TEAM NOTES
- Patriots advance to NFL record 11th Super Bowl; 10th under Robert Kraft
- Patriots are third team to reach at least three straight Super Bowls (Miami and Buffalo)
- Patriots tie Pittsburgh for most postseason wins all-time
PATRIOTS EXTEND NFL-RECORD TO 11TH SUPER BOWL OVERALL;
TENTH OF THE KRAFT ERA
New England has advanced to its 11th Super Bowl in franchise history, a total that is the most in the NFL. The Patriots appearance in Super Bowl LIII will be its tenth Super Bowl appearance since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994, a total that is the most in the league over that span (Pittsburgh and Denver are second with four). Kraft is the first owner in NFL history to have his team in 11 Super Bowls.
ALL-TIME SUPER BOWL BERTHS
11 New England
8 Dallas
8 Pittsburgh
8 Denver
6 San Francisco
PATRIOTS WILL NOW HAVE A CHANCE TO TIE FOR MOST SUPER BOWL WINS
The Patriots will have a chance to tie Pittsburgh for the NFL lead with six Super Bowl wins in franchise history.
KRAFT'S TEN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE MOST OF ANY NFL OWNER
The 2018 AFC Championship is the tenth conference championship for Robert Kraft as Patriots owner, more than any other owner in NFL history in the Super Bowl Era (since 1966).
PATRIOTS PLAYED IN THEIR EIGHTH STRAIGHT AFC TITLE GAME
The Patriots played in their eighth straight AFC Championship Game to extend their NFL record for most consecutive conference championship game appearances.
KRAFT EARNS 32nd POSTSEASON WIN
Robert Kraft earned his 32nd postseason victory. He is third among ownership groups with his 32 postseason wins. Kraft earned his 32 wins since 1994. Pittsburgh (36) and Green Bay (34) are the only teams ahead of Kraft. The Rooney Family founded the Steelers in 1933 while the Green Bay Packers were founded in 1919.
PATRIOTS TIE PITTSBURGH FOR MOST ALL-TIME POSTSEASON WINS
The Patriots won their 36th playoff game to tie Pittsburgh for the most postseason wins in NFL history.
PATRIOTS JOIN BUFFALO AND MIAMI IN EXCLUSIVE GROUP
The Patriots join Buffalo (4) and Miami (3) as the only NFL teams to reach three straight Super Bowls after advancing Super Bowl LIII, the Patriots third straight Super Bowl.
PATRIOTS SET NFL MARK FOR MOST POSTSEASON WINS IN A DECADE
The Patriots have now won 15 playoff games in the decade from 2010 to the present. That total is the most postseason wins in a decade
SUPER BOWL REMATCH
The Patriots will face the Rams in Super Bowl LIII. Super Bowl LIII will be the seventh Super Bowl rematch in NFL history. The Patriots and Rams met in Super Bowl XXXVI. It will be the third time that the Patriots will be involved in a Super Bowl rematch after facing the NY Giants and Philadelphia Eagles in two Super Bowls. Dallas is the only other NFL teams with two different Super Bowl rematches.
SUPER BOWL REMATCHES
Miami vs. Washington – Super Bowl VII and Super Bowl XVII
Pittsburgh vs. Dallas – Super Bowl X, Super Bowl XIII, Super Bowl XXX
San Francisco vs. Cincinnati – Super Bowl XVI, Super Bowl XXIII
Dallas vs. Buffalo - Super Bowl XXVII, Super Bowl XXVIII
New England vs. NY Giants – Super Bowl XLII, Super Bowl XLVI
New England vs. Philadelphia - Super Bowl XXXIX, Super Bowl LII
New England vs. L.A. Rams – Super Bowl LIII
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
BELICHICK WILL COACH IN HIS 12TH SUPER BOWL OVERALL
Super Bowl LIII will be the 12th Super Bowl that Bill Belichick will coach in overall, the most among any head coach or assistant coach in NFL history.
BELICHICK EARNS NINTH CONFERENCE TITLE;
MOST CONFERENCE TITLES IN SUPER BOWL ERA
The 2018 AFC Championship was Bill Belichick's ninth conference championship as a head coach, the most conference titles by a head coach in the Super Bowl era (since 1966).
BELICHICK HAS CHANCE FOR SIXTH NFL TITLE
Bill Belichick is one of four NFL head coaches to win five or more championships since the league began postseason play in 1933, but the only one to win five Super Bowls. With a victory in Super Bowl LIII, Belichick will join George Halas and Curly Lambeau as the only coaches with six championships. Belichick joined an exclusive club in which each of the four other members has been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
BRADY EARNS NINTH CONFERENCE TITLE;
MOST OF ANY QB IN SUPER BOWL ERA
The 2018 AFC Championship is Tom Brady's ninth conference title as a starting quarterback, the most in NFL history during the Super Bowl Era (since 1966).
BRADY HAS PLAYED IN THE MOST SUPER BOWLS IN NFL HISTORY
Super Bowl LIII will be the ninth Super Bowl of Tom Brady's career, extending his mark for the most by any NFL player. DL Mike Lodish is second with six Super Bowls. Lodish played in six (four with Buffalo and two with Denver). K Stephen Gostkowski is set to tie Lodish for the second-most Super Bowls.
BRADY HAS CHANCE TO SET MARK FOR MOST SUPER BOWL WINS;
TIED WITH DL CHARLES HALEY WITH FIVE SUPER BOWL WINS
Brady joined Hall of Fame DL Charles Haley as the only NFL players to play on five Super Bowl winning teams. Haley won two with San Francisco and three with Dallas. Bart Starr is the only other NFL quarterback with five NFL championships (three NFL Championships and two Super Bowls).
WINNINGEST COACH AND QB TANDEM IN THE POSTSEASON
Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are the winningest coach and quarterback tandem in the postseason. Belichick and Brady have the most Super Bowl appearances (9) and Super Bowl wins (5). Their five championships match the combination of Vince Lombardi and Bart Starr, who also won five championships (two Super Bowls and three NFL Championships).
BRADY HAS 15TH CAREER 300-YARD PASSING GAME IN THE PLAYOFFS;
Tom Brady has thrown for 15 career 300-yard games in the postseason.
BRADY ENDS STREAK WITH 237 POSTSEASON PASSES WITHOUT AN INTERCEPTION
Brady was picked off in the end zone to end his NFL record at 237 straight postseason passes without an interception.
Most Consecutive Postseason Passes without an Interception
237 Tom Brady 2017-2018
226 Drew Brees 2007-2012
197 Joe Flacco 2012-2015
BRADY TIES FOR MOST WINS ALL-TIME
Tom Brady has the most wins by an NFL quarterback with 236 overall career wins. His 236 wins are tied with Adam Vinatieri for most all-time.
GOSTKOWSKI WILL PLAY IN HIS SIXTH SUPER BOWL
K Stephen Gostkowski will play in his sixth Super Bowl. He will tie Mike Lodish (four with Buffalo and two with Denver) for the second-most Super Bowls played, behind the nine by Tom Brady.
GOSTKOWSKI HAS NOW SCORED IN 27 STRAIGHT POSTSEASON GAMES
K Stephen Gostkowski has now kicked at least one point in 27 straight postseason games, second all-time in NFL postseason history.
GOSTKOWSKI PLAYS IN 27TH POSTSEASON GAME
K Stephen Gostkowski played in his 27th postseason game Only Tom Brady (39), Adam Vinatieri (32), and Jerry Rice (29) have played in more postseason games.
Most 100-Yard Games in NFL History
8 Jerry Rice – 29 postseason games
6 Michael Irvin – 16 postseason games
5 Julian Edelman 17 postseason games
5 John Stallworth, 18 postseason games
5 Andre Reed – 21 postseason games
5 Hines Ward 18 postseason games
5 Larry Fitzgerald 9 postseason games
5 Antonio Brown – 10 postseason games
EDELMAN HAS THE SECOND-MOST POSTSEASON RECEPTIONS;
BECOMES SECOND NFL PLAYER WITH 100 POSTSEASON RECEPTIONS
Edelman had 7 receptions to push his postseason total to 105. He is second all-time with 105, behind the 151 postseason receptions by Jerry Rice.
EDELMAN HAS 12TH STRAIGHT POSTSEASON GAME WITH AT LEAST FIVE RECEPTIONS
Edelman had his 12th straight postseason game with at least five receptions.
EDELMAN MOVES INTO TOP 10 ON POSTSEASON RECEIVING YARD LIST
Edelman added 96 yards receiving and remained in 7th place all-time for most postseason receiving yards with 1,175 yards.
GRONKOWSKI SETS MARK FOR MOST POSTSEASON RECEPTIONS BY A TIGHT END
Gronkowski added six receptions in the 2018 AFC Championship Game to add to his mark for the most postseason receptions by a tight end with 75.
GRONKOWSKI ADDS TO PLAYOFF LORE;
BECOMES FIRST TIGHT END WITH 1,000 POSTSEASON YARDS
TE Rob Gronkowski became the first tight end and second Patriots player to reach 1,000 postseason yards. He entered the game with 997 yards and caught a 13-yard pass in the first quarter to go over the mark.
Gronkowski finished with six receptions for 79 yards to add to his record for postseason receiving yards by a tight end.
ROOKIE RB SONY MICHEL GOES OVER 100 YARDS;
SECOND PATRIOTS PLAYER WITH BACK-TO-BACK 100-YARD POSTSEASON GAMES
Rookie RB Sony Michel went over 100 yards rushing and became the Patriots first rookie to have back to back 100-yard postseason game after finishing with 113 yards in the AFC Championship Game. Laurence Maroney was the first Patriot running back to have consecutive 100-yard rushing games in the postseason. Sony had four 100-yard games during the regular season.
Patriots 100-Yard Games in the Postseason
166 LeGarrette Blount, vs. Indianapolis, Jan. 11, 2014
166 Curtis Martin, vs. Pittsburgh, Jan. 5, 1997
148 LeGarrette Blount, vs. Indianapolis, Jan. 18, 2015
144 Corey Dillon, vs. Indianapolis, Jan. 16, 2005
129 Sony Michel, vs. LA Chargers, Jan. 13, 2019
122 Laurence Maroney, vs. Jacksonville, Jan. 12, 2008
122 Laurence Maroney, vs. San Diego, Jan. 20, 2008
113 Sony Michel, at K.C. Chiefs, Jan 20., 2019
105 Craig James, at Miami, Jan. 12, 1989
104 Craig James, at LA Raiders, Jan. 5, 1986
100 Antowain Smith, vs. Indianapolis, Jan. 18, 2004
LINEUP NOTES
PATRIOTS HAVE FOUR PLAYERS THAT PLAYED IN THEIR EIGHTH STRAIGHT AFC TITLE GAME
The Patriots had four players that played in their eighth straight AFC Championship Game: QB Tom Brady, K Stephen Gostkowski, DB Devin McCourty and WR Matthew Slater.
NEW TO THE POSTSEASON
DB Obi Melifonwu made his postseason debut.
