TEAM NOTES
- Patriots clinch playoff spot for 20th time in Kraft's 25 years of ownership
- Patriots earn 10th consecutive AFC East title
- Patriots set NFL mark for most consecutive playoff appearances with 10
- Patriots win 10 games for 16th straight season to tie San Francisco
- Brady reaches 4,000 yards passing for 10th time
- Patriots gain 200 yards rushing for second time in 2018
PATRIOTS CLINCH PLAYOFF SPOT FOR THE 20th TIME IN KRAFT'S 25 YEARS;
PATRIOTS WIN AFC EAST FOR THE 18TH TIME UNDER KRAFT
New England has qualified for the playoffs 26 times in its 59-year history after clinching the AFC East with the win against Buffalo. The Patriots have earned 20 of those playoff berths in the 25 seasons since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994. New England has won 21 division crowns overall (20 AFC East crowns) and has qualified as a Wild Card team on four occasions (1998, 1994, 1985 and 1976). The Patriots also qualified for the playoffs in 1982 as part of a 16-team tournament following a players' strike.
PATRIOTS WIN AFC EAST FOR THE 18TH TIME UNDER KRAFT
The Patriots claimed the AFC East Division title for the 10th consecutive season and for the 18th time under Robert Kraft.
DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS SINCE 1994
New England Patriots 18
Pittsburgh Steelers 13
Green Bay Packers 12
Indianapolis Colts 10
PATRIOTS EXTEND NFL RECORD TO TEN STRAIGHT DIVISION TITLES
The Patriots have won ten straight AFC East titles, the longest streak in NFL history. The Patriots have won 16 of the last 18 AFC East division crowns. They join the Atlanta Braves (14) as the only franchises from the NFL, NBA, MLB or NHL to win at least 10 straight division titles. The New York Yankees (1998-06), Colorado Avalanche (1995-03), LA Lakers (1982-90) and Boston Celtics (1957-65) are the teams from the other major four sports that have streaks of nine straight titles.
PATRIOTS SET NFL RECORD WITH 10th STRAIGHT PLAYOFF SEASON
The Patriots have now made the playoffs for ten straight seasons (2009-18), setting an NFL record for most consecutive seasons reaching the postseason.
PATRIOTS PLAYOFF SEASONS
The Patriots have qualified for the playoffs 26 times in their 59-year history. Twenty of those playoff berths have come in the 25 seasons since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994.
WRAPPING IT UP
The Patriots clinched the AFC crown with the 24-12 win over Buffalo.
PATRIOTS WIN 10 GAMES FOR THE 16TH STRAIGHT SEASON;
TIE SAN FRANCISCO FOR MOST CONSECUTIVE 10-WIN SEASONS
New England has reached at least 10 regular season wins for 16 consecutive seasons, joining San Francisco (16) as the only teams to accomplish the feat.
PATRIOTS HAVE MOST DIVISION TITLES SINCE REALIGNMENT
The New England Patriots have won 15 division titles and have 15 playoff berths since realignment in 2002, most in the NFL.
PATRIOTS HAVE NOW WON 12 STRAIGHT REGULAR SEASON HOME GAMES
The Patriots have now won 12 straight regular season games at Gillette Stadium, tied for the fourth-longest streak in team history.
RUSH TO VICTORY
Since 2001, New England is 51-1 in the regular season when a Patriot eclipses 100 yards rushing, including four victories in 2018 with 100-yard outings by Sony Michel. Michel had 116 yards rushing against Buffalo.
PATRIOTS RUSH FOR SEASON HIGH 273 YARDS; SECOND 200-YARD GAME IN 2018
The Patriots went over 200 yards rushing for the second time in 2018 after finishing with 273 yards. The Patriots had 215 yards rushing at the New York Jets on Nov. 25. It is the highest output since the team rushed for 277 yards at Oakland on Dec. 14, 2008. It is the highest rushing total at a home game since gaining 281 yards vs. Cincinnati on Dec. 22, 1985. It is the 14th time that the Patriots have rushed for 200 or more yards under Bill Belichick.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
BELICHICK EXTENDS NFL RECORD TO TEN STRAIGHT DIVISION TITLES
Bill Belichick extended his NFL record to ten straight division titles. Paul Brown (1950-55), Tom Landry (1966-71), Bud Grant (1973-78) and Chuck Noll (1974-79) are next on the list after leading their teams to six straight titles.
BELICHICK EXTENDS HIS NFL RECORD TO 16 DIVISION TITLES
Bill Belichick guided the Patriots to the AFC East title in 2018. It is his 16th division title as a head coach, the most by a head coach since the 1970 merger. Don Shula is second with 11 division titles since the merger. Overall, Belichick's 16 division titles are the most in NFL history among NFL head coaches. Shula and Tom Landry are second with 13 titles.
BELICHICK HAS 17TH POSTSEASON BERTH AS A HEAD COACH
Bill Belichick has led his teams to 17 postseason berths, which is third all-time among NFL head coaches. He has led his team to 16 berths with New England and one with Cleveland.
BELICHICK LEADS THE PATRIOTS TO 16TH STRAIGHT 10-WIN SEASON
Bill Belichick has coached the Patriots to 16 straight seasons with 10 or more wins, adding to his NFL record streak. In 2011, Belichick became the first coach in NFL history with nine straight seasons with at least 10 victories. George Seifert has the second most consecutive 10-win seasons with eight from 1989-1996 for San Francisco.
BRADY EXTENDS RECORD TO TEN STRAIGHT DIVISION TITLES;
WINS 16TH DIVISION TITLE OVERALL
Tom Brady extended his NFL record by leading the Patriots to their 10th straight division title in 2018.
BRADY LEADS THE PATRIOTS TO 10 WINS FOR 16TH TIME
Brady led the Patriots to his 16th 10-win season as a starter. Peyton Manning (14) is second for the most such seasons in the Super Bowl era.
BRADY EARNS 30TH WIN OVER BUFFALO
Tom Brady owns a 30-3 record against the Buffalo Bills. Brady's 30 wins against Buffalo are the most wins by a quarterback against a single opponent.
BRADY PASSES PEYTON MANNING FOR SECOND WITH 266 CAREER STARTS
Brady started in his 266 regular season game to move past Peyton Manning for the second-most starts by an NFL quarterback.
BRADY REACHED 4,000 YARDS FOR THE 10TH TIME;
JOINS MANNING, BREES AND RIVERS AS THE ONLY NFL PLAYERS WITH 10 OR MORE 4K SEASONS
Brady reached 4,000 yards in 2018 for the tenth time in his career, joining Peyton Manning (14), Drew Brees (12) and Philip Rivers (10) as the only NFL players with 10 different 4,000-yard seasons. He entered the game with 3,979 yards and needed 21 yards to reach 4,000. He now has 4,105 passing yards for the season.
ALL-TIME 4,000 YARD PASSING SEASONS
Peyton Manning 14
Drew Brees 12
Tom Brady 10
Philip Rivers 10
Matt Ryan 8
WHITE'S 27-YARD TD RUN IS HIS LONGEST TD RUN OF HIS CAREER;
TIED FOR HIS LONGEST RUN OVERALL
RB James White scored on a 27-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. It is the longest touchdown run of his career. His previous longest touchdown run was a 22-yard run vs. Miami on Sept. 30, 2018. The 27-yard run is tied for his career best. He had a 27-yard run on Nov. 25, 2018 at the New York Jets.
EDELMAN MOVES INTO FIFTH PLACE ON PATRIOTS ALL-TIME RECEIVING LIST
WR Julian Edelman moved past Ben Coates into fifth place on the New England all-time reception list on a 4-yard reception in the third quarter. He entered the game needing three receptions to move past Coates.
PATTERSON SETS PATRIOTS RECORD FOR MOST RUSHING YARDS IN A GAME BY A WR
WR Cordarrelle Patterson broke his own record for most rushing yards by a New England receiver in a single game with his 66 rushing yards against Buffalo. The previous best was his 61 yards rushing vs. Green Bay on Nov. 4, 2018.
Most Rushing Yards by a Patriots Wide Receiver in a Game
66-yards by Cordarrelle Patterson on Dec. 23, 2018 vs. Buffalo
61-yards by Cordarrelle Patterson on Nov. 4, 2018 vs. Green Bay
48-yards by Darryl Stingley on Oct. 3, 1976 vs. Oakland
47-yards by Julian Edelman vs. Indianapolis on Nov. 18, 2012
38-yards by Cordarrelle Patterson at Buffalo on Oct. 29, 2018
37-yards by Terry Glenn vs. Kansas City on Dec. 4, 2000
MICHEL REACHES 100 YARDS…AGAIN
RB Sony Michel went over 100 yards rushing for the fourth time this season after finishing with 116 yards against Buffalo. He joins Curtis Martin, John Stephens and Robert Edwards as the only Patriots rookie running backs with at least four 100-yard rushing games in a season.
JC JACKSON PICKS OFF THIRD PASS OF THE SEASON
Rookie DB J.C. Jackson intercepted Buffalo QB Josh Allen in the second quarter for his third interception of the season. He is the first New England rookie with at least three interceptions since CB Logan Ryan had five as a rookie in 2013.
DB JASON MCCOURTY HAS FIRST PICK OF THE SEASON
DB Jason McCourty had his first interception of the season when he intercepted QB Josh Allen in the fourth quarter.
LINEUP NOTES
UFOMBA KKAMALU MAKES DEBUT IN A NEW ENGLAND UNIFORM
DL Ufomba Kamaluu was signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad before the game and made his debut in a New England uniform.
DL DANNY SHELTON RETURNED TO ACTION
DL Danny Shelton returned to action after being inactive for the last three games.
