TEAM NOTES

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PATRIOTS END 10-GAME OPENING DAY WIN STREAK**
The Patriots ended a 10-game winning streak on kickoff weekend. It was their first loss in the opener since a 31-0 loss at Buffalo on Sept. 7, 2003. The Patriots joined Dallas (17, 1965-1981), Miami (11, 1992-2002) and Portsmouth/Detroit (10, 1930-1939) as the only teams with at least 10 straight opening day wins.

PATRIOTS VS. MIAMI IN SEASON OPENERS
The Patriots opened the season against the Miami Dolphins for the eighth time in team history. The Patriots are now 4-4 against Miami in the season-opener. The Patriots are 3-1 in home games and 1-3 at Miami.

PATS END STREAK OF WINS AT 61 WHEN FORCING AT LEAST THREE TURNOVERS
The Patriots ended a streak of 61 straight wins when they force at least three turnovers in a game.

PATRIOTS SUFFER FIRST BLOCKED PUNT SINCE 2012
Miami blocked a Patriots first quarter punt, the first against the Patriots since Sept. 16, 2012, vs. Arizona.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

TOM BRADY LOSES ON OPENING DAY FOR JUST THE SECOND TIME
Tom Brady fell to 11-2 on opening day as a starter.

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BRADY BECOMES ONE OF FIVE WITH AT LEAST 360 CAREER TOUCHDOWNS**
Brady is one of five NFL players with at least 360 career touchdowns after his 6-yard touchdown pass to TE Rob Gronkowski in the second quarter moved him to 360 career touchdown passes. Brady is fifth all-time in NFL history in touchdown passes.

BRADY PASSES WARREN MOON FOR SIXTH PLACE IN PASSING YARDS; NEEDS 602 YARDS TO BECOME THE SIXTH NFL PLAYER TO REACH 50,000
Tom Brady (49,398) entered the Miami game needing 177 yards to move past Warren Moon into sixth place on the NFL's all-time passing yards list and moved past him with an 18-yard pass to TE Rob Gronkowski in the second quarter.

GRONKOWSKI EXTENDS HIS STREAK TO 51 STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A RECEPTION
Rob Gronkowski has caught at least one pass in all 51 regular-season games that he has played after extending his streak with a 9-yard reception in the first quarter.
LONGEST CURRENT STREAKS OF CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH A RECEPTION BY TIGHT ENDS
88 Owen Daniels (Houston)
87 Jason Witten (Dallas)
81 Heath Miller (Pittsburgh)
51 Rob Gronkowski

GRONK PASSES CAPPELLETTI FOR SOLE POSSESION OF FOURTH PLACE
Gronkowski's 6-yard touchdown in the second quarter was his 43rd career touchdown reception. He passed Gino Cappelletti (42) for the fourth-most touchdown receptions in team history.
Most Patriots Touchdown Receptions/Career
67 Stanley Morgan
50 Ben Coates
Randy Moss
43 Rob Gronkowski
42 Gino Cappelletti
39 Jim Colclough
38 Irving Fryar

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EDELMAN HAS HIGHEST FIRST HALF YARDAGE**
Julian Edelman finished the first half at Miami with 95 receiving yards, a personal best for the first half. His previous best was 64 yards in the first half at the New York Jets on Nov. 22, 2012. His best in a half overall was 118 yards in the second half at Atlanta on Sept. 29, 2013.

EDELMAN RUNS STREAK TO SEVEN STRAIGHT WITH SIX RECEPTIONS
Julian Edelman closed out the 2013 season with six straight games with at least six catches and extended his streak to seven with 6 receptions against Miami.

EDELMAN CAUGHT A 44-YARD RECEPTION IN THE SECOND QUARTER; TIED FOR HIS SECOND LONGEST RECEPTION
Julian Edelman caught a 44-yard reception from Tom Brady in the second quarter. It is tied for his second-longest reception of his career. He also caught a 44-yard pass at Atlanta on Sept. 29, 2013. His career longest was a 56-yard touchdown reception at the New York Jets on Nov. 22, 2012.

GOSTKOWSKI SCORES IN HIS 108TH STRAIGHT GAME
Gostkowski has now scored at least one point in 108 games, a franchise record. He broke a tie with Adam Vinatieri and John Smith for the all-time lead with 102 consecutive games scoring in the win vs. Denver on Nov. 24, 2013.

Patriots Record for Most Consecutive Games Scored
108 Stephen Gostkowski (12/17/06- present)
101 Adam Vinatieri (11/24/96-12/29/02)
101 John Smith (09/28/75-10/02/80)

GOSTKOWSKI IS FOURTH IN NFL HISTORY FOR MOST CONSECUTIVE EXTA POINTS
Stephen Gostkowski is fourth in the NFL for most consecutive extra points in NFL history.
Most Consecutive (Kicking) Points After Touchdown
422 Matt Stover, Baltimore, 1996-2008; Indianapolis, 2009
371 Jason Elam, Denver, 1993-2002
371 Jeff Wilkins, St. Louis, 1999-2007
361 Stephen Gostkowski, New England, 2006-present
359 Jay Feely, Atlanta, 2002-04; N.Y. Giants, 2005-06; Miami, 2007; N.Y. Jets, 2008-09; Arizona, 2010-2013

STARTING BLOCKS

DOMINIQUE EASLEY MAKES HIS PATRIOTS DEBUT
First-round draft pick Dominque Easley made his Patriots debut after sitting out all four preseason games. He entered the game at left end late in the first quarter.

GRONKOWSKI, MAYO, VOLLMER AND WILFORK RETURN TO THE FIELD
TE Rob Gronkowski, LB Jerod Mayo, OL Sebastian Vollmer and DL Vince Wilfork all made a successful return to regular season action after missing significant time last season. Gronkowski and Mayo did not see action during the 2014 preseason. Mayo led the team with 12 total tackles against Miami.

DAN CONNOLLY STARTED AT CENTER
Dan Connolly started at center against Miami. He started 11 games at center in 2011 and then started at right guard in 2012 and 2013.

PATRICK CHUNG MAKES HIS RETURN TO THE PATRIOTS WITH A START
Patrick Chung made his return to the Patriots with a start at safety. He also lined up on kickoff returns with Matthew Slater. Chung played four seasons (2009-12) with the Patriots after joining the team as a second round pick and then spent the 2013 season with Philadelphia before returning.

CHUNG RETURNS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE NFL
Chung lined up to return kicks for the first time in his NFL career and returned his first kickoff 30 yards in the second quarter.

MARCUS CANNON MAKES FIRST START AT GUARD
Marcus Cannon made the start at left guard. It was his first NFL start at left guard. He started one game in 2012 at right tackle and had six starts in 2013 at right tackle.

NEW FACES
The Patriots have 14 players on the opening day roster that were not with the team in 2013. Of that group, 10 saw action in the game against the Dolphins.
2014 Draft Picks – DL Dominque Easley, OL Cameron Fleming and DL Zack Moore.
(OL Bryan Stork and RB James White were inactive, while QB Jimmy Garoppolo did not play)
2014 rookie free agents – DB Malcolm Butler
First-Year – OL Jordan Devey
Veteran free agents – S Patrick Chung, S Don Jones, WR Brandon LaFell, CB Darrelle Revis and TE Tim Wright. (LB Darius Fleming was inactive)

JORDAN DEVEY MAKES FIRST NFL START IN FIRST NFL GAME
OL Jordan Devey, who spent the 2013 season on the New England practice squad, made his first NFL start and played in his first NFL regular-season game, when he started at right guard.