TEAM NOTES
PATRIOTS START SEASON WITH EIGHT STRAIGHT GAMES WITH NO INTS. *
The Patriots have yet to throw an interception in 2016 through the first eight games, setting a team mark to start a season. The old mark was in 2015 when the Patriots did not throw a pick in the first four games. The Patriots also tied the overall team mark for most consecutive games without an interception with the 2010 team that did not throw an interception in the second half of the season. The NFL record to start a season without an interception is nine games set by Cleveland in 1960. The Patriots join the 2008 Washington Redskins (8) and 1960 Browns (9) as the only teams with no interceptions through first eight games to start a season.
MOST CONSECUTIVE GAMES TO START A SEASON WITHOUT AN INTERCEPTION*
9 1960 Cleveland Browns
8 2016 New England Patriots
8 2008 Washington Redskins
MOST CONSECUTIVE GAMES OVERALL WITHOUT AN INTERCEPTION
12 Washington Redskins (2007-2008)
MOST CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITHOUT AN INTERCEPTION IN A SINGLE SEASON
9 1960 Cleveland Browns
9 2015 Kansas City Chiefs
PATRIOTS CLOSE TO NFL RECORD FOR MOST PASS ATTEMPTS WITHOUT AN INTERCEPTION TO START A SEASON
The Patriots have not thrown an interception in 249 pass attempts to start the season, second in NFL history.
Most Pass Attempts to start a Season Without an InterceptionTeam Pass Attempts
Washington Redskins (2008) 251
New England Patriots (2016) 249
PATRIOTS ARE BEST ROAD TEAM SINCE 1994
Since the start of the 1994 season when Robert Kraft purchased the team, the Patriots have the best regular-season road record in the NFL. The Patriots are 4-0 in 2016 on the road.
PATRIOTS KEEP CHANCE OF AVOIDING A SWEEP IN THE AFC EAST ALIVE
The Patriots have gone 15 straight seasons without being swept by a division opponent and after avoiding a series sweep with Buffalo with the victory, the Patriots have a chance to extend that mark. The 15 years without being swept is the longest such streak since the 1970 NFL merger. The Los Angeles Rams (11,1970-1980) and Dallas Cowboys (11, 1971-1981) have the second longest streak.
DIVISIONAL DOMINANCE
The New England Patriots own a 73-22 (.768) 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.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
BELICHICK IS ONE OF FIVE COACHES WITH 90 DIVISION WINS
Bill Belichick won his 90th divisional game and is one of five NFL coaches all-time with at least 90 divisional wins.
GRONK SETS PATRIOTS ALL-TIME TOUCHDOWN MARK
TE Rob Gronkowski moved past Stanley Morgan for the most touchdowns overall and most touchdown receptions in team history with his 53-yard score in the second quarter for his 69th touchdown overall and his 68th touchdown reception.
MOST CAREER TOUCHDOWNS BY A PATRIOTS PLAYERPlayer Touchdowns
1. Rob Gronkowski 69 (68, rec, 1 rush)
2. Stanley Morgan 68 (67 rec, 1 ret)
3. Ben Coates 50
4. Randy Moss 50
5. Sam Cunningham 49
6. Jim Nance 46
7. Tony Collins 44
MOST TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS BY A PATRIOTS PLAYERPlayer Touchdowns
1. Rob Gronkowski 68
2. Stanley Morgan 67
3. Ben Coates 50
3. Randy Moss 50
MOST RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS BY A PATRIOTS TIGHT ENDPlayer TD Years
Rob Gronkowski 68 2010-Present
Ben Coates 50 1991-99
Russ Francis 28 1975-80, 87-88
Ben Watson 20 2004-09
GRONK REACHES 400 RECEPTIONS
Rob Gronkowski became the sixth New England Patriots player to reach 400 receptions. He entered the Buffalo game with 397 receptions and caught five passes to increase his career total to 402 receptions. He is the 35th tight end to reach 400 receptions.
Patriots Players with 400 career receptionsPlayer Receptions
Wes Welker 672
Troy Brown 557
Stanley Morgan 534
Ben Coates 490
Kevin Faulk 431
Rob Gronkowski 402
GRONKOWSKI BECOMES 14TH NFL TIGHT END TO REACH 6,000 YARDS
Gronkowski entered the Buffalo game with 5,930 career receiving yards added 109 yards to increase his career total to 6,039 receiving yards. He became the 14th NFL tight end with at least 6,000 receiving yards. He is the fourth Patriots player to reach 6,000 receiving yards.
Patriots Players with 6,000 Receiving Yards
Player Yards
Stanley Morgan 10,352
Wes Welker 7,459
Troy Brown 6,366
Rob Gronkwoski 6,039
Irving Fryar 5,726
GRONK GOES OVER 100 YARDS; THIRD ALL-TIME
Gronkowski finished with his 23rd career 100-yard game after catching five passes for 109 yards. He has moved out of a third-place tie with Jackie Smith for sole possession for the third-most 100-yard games by an NFL tight end with 23, behind Kellen Winslow (24) and Tony Gonzalez (31).
MOST 100-YARD GAMES BY A TIGHT END IN NFL HISTORY
Player 100-Yard Games
Tony Gonzalez 31
Kellen Winslow 24
Rob Gronkowski 23
Jackie Smith 22
Antonio Gates 21
Jason Witten 20
Shannon Sharpe 19
MOST 100-YARD RECEIVING GAMES IN PATRIOTS HISTORY
Stanley Morgan 38
Wes Welker 28
Rob Gronkowski 23
Randy Moss 18
MOST 100-YARD GAMES BY A PATRIOTS TIGHT END
Player 100-Yard Games
Rob Gronkowski 23
Ben Coates 9
GRONKOWSKI HAS THIRD 100-YARD GAME IN 2016
Rob Gronkowski had his third 100-yard game of the 2016 season after finishing with 109 yards. Gronkowski matched his personnel best with five 100-yard games in 2015 and 2011. The NFL record for most 100-yard games in a season by a tight end is six by Tony Gonzalez (2004 and 2000) and Jimmy Graham (2013).
GRONKOWKSI TO BRADY SHINES AGAIN
The 53-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to Rob Gronkowski is the 67th touchdown connection between the two, the second most between a quarterback and a tight end in NFL history. The two are now tied with Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne (67) for sixth all-time.
GRONKOWSKI'S 53-YARD TOUCHDOWN IS SECOND LONGEST OF CAREER;THIRD TOUCHDOWN OF 50 OR MORE YARDS
Gronkowski's 53-yard touchdown reception is the second longest reception of his career to the 76-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady on Nov. 15, 2015 at the New York Giants. It is his third career 50-yard touchdown pass. In addition to the 76-yarder at the Giants, he has a 52-yard touchdown reception vs. Kansas City on Nov. 21, 2011.
TOM BRAY HAS AT LEAST TWO 50-YARD PASSES IN A GAME FOR 10TH TIME
Tom Brady threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to WR Chris Hogan in the first quarter and a 53-yard touchdown pass to TE Rob Gronkowski in the second quarter. It is the 10th time in his career that he has thrown for at least two 50-yard passes in a single game. His career best came in 2009 with three 50-yard strikes at Miami on Dec. 6, 2009.
Brady's Games with at least two 50-yard passes10/09/05 at Atlanta
55t (3Q) Bethel Johnson
51 (1Q) Deion Branch
1/14/06 at Denver *AFC Divisional Playoff Round
73 (4Q) Deion Branch
51 (2Q) Andre Davis
12/31/06 at Tennessee
62t (3Q) Reche Caldwell
52 (1Q) Corey Dillon
12/09/07 vs. Pittsburgh
63t (2Q) Randy Moss
56t (3Q) Jabar Gaffney-Flea Flicker w Randy Moss
11/15/09 at Indianapolis
63t (2Q) Randy Moss
55 (1Q) Randy Moss
12/06/09 at Miami
58t (1Q) Randy Moss
58 (2Q) Wes Welker
81t (3Q) Sam Aiken
11/22/12 at NY Jets
83t (2Q) Shane Vereen
56t (2Q) Julian Edelman
11/03/13 vs. Pittsburgh
57 (2Q) Danny Amendola
81t (4Q) Aaron Dobson
11/15/15 at New York Giants
76t (4Q) Rob Gronkowski
54 (4Q) Brandon LaFell
10/30/16 at Buffalo
` 53t (1Q) Chris Hogan
53t (2Q) Rob Gronkowski.
BRADY TIES RECORD FOR MOST WINS AGAINST AN OPPONENT
Tom Brady owns a 26-3 record against the Buffalo Bills. He has more wins against Buffalo than any other NFL team. The New York Jets are second with 21 wins on Brady's list. Brady's 26 wins against Buffalo are the second most wins by a quarterback against an opponent.
MOST WINS BY A STARTING QUARTERBACK AGAINST AN OPPONENTPlayer Wins
Tom Brady 26 wins against Buffalo
Brett Favre 26 wins against Detroit
Brett Favre 23 wins against Chicago
Dan Marino 22 wins against Indianapolis
BRADY IS MR. OCTOBER
Tom Brady owns a 48-13 October record for the most wins in the month by any starting quarterback in NFL history. Peyton Manning (45-16), has the second-most wins in October by an NFL quarterback. Brady has now won 13 straight games in October.
BRADY INCHING CLOSER TO BECOMING THE ALL-TIME WINNINGEST QUARTERBACK
Brady won his 198th game overall, and needs three more wins to become the NFL's all-time leader.
TOM BRADY THROWS FOR FOUR TOUCHDOWNS
Tom Brady threw four touchdowns in a game for the 20th time in his career. It is his first four-touchdown game since he threw four touchdowns vs. Miami on Oct. 29, 2015.
BRADY GOES OVER 300 YARDS FOR THIRD TIME IN 2016
Tom Brady had his third 300-yard game of the 2016 season after passing for 315 yards. It is the 74th time in his career that he has thrown for at least 300 yards, behind only Drew Brees (100) and Peyton Manning (93).
BRADY HAS THROWN TOUCHDOWN PASSES TO 62 DIFFERENT PLAYERS; TIES STEVE DEBERG FOR SECOND PLACE FOR TD TARGETS BY A QB
Tom Brady connected with WR Chris Hogan on a 53-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Brady has now thrown touchdown passes to 62 different players in the regular season, tying him with Steve DeBerg for second place all-time for most touchdown targets by an NFL quarterback.
Most Touchdown Targets by an NFL QuarterbackQUARTERBACK TD TARGETS
Vinny Testaverde 70
Tom Brady 62
Steve DeBerg 62
Brett Favre 61
DANNY AMENDOLA HAS 73-YARD KICKOFF RETURN IN THIRD QUARTER;SECOND-LONGEST RETURN OF HIS CAREER
Danny Amendola had a 73-yard kickoff return in the third quarter for the second longest kickoff return of his career. He had an 81-yard kickoff return on Nov. 23, 2014, vs. Detroit.
BLOUNT SCORES NINTH RUSHING OTUCHDOWN OF 2016
RB LeGarrette Blount scored on a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter for his ninth rushing touchdown of the season. He has scored at least one touchdown in every game but the first matchup vs. Buffalo on Oct. 2, 2016. He is on pace to finish the season with 18 rushing touchdowns. The Patriots record for most rushing touchdowns in a season is 14 by Curtis Martin in 1996 and 1995.
MOST RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS/SEASON IN PATRIOTS HISTORY
14 Curtis Martin, 1996
14 Curtis Martin, 1995
13 BenJarvus Green-Ellis, 2010
13 Corey Dillon, 2006
12 Stevan Ridley, 2012
12 Corey Dillon, 2005
12 Corey Dillon, 2004
12 Antowain Smith, 2001
12 Steve Grogan, 1976
11 BenJarvis Green-Ellis, 2011
11 Horace Ivory,1978
11 Jim Nancy, 1966
10 Tony Collins, 1983
DL TREY FLOWERS RECORDS FIRST NFL SACKS
DL Trey Flowers registered his first NFL sacks after dropping QB Tyrod Taylor for a 7-yard loss in the second quarter and QB EJ Manuel for a 2-yard loss in the fourth quarter.
JULIAN EDELMAN IS IN A RUSH
WR Julian Edelman's first quarter rushing attempt was his 36th rushing attempt to push him in front of Irving Fryar for the most rushing attempts by a Patriots wide receiver.
Most Rushing Attempts by a Patriots Wide Receiver Player Rushes
Julian Edelman 36
Irving Fryar 35
Troy Brown 29
Darryl Stingley 28
Stanley Morgan 21
Most Rushing Yards by a Patriots Wide ReceiverPlayer Rushing Yards
Darryl Stingley 244
Julian Edelman 239
Irving Fryar 188
Troy Brown 178
GOSTKOWSKI IS GOOD FROM 50
Stephen Gostkowski drilled a 51-yard field goal in the second quarter. He has made has made 76.0 percent of his field goals (19-for-25) from 50 yards or more, converting the second-highest percentage of 50-plus yard field goal attempts in NFL history (minimum 15 attempts.
WR CHRIS HOGAN SORES ON A 53-YARD TD PASS FROM TOM BRADY;RECORDS LONGEST TOUCHDOWN RECEPTION OS HIS CAREER
WR Chris Hogan scored on a 53-yard touchdown pass from QB Tom Brady in the first quarter. It is the longest touchdown pass of his career. His previous best was a 38-yard touchdown pass on Sept. 25, 2015, while he played for Buffalo in a game played at Miami. Hogan had a career long with a 63-yard reception on Oct. 9, 2016 at Cleveland.
LINEUP NOTES
DB ERIC ROWE MAKES SECOND STRAIGHT START
DB Eric Rowe made his second straight start at cornerback for the Patriots
ROOKIE LB ELANDON ROBERTS MAKES SECOND NFL START
Rookie LB Elandon Roberts made his second NFL start. He made his first NFL start in the victory vs. Cincinnati on Oct. 16.
