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A large group of men standing together, including George Bush and Robert Kraft in the middle.

Members of the Patriots organization pose with US President George W. Bush following the Patriots' victory in Super Bowl XXXIX

The New England Patriots are an American football team based in Foxborough, Massachusetts. They compete in the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) of the National Football League (NFL). Originally called the Boston Patriots, the team was founded as one of eight charter members of the American Football League (AFL) in 1960 under the ownership of Billy Sullivan.[1] The team became part of the NFL when the two leagues merged in 1970. The following year they moved from Boston to nearby Foxborough, and changed their name to the New England Patriots.[2]

The modern NFL championship game, the Super Bowl, was founded in the 1966 season; the first four were contested between the champions of the AFL and the NFL.[3] After the merger, the Super Bowl became the united league's championship. The Patriots have won three Super Bowl championships (XXXVI, XXXVIII, and XXXIX). They also played in and lost the 1963 AFL Championship Game, and Super Bowls XX, XXXI, and XLII. Overall, the Patriots have made 18 playoff appearances, one of which was before the merger. Since the merger, they have played in seven AFC Championship Games, winning six of them to advance to the Super Bowl, and losing to eventual Super Bowl XLI champions Indianapolis following the 2006 season.[4] In the Patriots' 51-year history, they have an overall regular season record of 401 wins, 362 losses, and 9 ties. They have made 18 postseason appearances, and have an overall postseason record of 21 wins and 15 losses. During the 2007 regular season, the Patriots became the only NFL team in history to win 16 games, and the first since the 1972 Miami Dolphins (in a then-standard 14-game season) to complete the regular campaign undefeated.[5] They are one of only two teams to win three Super Bowls in four years (the other being the Dallas Cowboys from 1993 to 1996).[6] The Patriots are tied for third (with the Denver Broncos) on the list of Super Bowl appearances with six, behind only the Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers.[7]

Since Bill Belichick was hired as the team's head coach in 2000, the Patriots have finished first or second in the AFC East every year except Belichick's first season. Over that time, they have won three Super Bowls, four AFC Championship Games, and eight AFC East titles, while amassing a regular season record of 126–50.[8] The team's quarterback over that same period, Tom Brady, has been awarded twice each the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP)[9][10] and the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player; he is one of only four men named Super Bowl MVP more than once.[11]

Seasons[]

For complete team history, see History of the New England Patriots.
AFL champions (1960–1969)dagger Super Bowl champions (1966–present)double-dagger Conference champions * Division champions § Wild Card berth ^
Season

[a]

Team[a] League Conference Division Regular season

[a]

Postseason results Awards[Key]
Finish Won Lost Ties
Boston Patriots
1960 1960 AFL Eastern 4th 5 9 0
1961 1961 AFL Eastern 2nd 9 4 1
1962 1962 AFL Eastern 2nd 9 4 1
1963 1963 AFL Eastern § 1st § 7 6 1 Won Divisional Playoffs (Bills) 26–8
Lost AFL Championship Game (Chargers) 51–10
1964 1964 AFL Eastern 2nd 10 3 1 Gino Cappelletti (AFL MVP)[12]
1965 1965 AFL Eastern 3rd 4 8 2
1966 1966 AFL Eastern 2nd 8 4 2 Babe Parilli (ASG MVP)[13]
Mike Holovak (AFL COY)[14]
Jim Nance (AFL MVP)[15]
1967 1967 AFL Eastern 5th 3 10 1
1968 1968 AFL Eastern 4th 4 10 0
1969 1969 AFL Eastern T-3rd 4 10 0
1970 1970 NFL AFC East 5th 2 12 0
New England Patriots
1971 1971 NFL AFC East T-3rd 6 8 0
1972 1972 NFL AFC East 5th 3 11 0
1973 1973 NFL AFC East 3rd 5 9 0
1974 1974 NFL AFC East T-3rd 7 7 0[b]
1975 1975 NFL AFC East T-4th 3 11 0
1976 1976 NFL AFC East 2nd[c] ^ 11 3 0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Raiders) 24–21 Mike Haynes (Def. ROY)[16]
Chuck Fairbanks (AFC COY)[17]
1977 1977 NFL AFC East 3rd 9 5 0
1978[d] 1978 NFL AFC East § 1st[e] § 11 5 0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Oilers) 31–14
1979 1979 NFL AFC East 2nd 9 7 0
1980 1980 NFL AFC East 2nd 10 6 0
1981 1981 NFL AFC East T-4th 2 14 0
1982 1982 NFL AFC [f] 7th ^ 5 4 0 Lost First Round (Dolphins) 28–13
1983 1983 NFL AFC East T-2nd 8 8 0
1984 1984 NFL AFC East 2nd 9 7 0
1985 1985 NFL AFC * East T-2nd ^ 11 5 0 Won Wild Card Playoffs (Jets) 26–14
Won Divisional Playoffs (Raiders) 27–20
Won Conference Championship (Dolphins) 31–14
Lost Super Bowl XX (Bears) 46–10
Raymond Berry (AFC COY)[18]
1986 1986 NFL AFC East § 1st § 11 5 0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Broncos) 22–17
1987[g] 1987 NFL AFC East T-2nd 8 7 0
1988 1988 NFL AFC East T-2nd 9 7 0 John Stephens (Off. ROY)[19]
1989 1989 NFL AFC East 4th 5 11 0
1990 1990 NFL AFC East 5th 1 15 0
1991 1991 NFL AFC East 4th 6 10 0 Leonard Russell (Off. ROY)[20]
1992 1992 NFL AFC East 5th 2 14 0
1993 1993 NFL AFC East 4th 5 11 0
1994 1994 NFL AFC East 2nd[h] ^ 10 6 0 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Browns) 20–13 Bill Parcells (NFL COY)[21]
1995 1995 NFL AFC East 4th 6 10 0 Curtis Martin (Off. ROY)[22]
1996 1996 NFL AFC * East § 1st § 11 5 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (Steelers) 28–3
Won Conference Championship (Jaguars) 20–6
Lost Super Bowl XXXI (Packers) 35–21
1997 1997 NFL AFC East § 1st § 10 6 0 Won Wild Card Playoffs (Dolphins) 17–3
Lost Divisional Playoffs (Steelers) 7–6
1998 1998 NFL AFC East 4th ^ 9 7 0 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Jaguars) 25–10
1999 1999 NFL AFC East T-4th 8 8 0
2000 2000 NFL AFC East 5th 5 11 0
2001 2001 NFL double-dagger AFC * East § 1st[i] § 11 5 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (Raiders) 16–13 (OT)
Won Conference Championship (Steelers) 24–17
Won Super Bowl XXXVI (1) (Rams) 20–17 double-dagger
Tom Brady (SB MVP)[23]
2002 2002 NFL AFC East 2nd[j] 9 7 0
2003 2003 NFL double-dagger AFC * East § 1st § 14 2 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (Titans) 17–14
Won Conference Championship (Colts) 24–14
Won Super Bowl XXXVIII (2) (Panthers) 32–29 double-dagger
Tom Brady (SB MVP)[24]
Bill Belichick (NFL COY)[25]
2004 2004 NFL double-dagger AFC * East § 1st § 14 2 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (Colts) 20–3
Won Conference Championship (Steelers) 41–27
Won Super Bowl XXXIX (3) (Eagles) 24–21 double-dagger
Deion Branch (SB MVP)[26]
2005 2005 NFL AFC East § 1st § 10 6 0 Won Wild Card Playoffs (Jaguars) 28–3
Lost Divisional Playoffs (Broncos) 27–13
Tedy Bruschi (CBPOY)[27]
2006 2006 NFL AFC East § 1st § 12 4 0 Won Wild Card Playoffs (Jets) 37–16
Won Divisional Playoffs (Chargers) 24–21
Lost Conference Championship (Colts) 38–34
2007 2007 NFL AFC * East § 1st § 16 0 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (Jaguars) 31–20
Won Conference Championship (Chargers) 21–12
Lost Super Bowl XLII (Giants) 17–14
Bill Belichick (NFL COY)[25]
Tom Brady (NFL MVP)[9]
Tom Brady (NFL Off. POTY)[28]
2008 2008 NFL AFC East 2nd[k] 11 5 0 Jerod Mayo (Def. ROY)[29]
2009 2009 NFL AFC East § 1st § 10 6 0 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Ravens) 33–14
Tom Brady (CBPOY)[30]
2010 2010 NFL AFC East § 1st § 14 2 0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Jets) 28–21 Bill Belichick (NFL COY)[25]
Tom Brady (NFL MVP)[10]
Tom Brady (NFL Off. POTY)[31]
Total 401 362 9 (1960–2010, includes only regular season)
21 15 (1960–2010,[l] includes only playoffs)[32]
422 377 9 (1960–2010, includes both regular season and playoffs)
Tom Brady in football uniform, wearing uniform number 12

Tom Brady has twice been named the NFL Most Valuable Player.

Key for the "Awards" sectionKey
AFC COY American Football Conference Coach of the Year Award
AFL COY American Football League Coach of the Year Award
AFL MVP American Football League Most Valuable Player
ASG MVP American Football League All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award
CBPOY National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award
Def. ROY National Football League Defensive Rookie of the Year Award
Off. ROY National Football League Offensive Rookie of the Year Award
NFL COY National Football League Coach of the Year Award
NFL Off. POTY National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award
NFL MVP National Football League Most Valuable Player Award
SB MVP Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award

Notes[]

  • a The Season column links to an article about each season in the league (AFL for 1960–1969; NFL for 1970–present). The Team column links to an article about the Patriots' season that year. The Finish, Won, Lost, and Ties columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play. Regular season and postseason results are combined only at the bottom of the list. In the Finish column, a "T-" indicates a tie for that position.
  • b Beginning in 1974, the NFL began playing a 15-minute sudden-death overtime period if a regular season game finished regulation tied. Since this change, ties have been rarer.[33]
  • c The Patriots and the Baltimore Colts finished tied. However, the Colts finished ahead of New England based on a better division record (7–1 to Patriots' 6–2).[34]
  • d The NFL expanded from a 14-game regular season schedule to 16 beginning in 1978.[35]
  • e The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins finished the 1978 season with the same record. However, the Patriots were awarded the Division Championship based on a better division record (6–2 to the Dolphins' 5–3).[34]
  • f The 1982 NFL season was shortened from 16 regular seasons games to nine due to a players' strike. For playoff seedings, division standings were ignored and eight teams from each conference were seeded one through eight based on their regular season records.[36]
  • g The 1987 NFL season was shortened from 16 regular season games to 15 due to a players' strike.[37]
  • h The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins finished the 1994 season tied. As the Dolphins had defeated the Patriots in both regular season meetings, the Dolphins were named Division Champions and the Patriots received a Wild Card berth in the playoffs.[38]
  • i The Patriots and the Miami Dolphins finished the 2001 season with the same record. However, the Patriots were named Division Champions based on a better division record (6–2 to the Dolphins' 5–3).[39]
  • j The Patriots, New York Jets, and Miami Dolphins finished the season with 9–7 records in 2002. For having the best record against common opponents, the Jets were awarded the Division Championship. Neither the Patriots nor the Dolphins qualified for the playoffs.[40]
  • k The Patriots, Dolphins, and Baltimore Ravens (AFC North) finished the 2008 season tied with identical 11–5 records. As the Dolphins and Ravens had 8–4 records within the AFC, and the Patriots a 7–5 AFC record, the Dolphins were awarded the AFC East title, and the Ravens were given a Wild Card berth in the playoffs. The Patriots did not qualify for the playoffs.[41]
  • l Years here refer to the year in which the season was played. Playoff games are commonly played in the January and February of the following year.

References[]

General
Bibliography
  • 2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book. New York City: Workman Publishing Company. 2000. ISBN 9780761119821.
  • 2002 National Football League Record & Fact Book. New York City: Workman Publishing Company. 2002. ISBN 9780761126430.
Specific
  1. Litsky, Billy (February 24, 1998). "Billy Sullivan, 86, Founder Of Football Patriots, Dies". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/24/sports/billy-sullivan-86-founder-of-football-patriots-dies.html. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  2. Shaughnessy, Dan (September 13, 2009). "Boston: Home of the Patriots once again". The Boston Globe (The New York Times Company). http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2009/09/13/for_a_few_games_patriots_given_name_will_be_given_back/. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  3. Cross, B. Duane (January 22, 2001). "The AFL: A Football Legacy". CNN Sports Illustrated. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/news/2001/01/22/afl_history_2/. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
  4. "2006 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics". Pro Football Reference. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2006/. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  5. "Patriots Beat Giants 38–35 to Become First Undefeated NFL Team in 35 Years". FOX News. December 30, 2007. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,319005,00.html. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  6. "Patriots Win Third Super Bowl in Four Years". FOX News. February 7, 2005. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,146558,00.html. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  7. "Super Bowl Standings". Pro Football Reference. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/super-bowl/standings.htm. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
  8. "Bill Belichick Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/BeliBi0.htm. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Brady romps to MVP after record season". Toronto Star (Torstar). January 6, 2008. http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/291342. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Farmer, Sam (February 6, 2011). "Patriots' Tom Brady selected NFL MVP". The Los Angeles Times (Tribune Company). http://articles.latimes.com/2011/feb/06/sports/la-sp-newswire-20110207. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  11. "Super Bowl History". National Football League. http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/history. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  12. Marrapese-Burrell, Nancy (February 1, 2008). "Booth took him along for ride". The Boston Globe (The New York Times Company). http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2008/02/01/booth_took_him_along_for_ride/. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  13. "Parilli Off Bench to Lead East Stars". St. Joseph News-Press (Saint Joseph, Missouri: News-Press & Gazette Company): p. D1. January 22, 1967. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wU1hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-nQNAAAAIBAJ&dq=babe%20parilli%20all-star%20most%20valuable%20player&pg=1131%2C3942540. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  14. "Boston Has Top Mentor". Sarasota Herald-Tribune (Sarasota, Florida: The New York Times Company): p. 18. December 16, 1964. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cZscAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oGUEAAAAIBAJ&dq=mike%20holovak%20coach%20of%20the%20year&pg=7422%2C3418909. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  15. Manza Young, Shalise (June 10, 2009). "Patriots journal: Nance elected to Patriots Hall of Fame". The Providence Journal (A. H. Belo Corporation). http://www.projo.com/patriots/content/projo_20090610_patriots_journal.6a3c34e0.html. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  16. "Pats' Haynes Defensive Rookie". The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida: The New York Times Company). December 29, 1976. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IqsuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vvoDAAAAIBAJ&dq=mike%20haynes%20rookie%20of%20the%20year&pg=6460%2C8570835. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  17. "Fairbanks is Coach of Year". Spartanburg Herald (Spartanburg, South Carolina: Public Welfare Foundation). February 11, 1977. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=voksAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AM0EAAAAIBAJ&dq=chuck%20fairbanks%20coach-of-the-year&pg=1769%2C1517366. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  18. "UPI names Pats' Berry AFC coach of the year". The Providence Journal (A. H. Belo Corporation): p. C3. January 8, 1986.
  19. Mascaro, Chris (September 3, 2009). "Former Pats RB killed". Newsday (Melville, New York: Cablevision). http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/glauber-s-nfl-hot-reads-1.811959/former-pats-rb-killed-1.1418461. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  20. "Leonard Russell, Mark Croel named top rookies of the year". The Vindicator (Youngstown, Ohio: Vindicator Printing Company): p. C4. December 27, 1991. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aydKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=toUMAAAAIBAJ&dq=leonard%20russell%20offensive%20rookie%20of%20the%20year&pg=4048%2C4603785. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  21. Wilner, Barry (December 30, 1994). "Parcels Coach of Year". The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, New York: The Daily Gazette Company): p. C1. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7e8wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jOAFAAAAIBAJ&dq=parcells%20coach%20of%20the%20year&pg=1738%2C7371050. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  22. "Martin Gets Rookie Prize". The Victoria Advocate (Victoria, Texas: Victoria Advocate Publishing Company). December 29, 1995. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GANZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yEoDAAAAIBAJ&dq=curtis%20martin%20rookie%20of%20year&pg=2147%2C5975473. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  23. Murphy, Mark (February 4, 2002). "Super Bowl XXXVI; Bledsoe Classy Til End". Boston Herald (Herald Media Inc.): p. 88.
  24. Farinella, Mark (February 3, 2004). "MVP Brady on the go". The Sun Chronicle (Attleboro, Massachusetts: United Communications Corporation). http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2004/02/03/sports/sports1.txt. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 "Belichick wins 3rd Coach of Year honor". The Associated Press. February 2, 2011. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gLRirhrbgla4QzsnYzSxpSY_yVtw?docId=0f2901943f0846dab09ef3c5059ef28f. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  26. Cobb, Mike (February 7, 2005). "Branch Catches MVP Honor". The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida: The New York Times Company). http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050207/NEWS/502070375/1002/SPORTS. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  27. Greenburg, Alan (January 6, 2006). "Surprising Comeback: Bruschi shares with Smith". Hartford Courant (Hartford, Connecticut: Tribune Company): p. C4.
  28. "Tom Brady adds AP Offensive Player of Year to MVP". KXMB-TV (Bismark, North Dakota: Reiten Television, Inc.). January 8, 2008. http://www.kxnet.com/custom404.asp?404;http://www.kxnet.com/Sports/196054.asp. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  29. "Mayo is AP's top defensive rookie". ESPN.com. The Walt Disney Company. January 1, 2009. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3801728. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  30. Kilgore, Adam (January 6, 2010). "Brady Wins Comeback Player of the Year". The Boston Globe (The New York Times Company). http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/2010/01/brady_wins_come.html. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  31. Manza Young, Shalise (February 1, 2011). "Brady Wins AP Offensive Player of Year". The Boston Globe (The New York Times Company). http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/2011/02/brady_wins_ap_o.html. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  32. "New England Patriots playoff history". ESPN.com. The Walt Disney Company. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4785768. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  33. 2002 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 394–395.
  34. 34.0 34.1 2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 293.
  35. Pasquarelli, Len (May 18, 2009). "Schedule expansion gaining momentum". ESPN.com. The Walt Disney Company. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=4173119. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  36. 2002 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 413.
  37. 2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 291.
  38. 2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 289.
  39. 2002 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 404.
  40. Golen, Jimmy (December 30, 2002). "New England 27, Miami 24, OT". Yahoo! Sports. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/recaps/20021229/mianwe.html. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  41. Gosselin, Rick (December 29, 2008). "Even without Patriots, AFC looks dominant in playoffs". Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Texas: A. H. Belo Corporation). http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/122908dnspogosselin.37ea0dd.html. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
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