PATRIOTS OFFENSE AND DEFENSE CONTRIBUTE TO COMEBACK
The Patriots faced a 16-13 deficit and Dallas had the ball with 3:36 left in the game, before New England's offense and defense came through for an exciting fourth-quarter comeback. First, New England's defense forced a Dallas three-and-out to give the Patriots the ball back with 2:31 left in the game. Then, after a Dallas punt, the Patriots offense drove 80 yards in 10 plays to take a 20-16 lead on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to Aaron Hernandez with 22 seconds left in the game.
BRADY TALLIES 32nd CAREER FOURTH-QUARTER GAME-WINNING PERFORMANCE
Tom Brady led the Patriots on a game-winning touchdown drive, taking the Patriots 80 yards on 10 plays to turn a 16-13 deficit into a 20-13 win on an 8-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Hernandez with 22 seconds left in the game. The performance marked the 32nd time in Brady's career that he led the Patriots to a victory following a fourth-quarter deficit or tie. Brady has accomplished the feat 26 times in the regular season and six times in the playoffs. Last season, Brady led New England to two fourth-quarter comebacks, against Green Bay (12/19/10) and Baltimore (10/17/10). Brady was 8-of-9 for 78 yards on the drive.
BRADY AND BELICHICK TIE MARINO AND SHULA FOR WINNINGEST COACH/QB TANDEM
With today's victory over the Cowboys, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady earned their 116th win as a coach-quarterback tandem, tying Dan Marino and Don Shula for the most wins by any coach-QB tandem since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Belichick and Brady also have the best winning percentage among a head coach/starting quarterback tandem since the merger.
PATRIOTS ARE 5-1 OR BETTER FOR THE EIGHTH TIME IN TEAM HISTORY
The Patriots have won five of their first six games of the 2011 season, marking the eighth time in team history that New England has won at least five of its first six games. New England also won five of its first six games in 2010, marking the second time in team history the team has started 5-1 or better through six games in back-to-back years (2006 and 2007). In addition to this year, New England was also 5-1 in 2010, 2006, 1997, 1980, and 1974, and was 6-0 in 2007 and 2004.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY?
Since their record-setting 2007 season, the Patriots have maintained their spot atop the NFL in terms of both winning percentage and points scored. New England's consistency and achievement in these areas has been unmatched over the last three-plus seasons.
- Since the beginning of the 2008 season (and including this week's games), the Patriots have the NFL's highest winning percentage (40-14, .741) and have scored more points (1540) than any other NFL team. Pittsburgh and New Orleans rank second over that span in winning percentage (both 37-17, .685), while New Orleans ranks second in points scored (1534).
- Since 2009, the Patriots and New Orleans are tied for the best winning percentage (29-9, .763), while the Patriots have scored the most points over that span (1130). New Orleans ranks second in points scored since 2009 with 1071.
- New England tops the winning percentage and points scored categories since the beginning of the 2010 season, going 19-3 (.864), while scoring 703 points. Baltimore ranks second since 2010 with a 16-5 record (.762), while Green Bay ranks second with 585 points scored.
PATRIOTS ARE GOOD AGAINST THE NFC AT HOME
With today's win over Dallas, the Patriots won their 18th straight home game against NFC opposition. New England's last home loss to an NFC team was in the very first game against an NFC opponent at the new stadium in 2002 when the visiting Green Bay Packers beat the Patriots, 28-10, on Oct. 13.
PATRIOTS SHARP AT GILLETTE
The Patriots have now won 20 straight regular season home games dating back to a 47-7 win over Arizona on Dec. 21, 2008. New England's 20 straight regular-season home wins extends a franchise record. The team's previous record was 18 straight regular-season home victories from Dec. 29, 2002 through Sept. 8, 2005. The NFL record for most consecutive home victories is 27, achieved by Miami from 1971-74. The Patriots own an overall record of 63-12 (.840) at Gillette Stadium in regular season games. Since their state-of-the-art facility opened at the beginning of the 2002 season, the Patriots own the NFL's best record at home all-time.
BRADY WINS 30th STRAIGHT START AT GILLETTE STADIUM
Tom Brady extended his NFL record with his 30th straight regular season win at home. The last time the Patriots lost a regular-season home game in which Brady started was on 11/22/06 vs. the N.Y. Jets.
BRADY MOVED UP ON THE NFL'S ALL-TIME TOUCHDOWN CHART
Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes against Dallas to move past Vinny Testaverde (275) into sole possession of eighth place on the NFL's all-time touchdown pass list. Brady finished the game with 277 career touchdown passes, including a game-winning score to Aaron Hernandez with 22 seconds left. Johnny Unitas ranks seventh with 290 touchdown passes. Brady also ranks eighth in NFL history with 116 career wins as a starting quarterback, one behind Joe Montana's total of 117 wins.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS
- Andre Carter sacked Tony Romo twice today, marking his 10th career two-sack game and his first since he had two on Dec. 13, 2009 while playing for the Washington Redskins at Oakland. Carter sacked Romo for an 11-yard loss on second-and-goal in the third quarter, helping to hold Dallas to a field goal on the drive. Andre Carter sacked Tony Romo for a 6-yard loss on third down in the first quarter, forcing a Dallas punt on the next play. The sacks gave Carter 2.5 sacks for the season.
- Kyle Love tackled Felix Jones in the backfield for a 1-yard loss on Dallas's second offensive play of the game.
- Gerard Warren tackled Tashard Choice for a 3-yard loss on third down in the first quarter, forcing a Dallas field goal try on the next play.
- Rob Ninkovich broke up a Tony Romo pass intended for Felix Jones in the second quarter.
- Vince Wilfork broke up a Tony Romo pass intended for Tashard Choice on first down on the third quarter. Wilfork batted the ball into the air and nearly came up with his third interception of the season on the play.
- Kyle Arrington and James Ihedigbo combined to break up a Tony Romo pass intended for Miles Austin on third down in the fourth quarter, with the Cowboys in Patriots territory and the score tied at 13. The Cowboys were forced to punt on the next play.
- Brandon Spikes tackled Tashard Choice for a 3-yard loss on a shovel pass on third-and-goal in the fourth quarter. Spikes's play helped to hold Dallas to a field goal on the drive.
- Shaun Ellis and Gary Guyton combined to stop DeMarco Murray for a 2-yard loss on first down in the fourth quarter with 3:36 left in the game and the Patriots trailing 16-13.
- Shaun Ellis stopped DeMarco Murray for a 1-yard loss on second down in the fourth quarter with 2:52 left in the game and the Patriots trailing 16-13, setting up a third-and-long that the Cowboys did not convert.
ARRINGTON HAS FOURTH INTERCEPTION OF THE SEASON
Kyle Arrington intercepted a Tony Romo pass in the first quarter to end Dallas's game-opening drive. The interception was Arrington's team-high fourth of the season. His three interceptions entering today's action tied for the NFL lead. Arrington came into this season with one career interception, which he returned for a 36-yard touchdown against Green Bay on Dec. 19, 2010.
PATRIOTS ARE WICKED GOOD IN OCTOBER
With today's win over the Cowboys, the Patriots improved to 32-5 in the month of October since the 2003 season. The Patriots have won 23 out of their last 25 October games. The Patriots were 4-0 in 2010 in October. The Patriots are 18-1 at home and 14-4 on the road in October since 2003.
CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH AT LEAST ONE TOUCHDOWN PASS CONTINUES FOR BRADY
Tom Brady has now thrown at least one touchdown pass in 22 straight regular season games, extending his team mark. Brady's current streak started when he threw a touchdown pass in all 16 games in 2010 and he has now achieved the feat in all six games in 2011. The old team record was 19 games, also set by Brady. The NFL record is 47 set by Johnny Unitas (1956-7), followed by Brett Favre with 36 and Drew Brees with 33.
BRADY ON PACE TO SET ALL-TIME PASSING NUMBERS
After throwing for 289 yards today and 2,163 yards through six games this year, Tom Brady is on pace to finish the season with 5,768 passing yards. Only two NFL players have thrown for 5,000 or more yards in a season with Dan Marino's NFL record 5,084 in 1984 and Drew Brees' 5,069 in 2008.The most yards Brady has ever thrown in a season is 4,806 in 2007.
BRADY ON PACE FOR SECOND CAREER 40 TOUCHDOWN SEASON
Brady has 16 touchdown passes through six games and is on pace for 43 touchdown passes. Brady has led the league in touchdowns passes three times in his career and can tie Len Dawson, Brett Favre, Johnny Unitas and Steve Young (4) for the most seasons leading the league in touchdown passes.
Last season, Brady led the NFL with 36 touchdowns. He also led the NFL with a record 50 touchdowns in 2007 and 28 touchdowns in 2002. If Brady reaches 40 touchdowns he will be just the second player in NFL history to have two seasons with 40 or more touchdowns. Dan Marino had 48 touchdowns in 1984 and 44 in 1986.
WELKER HAS SECOND MOST RECEPTIONS IN NFL HISTORY IN FIRST SIX GAMES
Wes Welker had six receptions for 45 yards and now has 51 receptions for 785 yards through six games this season. Welker is on pace for 2,093 receiving yards this year. The NFL record for most yards gained in a season is 1,848 by Jerry Rice in 1995. The Patriots team record is 1,493 yards by Randy Moss in 2007. Welker's career-high is 1,348 yards in 2009. Welker's 51 receptions through five games are tied for the second highest total in NFL history for the first six games of the season, trailing only Marvin Harrison's 52 receptions through the first six games of the 2002 season.
WELKER SCORES SIXTH TOUCHDOWN OF THE SEASON
Welker scored his sixth touchdown of the season on a 4-yard pass from Tom Brady in the second quarter against the Cowboys. Welker had seven touchdowns all of last season and a career-high eight touchdowns in 2007. His 28 receiving touchdowns in a New England uniform are tied with Russ Francis for eighth on the Patriots all-time list.
WELKER IS STREAKING
Wes Welker extended his streak to 67 straight regular-season games with at least one reception as a member of the Patriots to extend his franchise record. Welker has an overall streak of 84 straight regular-season games with at least one reception, including his time with the Miami Dolphins. Welker has caught at least one pass in each of his 71 games with the Patriots, including four postseason games. The last time that Welker did not catch a pass in a game was December 24, 2005 when he was with Miami.
HERNANDEZ SETS NEW CAREER HIGH WITH EIGHT CATCHES
Aaron Hernandez caught eight passes for 68 yards and a game-winning touchdown against Dallas. Hernandez's eight receptions set a new career high. He previously had seven receptions against Miami (9/12/11) and against San Diego (9/18/11). Through six games this season, Hernandez has played in four games and has caught 27 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns.
GRONKOWSKI TIES CAREER HIGH WITH SEVEN CATCHES
Rob Gronkowski tied his career high with seven catches against Dallas. He finished the game with seven catches for 74 yards. Gronkowski also had seven receptions against Buffalo on Set. 25, 2011.
PATRIOTS ON THE POINT IN 2011
The Patriots currently have 185 points and are on pace to finish with 493 points, which would be third in team history.
PATRIOTS ON THE POINT PART 2
The Patriots are averaging 30.8 points per game in 2011. That number would be third all-time in team history.
HIGHEST AVG. POINTS PER GAME BY THE PATRIOTS
36.8 in 2007
32.4 in 2010
29.5 in 1961
PATRIOTS SCORE TOUCHDOWNS
The Patriots have scored 22 touchdowns so far in 2011, a pace that would give the Patriots 58 for the year. That number would be third in team history.
MOST TOUCHDOWNS IN A SEASON / PATRIOTS
75 in 2007
65 in 2010
52 in 1961 and 1980
