TEAM NOTES
• QB Joe Milton played in his first NFL game.
• Milton rushes for a TD and throws a 48-yard TD.
• CB Marcellas Dial Jr. made his first NFL start.
• P Bryce Baringer has second straight season with 30 punts inside the 20.
• LB Jahlani Tavai set career-high in tackles for a season.
TEAM NOTES
FIRST WIDE RECEIVER WITH 100 YARDS SINCE 2022
WR Kayshon Boutte finished with 7 receptions for 117 yards, the first wide receiver to reach at least 100 yards receiving since WR Kendrick Bourne had 6 receptions for 100 yards on Dec. 24, 2022 vs. Cincinnati. Boutte had the second 100-yard game overall for the Patriots in 2024. TE Hunter Henry had 109 yards receiving on 8 receptions vs. Seattle on Sept. 15.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
MILTON PLAYS IN HIS FIRST NFL GAME
Joe Milton III played in his first NFL game after entering the game after the first series. He completed his first pass to WR DeMario Douglas for a 12-yard gain. He scored his first NFL touchdown on a 1-yard run to culminate a 13-play, 55-yard drive in the first quarter. He completed his first career touchdown on a 48-yard pass to WR Kayshon Boutte in the second quarter. Milton finished 22-of-29 for 241 yards with 1 touchdown.
MILTON COMPLETES FIRST 11 PASSES
Milton completed his first 11 passes of his NFL career. The last quarterback to complete his first 11 career pass attempts was QB Gardner Minshew on Sept. 8, 2019 with Jacksonville against Kansas City.
MILTON'S 48-YARD TD ON FIRST TD PASS IS SECOND LONGEST ON FIRST TD PASS BY A ROOKIE PATS QB
Milton's 48-yard touchdown pass on his first career touchdown pass is the longest for a rookie Patriots quarterback on his first career touchdown pass since QB Drew Bledsoe's first career touchdown pass resulted in a 54-yard touchdown to TE Ben Coates on Sept. 5, 1993 vs. Buffalo. It is the longest touchdown pass for New England since QB Mac Jones completed a 58-yard touchdown pass to TE Pharaoh Brown in the first quarter at the New York Jets on Sept. 24, 2023.
BOUTTE HAS FIRST CAREER 100-YARD GAME
WR Kayshon Boutte had his first career 100-yard game after finishing with career-high 7 receptions for 117 yards. His previous bests were 5 receptions for 95 yards at Buffalo on Dec. 22, 2024.
BARINGER HAS BACK-TO-BACK SEASONS WITH 30 PUNTS INSIDE THE 20
P Bryce Baringer landed two punts inside the 20-yard line and finished the season with 31 inside the 20 and became the second Patriots punter with back-to-back seasons with at least 30 punts inside the 20-yard line. Jake Bailey had 36 in 2019 and 31 in 2020. Last season, Baringer set a team record with 36 punts inside the 20-yard line (since the 1970 merger).
BARINGER FINISHES WITH THE HIGHEST AVERAGE IN TEAM HISTORY
Baringer finished the season with a 49.8 yard punting average the highest in team history for a single season. Jake Bailey previously held the team record with a 48.7-yard average in 2020.
Highest Punting Average in a Season for the Patriots:
| Player | Punting Average | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Bryce Baringer | 49.8 | 2024 |
| Jake Bailey | 48.7 | 2020 |
| Jake Bailey | 47.3 | 2021 |
| Bryce Baringer | 46.9 | 2023 |
TAVAI SETS CAREER-HIGH IN TACKLES
LB Jahlani Tavai finished with 4 total tackles and finished the season with a single-season career best 109 total tackles. His previous high was his 107 total tackles during the 2023 season.
ELLISS HAS CAREER-HIGH IN TACKLES
LB Christian Elliss set a single-game career-high with a team-leading 13 total tackles. His previous high was 9 tackles at the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 20 and vs. the New York Jets on Oct. 27. Elliss' tackle total is the highest of the season for a Patriots player. LB Ja'Whaun Bentley had 12 total tackles at Cincinnati on Sept. 8.
JAVON BAKER PICKS UP FIRST CAREER RECEPTION
Rookie WR Javon Baker caught his first NFL pass on a 12-yard reception from QB Joe Milton III in the third quarter.
LB TITUS LEO RECORDS 3 SPECIAL TEAMS TAKCLES
LB Titus Leo finished with 3 special teams tackles. It is the second time in 2024 that a Patriots player finished with 3 special teams tackles. S Brenden Schooler had 3 special teams tackles at Cincinnati on Sept. 24.
LINEUP NOTES
• 2024 sixth-round draft pick QB Joe Milton III saw his first NFL action when he entered the game after the first series
• 2024 sixth-round draft pick CB Marcellas Dial Jr. made his first NFL start at cornerback. He accumulated his first defensive tackles, finishing with 5 total tackles.
• CB Miles Battle and DE Truman Jones played in their first NFL games after being signed from the practice squad. Jones made his debut on the opening kickoff return and also played on defense. Battle made his NFL debut in the second quarter on the kickoff return team. Battle entered the game on defense in the third quarter. Battle finished with 2 tackles and 2 passes defensed, and Jones finished with 2 tackles.
• G Tyrese Robinson played in his first NFL game after being inactive for seven games since signing with the Patriots Nov. 6. He entered the game at right guard on the second offensive series.
• T Caedan Wallace made his second NFL start when he lined up as a tackle-eligible tight end. He started at left tackle at the New York Jets on Sept. 19. He entered the game at right tackle in the second quarter. His previous action was at left tackle and as a tackle-eligible tight end.
• LB Monty Rice made his first start as a member of the Patriots. It was his 11th NFL start.
• T Demontrey Jacobs started the game at right tackle but moved to left tackle in the second quarter.
• WR Alex Erickson had his first action at wide receiver as a member of the Patriots in the fourth quarter.
