April 5 2021 Patriots trade Seymour to Raiders Newspapers com September 7 2009 Retrieved April 5 2021 a b Another Monday Night Mare Newspapers com September 15 2009 Retrieved April 5 2021 Bills Newspapers com September 15 2009 Retrieved April 5 2021 Colts pull out improbable victory over Patriots Newspapers com November 16 2009 Retrieved April 5 2021 Henne runs with handoff Newspapers com December 7 2009 Retrieved April 5 2021 Patriots Bengals clinch division titles Newspapers com December 28 2009 Retrieved April 5 2021 A loss that really hurts Newspapers com January 4 2010 Retrieved April 5 2021 a b Over and Rout Newspapers com January 11 2010 Retrieved April 5 2021 Pees won t return to Patriots Newspapers com January 15 2010 Retrieved April 5 2021 Overall they had it covered Newspapers com September 13 2010 Retrieved April 5 2021 Fighter Jets cruise by Patriots Newspapers com September 20 2010 Retrieved April 5 2021 a b Two is Two of a kind Newspapers com January 4 2011 Retrieved April 5 2021 Pats pick off No 1 seed Newspapers com December 27 2010 Retrieved April 5 2021 Brady hasn t thrown an interception in 335 attempts Newspapers com January 4 2011 Retrieved April 5 2021 In travels breakdown lane avoided Newspapers com January 4 2011 Retrieved April 5 2021 a b Taken out with trash Newspapers com January 17 2011 Retrieved April 5 2021 Moss mess lands Patriots Mallett Newspapers com April 30 2011 Retrieved April 7 2021 Johnson a fan of Haynesworth Newspapers com August 15 2011 Retrieved April 7 2021 Patriots acquire Ochocinco in trade Newspapers com July 29 2011 Retrieved April 7 2021 a b New England Patriots Beat Miami Dolphins Tom Brady Sets Records On Monday Night Football HuffPost July 12 2012 Archived from the original on May 12 2014 Retrieved April 7 2021 Brady Patriots sharp again in home opener Newspapers com September 19 2011 Retrieved April 7 2021 Down to the wire Newspapers com September 26 2011 Retrieved April 7 2021 Patriots are shocked by Bills Newspapers com September 26 2011 Retrieved April 7 2021 span, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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