List of New England Patriots seasons

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A large group of men standing together, including George Bush and Robert Kraft in the middle.
Members of the Patriots organization pose with then-U.S. President George W. Bush following the Patriots' victory in Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005.

The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston town of Foxborough, Massachusetts. They play in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. 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 made the 1963 AFL Championship Game, but struggled severely in the early years of the united league, not making the postseason until 1976. After a stretch of only one losing season in 13 years, including a Super Bowl appearance against a champion Bears outfit, the Patriots reached a nadir between 1989 and 1993 when they won only 19 of 80 games.

During Bill Belichick's tenure as the team's head coach from 2000 to 2023, the Patriots won six Super Bowls, nine AFC Championship Games, and sixteen AFC East titles, earning an overall regular season record of 266–121.[4] Tom Brady, who was the team's quarterback from 2000 until 2019, was awarded the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP)[5][6] three times, and the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player four times (he later won another Super Bowl MVP with the Buccaneers); he is one of only five players named Super Bowl MVP more than once, and the only one named more than three times.[7]

The Patriots have won six Super Bowl championships (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI, and LIII). They also played in and lost Super Bowls XX, XXXI, XLII, XLVI, and LII. 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 14-game season) to complete the regular campaign undefeated.[8] Belichick's Patriots are one of only two teams to win three Super Bowls in four years (the other being the Dallas Cowboys from 1993 to 1996).[9]

Overall, the Patriots have made 27 playoff appearances, one of which was before the merger. Since the merger, they have played fifteen AFC Championship Games, winning eleven of them to advance to the Super Bowl.[10] In the Patriots' 58-year history, they have an overall regular season record of 500 wins, 391 losses, and 9 ties, plus an overall postseason record of 37 wins and 20 losses. In the 2018 NFL season, the Patriots reached their 11th Super Bowl, breaking their own record for most Super Bowl appearances by any organization of all time.[11] The Patriots had 19 consecutive winning seasons from 2001-2019, the 2nd-longest streak in NFL history, behind the Dallas Cowboys' record of 20.[12]

Seasons[edit]

AFL champions (1960–1969) Super Bowl champions (1966–present) Conference champions Division champions Wild Card berth One-Game Playoff Berth
Season[a] Team[a] League Conference Division Regular season[a] Postseason results Awards[Key] Head coaches
Finish W L T
Boston Patriots
1960 1960 AFL Eastern 4th 5 9 0 Lou Saban
1961 1961 AFL Eastern 2nd 9 4 1 Lou Saban (2–3)
Mike Holovak (7–1–1)
1962 1962 AFL Eastern 2nd 9 4 1 Mike Holovak
1963 1963 AFL Eastern 1st 7 6 1 Won Divisional playoffs (at Bills) 26–8
Lost AFL Championship (at Chargers) 10–51
1964 1964 AFL Eastern 2nd 10 3 1 Gino Cappelletti (MVP)[13]
1965 1965 AFL Eastern 3rd 4 8 2
1966 1966 AFL Eastern 2nd 8 4 2 Jim Nance (MVP)[14]
1967 1967 AFL Eastern 5th 3 10 1
1968 1968 AFL Eastern 4th 4 10 0
1969 1969 AFL Eastern 3rd 4 10 0 Clive Rush
1970 1970 NFL AFC East 5th 2 12 0 Clive Rush (1–6)
John Mazur (1–6)
New England Patriots
1971 1971 NFL AFC East 3rd 6 8 0 John Mazur
1972 1972 NFL AFC East 5th 3 11 0 John Mazur (2–7)
Phil Bengtson (1–4)
1973 1973 NFL AFC East 3rd 5 9 0 Chuck Fairbanks
1974 1974 NFL AFC East 3rd 7 7 0[b]
1975 1975 NFL AFC East 5th 3 11 0
1976 1976 NFL AFC East 2nd[c] 11 3 0 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Raiders) 21–24 Mike Haynes (DROY)[15]
1977 1977 NFL AFC East 3rd 9 5 0
1978[d] 1978 NFL AFC East 1st[e] 11 5 0 Lost Divisional playoffs (Oilers) 14–31[16]
1979 1979 NFL AFC East 2nd 9 7 0 Ron Erhardt
1980 1980 NFL AFC East 2nd 10 6 0
1981 1981 NFL AFC East 5th 2 14 0
1982 1982 NFL AFC [f] 7th 5 4 0 Lost First Round playoffs (at Dolphins) 13–28 Ron Meyer
1983 1983 NFL AFC East 2nd 8 8 0
1984 1984 NFL AFC East 2nd 9 7 0 Ron Meyer (5–3)
Raymond Berry (4–4)
1985 1985 NFL AFC East 3rd 11 5 0 Won Wild Card playoffs (at Jets) 26–14
Won Divisional playoffs (at Raiders) 27–20
Won AFC Championship (at Dolphins) 31–14
Lost Super Bowl XX (vs. Bears) 10–46
Raymond Berry
1986 1986 NFL AFC East 1st 11 5 0 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Broncos) 17–22
1987[g] 1987 NFL AFC East 2nd 8 7 0
1988 1988 NFL AFC East 3rd 9 7 0 John Stephens (OROY)[17]
1989 1989 NFL AFC East 4th 5 11 0
1990 1990 NFL AFC East 5th 1 15 0 Rod Rust
1991 1991 NFL AFC East 4th 6 10 0 Leonard Russell (OROY)[18] Dick MacPherson
1992 1992 NFL AFC East 5th 2 14 0
1993 1993 NFL AFC East 4th 5 11 0 Bill Parcells
1994 1994 NFL AFC East 2nd[h] 10 6 0 Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Browns) 13–20 Bill Parcells (COY)[19]
1995 1995 NFL AFC East 4th 6 10 0 Curtis Martin (OROY)[20]
1996 1996 NFL AFC East 1st 11 5 0 Won Divisional playoffs (Steelers) 28–3
Won AFC Championship (Jaguars) 20–6
Lost Super Bowl XXXI (vs. Packers) 21–35
1997 1997 NFL AFC East 1st 10 6 0 Won Wild Card playoffs (Dolphins) 17–3
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Steelers) 6–7
Pete Carroll
1998 1998 NFL AFC East 4th 9 7 0 Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Jaguars) 10–25
1999 1999 NFL AFC East 5th 8 8 0
2000 2000 NFL AFC East 5th 5 11 0 Bill Belichick
2001 2001 NFL AFC East 1st[i] 11 5 0 Won Divisional playoffs (Raiders) 16–13 (OT)
Won AFC Championship (at Steelers) 24–17
Won Super Bowl XXXVI (1) (vs. Rams) 20–17
Tom Brady (SB MVP)[21]
2002 2002 NFL AFC East 2nd[j] 9 7 0
2003 2003 NFL AFC East 1st 14 2 0 Won Divisional playoffs (Titans) 17–14
Won AFC Championship (Colts) 24–14
Won Super Bowl XXXVIII (2) (vs. Panthers) 32–29
Tom Brady (SB MVP)[22]
Bill Belichick (COY)[23]
2004 2004 NFL AFC East 1st 14 2 0 Won Divisional playoffs (Colts) 20–3
Won AFC Championship (at Steelers) 41–27
Won Super Bowl XXXIX (3) (vs. Eagles) 24–21
Deion Branch (SB MVP)[24]
2005 2005 NFL AFC East 1st 10 6 0 Won Wild Card playoffs (Jaguars) 28–3
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Broncos) 13–27
Tedy Bruschi (CBPOY)[25]
2006 2006 NFL AFC East 1st 12 4 0 Won Wild Card playoffs (Jets) 37–16
Won Divisional playoffs (at Chargers) 24–21
Lost AFC Championship (at Colts) 34–38
2007 2007 NFL AFC East 1st 16 0 0 Won Divisional playoffs (Jaguars) 31–20
Won AFC Championship (Chargers) 21–12
Lost Super Bowl XLII (vs. Giants) 14–17
Tom Brady (MVP, OPOY)[5][26]
Bill Belichick (COY)[23]
2008 2008 NFL AFC East 2nd[k] 11 5 0 Jerod Mayo (DROY)[27]
2009 2009 NFL AFC East 1st 10 6 0 Lost Wild Card playoffs (Ravens) 14–33 Tom Brady (CBPOY)[28]
2010 2010 NFL AFC East 1st 14 2 0 Lost Divisional playoffs (Jets) 21–28 Tom Brady (MVP, OPOY)[6][29]
Bill Belichick (COY)[23]
2011 2011 NFL AFC East 1st 13 3 0 Won Divisional playoffs (Broncos) 45–10
Won AFC Championship (Ravens) 23–20
Lost Super Bowl XLVI (vs. Giants) 17–21
2012 2012 NFL AFC East 1st 12 4 0 Won Divisional playoffs (Texans) 41–28
Lost AFC Championship (Ravens) 13–28
2013 2013 NFL AFC East 1st 12 4 0 Won Divisional playoffs (Colts) 43–22
Lost AFC Championship (at Broncos) 16–26
2014 2014 NFL AFC East 1st 12 4 0 Won Divisional playoffs (Ravens) 35–31
Won AFC Championship (Colts) 45–7
Won Super Bowl XLIX (4) (vs. Seahawks) 28–24
Rob Gronkowski (CBPOY)
Tom Brady (SB MVP)[30]
2015 2015 NFL AFC East 1st 12 4 0 Won Divisional playoffs (Chiefs) 27–20
Lost AFC Championship (at Broncos) 18–20
2016 2016 NFL AFC East 1st 14 2 0 Won Divisional playoffs (Texans) 34–16
Won AFC Championship (Steelers) 36–17
Won Super Bowl LI (5) (vs. Falcons) 34–28 (OT)
Tom Brady (SB MVP)
2017 2017 NFL AFC East 1st 13 3 0 Won Divisional playoffs (Titans) 35–14
Won AFC Championship (Jaguars) 24–20
Lost Super Bowl LII (vs. Eagles) 33–41
Tom Brady (MVP)
2018 2018 NFL AFC East 1st 11 5 0 Won Divisional playoffs (Chargers) 41–28
Won AFC Championship (at Chiefs) 37–31 (OT)
Won Super Bowl LIII (6) (vs. Rams) 13–3
Julian Edelman (SB MVP)
2019 2019 NFL AFC East 1st 12 4 0 Lost Wild Card playoffs (Titans) 13–20 Stephon Gilmore (DPOY)
2020 2020 NFL AFC East 3rd 7 9 0
2021 2021 NFL AFC East 2nd 10 7 0 Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Bills) 17–47
2022 2022 NFL AFC East 3rd 8 9 0
2023 2023 NFL AFC East 4th 4 13 0
Total 541 433 9 All-time regular season record (1960–2023)
37 22 All-time postseason record (1960–2023)[31]
578 455 9 All-time regular & postseason record (1960–2023)
Tom Brady in football uniform, wearing uniform number 12
Tom Brady has three times been named the NFL's Most Valuable Player, and four times a Super Bowl Most Valuable Player with the Patriots
Key for the "Awards" sectionKey
ASG MVP American Football League All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award
CBPOY National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award
DROY National Football League Defensive Rookie of the Year Award
OROY National Football League Offensive Rookie of the Year Award
COY National Football League Coach of the Year Award
OPOY National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award
DPOY National Football League Defensive Player of the Year Award
MVP National Football League Most Valuable Player Award
SB MVP Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • 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.[32]
  • 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).[33]
  • d The NFL expanded from a 14-game regular season schedule to 16 beginning in 1978.[34]
  • e The 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).[33]
  • 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.[35]
  • g The 1987 NFL season was shortened from 16 regular season games to 15 due to a players' strike.[36]
  • h The Patriots and 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.[37]
  • i The Patriots and the 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).[38]
  • j The Patriots, Dolphins, and New York Jets 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.[39]
  • 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.[40]
  • 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[edit]

General
  • "New England Patriots: History". CBS Sports. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  • "New England Patriots Franchise Encyclopedia". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on August 20, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
Bibliography
Specific
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  2. ^ Shaughnessy, Dan (September 13, 2009). "Boston: Home of the Patriots once again". The Boston Globe. The New York Times Company. Archived from the original on September 24, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  3. ^ Cross, B. Duane (January 22, 2001). "The AFL: A Football Legacy". CNN Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
  4. ^ "Bill Belichick Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Brady romps to MVP after record season". Toronto Star. Torstar. January 6, 2008. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  6. ^ a b Farmer, Sam (February 6, 2011). "Patriots' Tom Brady selected NFL MVP". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Archived from the original on April 25, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  7. ^ "Super Bowl History". National Football League. Archived from the original on February 23, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
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  9. ^ "Patriots Win Third Super Bowl in Four Years". FOX News. February 7, 2005. Archived from the original on 2011-01-30. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  10. ^ "2006 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on February 8, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  11. ^ "Super Bowl Standings". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on January 21, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
  12. ^ Patriots Stumble Keeps Cowboys Record Intact, Dallas Cowboys, January 12, 2021, retrieved 29 February 2024
  13. ^ Marrapese-Burrell, Nancy (February 1, 2008). "Booth took him along for ride". The Boston Globe. The New York Times Company. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  14. ^ Manza Young, Shalise (June 10, 2009). "Patriots journal: Nance elected to Patriots Hall of Fame". The Providence Journal. A. H. Belo Corporation. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  15. ^ "Pats' Haynes Defensive Rookie". The Ledger. Lakeland, Florida: The New York Times Company. December 29, 1976. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  16. ^ Chuck Fairbanks was suspended for the last game of the 1978 regular season. Hank Bullough and Ron Erhardt replaced his duty as co-coach. He was reinstated for the playoffs, and lost in the first round.
  17. ^ Mascaro, Chris (September 3, 2009). "Former Pats RB killed". Newsday. Melville, New York: Cablevision. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  18. ^ "Leonard Russell, Mark Croel named top rookies of the year". The Vindicator. Youngstown, Ohio: Vindicator Printing Company. December 27, 1991. p. C4. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  19. ^ Wilner, Barry (December 30, 1994). "Parcels Coach of Year". The Daily Gazette. Schenectady, New York: The Daily Gazette Company. p. C1. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  20. ^ "Martin Gets Rookie Prize". The Victoria Advocate. Victoria, Texas: Victoria Advocate Publishing Company. December 29, 1995. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  21. ^ Murphy, Mark (February 4, 2002). "Super Bowl XXXVI; Bledsoe Classy Til End". Boston Herald. Herald Media Inc. p. 88.
  22. ^ Farinella, Mark (February 3, 2004). "MVP Brady on the go". The Sun Chronicle. Attleboro, Massachusetts: United Communications Corporation. Archived from the original on February 5, 2004. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  23. ^ a b c "Belichick wins 3rd Coach of Year honor". The Associated Press. February 2, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  24. ^ Cobb, Mike (February 7, 2005). "Branch Catches MVP Honor". The Ledger. Lakeland, Florida: The New York Times Company. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  25. ^ Greenburg, Alan (January 6, 2006). "Surprising Comeback: Bruschi shares with Smith". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut: Tribune Company. p. C4.
  26. ^ "Tom Brady adds AP Offensive Player of Year to MVP". KXMB-TV. Bismarck, North Dakota: Reiten Television, Inc. January 8, 2008. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  27. ^ "Mayo is AP's top defensive rookie". ESPN.com. The Walt Disney Company. January 1, 2009. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  28. ^ Kilgore, Adam (January 6, 2010). "Brady Wins Comeback Player of the Year". The Boston Globe. The New York Times Company. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  29. ^ Manza Young, Shalise (February 1, 2011). "Brady Wins AP Offensive Player of Year". The Boston Globe. The New York Times Company. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  30. ^ "Tom Brady wins Super Bowl XLIX MVP award". nfl.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  31. ^ "New England Patriots playoff history". ESPN.com. The Walt Disney Company. 31 December 2009. Archived from the original on January 20, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  32. ^ 2002 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 394–395.
  33. ^ a b 2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 293.
  34. ^ Pasquarelli, Len (May 18, 2009). "Schedule expansion gaining momentum". ESPN.com. The Walt Disney Company. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  35. ^ 2002 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 413.
  36. ^ 2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 291.
  37. ^ 2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 289.
  38. ^ 2002 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 404.
  39. ^ Golen, Jimmy (December 30, 2002). "New England 27, Miami 24, OT". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  40. ^ Gosselin, Rick (December 29, 2008). "Even without Patriots, AFC looks dominant in playoffs". Denton Record-Chronicle. Denton, Texas: A. H. Belo Corporation. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011.