TEAM NOTES
- Patriots guaranteed to finish with at least a .500 record for 18th straight season
- Patriots avoid being swept in AFC East play for 18th straight year
- Brady sets mark for most passing yards all-time (regular season and postseason)
- Patriots rush for 200 yards and a 6.0-yard average
- Patriots bounce back from a loss
- Michel goes over 100 yards for third time in 2018.
PATRIOTS REGISTER 18TH STRAIGHT SEASON WITH AT LEAST A .500 RECORD
The victory over the Jets improved the Patriots record to 8-3 and will finish with at least a .500 record for the 18th straight season. The Patriots are the only NFL team to finish with a record of .500 or better in each of the last 18 years (2001-18). Each of the other 31 NFL teams has had at least one losing season since 2001. The Patriots have the second-longest streak at .500 or better, behind the Dallas Cowboys (1965-85) streak of 21 straight years.
PATRIOTS IMPROVE UPON DIVISION PLAY;
AVOID BEING SWEPT BY A DIVISION OPPONENT FOR 18TH STRAIGHT SEASON
The Patriots now have victories against all of their division opponents in 2018 and will avoid a series sweep by a division opponent for the 18th straight season to extend their NFL record. It is the longest such streak since the 1970 merger.
BRADY AND MCCOWN – SECOND-HIGHEST COMBINED AGE BY STARTING QBS
Tom Brady and Josh McCown started at quarterback. It is the second-highest combined age by starting quarterbacks in NFL history (80 years, 258 days), behind only a Vinny Testaverde-Brett Favre matchup in 2007 (82 years, 44 days)
DIVISION DOMINANCE
The New England Patriots own an 84-23 (.785) record in regular season AFC East games since the beginning of the 2001 season, compiling the best intra-division record of any team in the NFL.
PATRIOTS ARE THE BEST IN THE SECOND HALF SINCE 1994
Since Robert Kraft purchased the franchise in 1994, the New England Patriots own the NFL's best record in the second half of the season. The Patriots are the only team with a winning percentage over .700 over that span.
FOURTH STRAIGHT GAME WITHOUT A TURNOVER
The Patriots have not had a giveaway in four consecutive games. New England went four consecutive games without a giveaway in 2017 (Weeks 7-10). The Patriots also played four consecutive games without a giveaway in 2014 (Weeks 4-7). The team record for most consecutive games without a turnover is seven straight games in 2010.
PATRIOTS RUSH FOR 215 YARDS
The Patriots went over 200 yards rushing after finishing with 215 yards for a 6.0-yard average. It was the highest output since gaining 246 yards at Indianapolis on Nov. 16, 2014. It is the 13th time that the Patriots have rushed for 200 or more yards under Bill Belichick.
BOUNCING BACK
Since the beginning of 2003, the Patriots are 47-7 (.870) in regular-season games following a loss. They have dropped back-to-back regular-season games in 2006, 09, 11-12, 15 (twice) and 2018. As a starter in his career, Tom Brady is 47-11 in games following a loss.
RUSH TO VICTORY
Since 2001, New England is 50-1 in the regular season when a Patriot eclipses 100 yards rushing, including three victories in 2018 with 100-yard outings by Sony Michel, including a 133-yard effort by Michel against the Jets.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
BELICHICK TIES LANDRY WITH HIS 101ST DIVISION WIN
Bill Belichick won his 101st division game as a head coach to tie Tom Landry for second all-time, behind the 132 division wins by Don Shula.
BRADY HAS MOST PASSING YARDS ALL-TIME (REGULAR SEASON AND POSTSEASON)
Tom Brady moved past Peyton Manning and now has the most total passing yards in NFL history, including the postseason. He entered the game needing 147 yards to move past Manning and reached the milestone on a 16-yard pass to WR Josh Gordon in the second quarter.
BRADY APPROACHING MOST TDS ALL-TIME
Brady is second in NFL history in all-time touchdown passes (regular season and playoffs) and ranks first for most touchdowns with one team. He threw two touchdowns against the Jets and is one behind Peyton Manning.
BRADY REACHES 3,000 PASSING YARDS FOR THE 16TH TIME
Tom Brady (3,031) reached 3,000 yards passing in a season for the 16th time to tie Peyton Manning and Drew Brees for second place, behind the 18 by Brett Favre.
BRADY FIRST WITH 26 WINS AGAINST TWO TEAMS
Tom Brady has 26 regular-season wins against the New York Jets as a starter, joining Brett Favre as the only quarterbacks with at least 26 wins against two divisional opponents. Overall, Brady is now 26-6 against the jets.
RB JAMES WHITE HAS CAREER-LONG 27-YARD RUN
RB James White had a career-best 27-yard run in the third quarter. His previous best was a 22-yard touchdown run vs. Miami on Sept. 30, 2018. In addition, White added a 24-yard run in the fourth quarter.
WHITE SETS CAREER-HIGH IN RUSHING YARDS
White finished with a career-best 73 yards rushing. His previous best was 44 yards rushing on Sept. 30, 2018 vs. Miami.
K STEPHEN GOSTKOWSKI CONNECTS ON 48TH AND 49TH FIELD GOAL AGAINST THE JETS
K Stephen Gostkowski connected on his 48th field goal overall against the New York Jets with his 34-yard field goal in the second quarter (including the postseason). It is the most field goals against the Jets. Adam Vinatieri is second with 47 field goals against the Jets. Gostkowski added a 32-yard field goal for his 49th field goal against the Jets in the third quarter.
GRONKOWSKI SCORES 9TH CAREER TD AGAINST THE NEW YORK JETS;
HAS THE MOST TD RECEPTIONS BY A TE AGAINST THE JETS
TE Rob Gronkowski scored his 9th career touchdown pass against the New York Jets on 34-yard touchdown pass from QB Tom Brady. It is the most touchdown receptions by a tight end against the Jets. Anthony Fasano has the second most with seven touchdown receptions against the Jets.
BRADY AND GRONK CONNECTIONS
Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady connected on a 34-yard touchdown in the first quarter for their 77th touchdown connection, the second-most touchdown connections between a quarterback and a tight end.
MICHEL REACHES 100 YARDS…AGAIN
RB Sony Michel went over 100 yards rushing for the third time this season after finishing with a career best 133 yards rushing. It is the most rushing yards by a Patriots rookie since Brandon Bolden had 137 at Buffalo on Sept. 30, 2012. Robert Edwards was the last Patriots rookie to have multiple 100-yard games in his rookie year, when he tallied four in 1998. Curtis Martin holds the franchise record with nine 100-yard rushing games in his rookie season (1995).
MICHEL HAS TWO 30-YARD RUNS
Michel had a 31-yard run in the third quarter and a 33-yard run in the fourth quarter. The last Patriots player with two runs of 30 or more yards in a game was LeGarrette Blount, who had two in Week 17 of 2013 vs. Buffalo and then two in the ensuing Divisional Playoff vs. Indianapolis. The last rookie to have two 30 yard runs in a game was Robert Edwards , who had three 30 yard runs at St. Louis on Dec. 13, 1998.
LINEUP NOTES
G SHAG MASON RETURNS TO ACTION
G Shaq Mason returned to the starting lineup at right guard after missing two games due to injury.
TE ROB GRONKOWSKI RETURNS TO ACTION
TE Rob Gronkowski returned to action after missing two games due to injury.
LB RAMON HUMBER PLAYS IN FIRST GAME IN A PATRIOTS UNIFORM
LB Ramon Humber played in his first game in a Patriots uniform.
DB OBI MELIFONWU PLAYS IN FIRST GAME IN A PATRIOT UNIFORM
DB Obi Melifonwu played in his first game in a Patriots uniform.
