BILL BELICHICK'S WINNING WAYS
New England head coach Bill Belichick has guided the Patriots to an NFL-best 14-2 record this season. Belichick is the first head coach ever to win at least 14 regular-season games in four separate seasons. Only four other coaches - San Francisco's George Seifert (3), Washington's Joe Gibbs (2), Chicago's Mike Ditka (2) and Miami's Don Shula (2) - have more than one 14-win season.
PATRIOTS SET NFL RECORD FOR FEWEST TURNOVERS IN A 16-GAME SEASON
The Patriots had just 10 turnovers in 2010 (5 interceptions and 5 fumbles), setting an NFL record for fewest turnovers in a season. The previous NFL record for fewest turnovers in a season was 12 by Kansas City in the strike-shortened 1982 season. The previous record for fewest turnovers in a 16-game season was 13 by the Giants and Dolphins in 2008. The former Patriots record for fewest turnovers in a season was 15 in 2007 (9 interceptions and 6 fumbles).
PATRIOTS TIE NFL RECORD FOR FEWEST INTERCEPTIONS IN A SEASON
The Patriots had just five passes intercepted in 2010, tying the NFL mark for fewest interceptions in a single season. New England attempted 507 passes in 2010, with just five resulting in interceptions. The other teams to have only five interceptions in a season were the 1960 Cleveland Browns, the 1966 Green Bay Packers, the 1990 Kansas City Chiefs and the 1990 New York Giants.
PATRIOTS CLOSE OUT THE 2010 SEASON WITH AN 8-0 RECORD AT HOME
The Patriots finished with a perfect 8-0 regular-season record at Gillette Stadium for the second consecutive season. New England has now finished perfect at home five times in team history (2003, 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2010). The Patriots are the only team in the NFL to finish undefeated at home in 2010. New England has won 17 straight regular-season home games, with its last home loss coming on Nov. 30, 2008 against Pittsburgh. The Patriots' 17 straight home wins marks the longest current streak in the NFL and the second longest in franchise history, trailing only the Patriots' 18 straight home wins from 2002-2005. The Patriots own a 60-12 regular-season record at Gillette Stadium since the facility opened in 2002.
EDELMAN SETS FRANCHISE RECORD WITH A 94-YARD PUNT RETURN FOR A TOUCHDOWN
WR Julian Edelman set a franchise record with a 94-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter. The Patriots' previous longest punt return was an 89-yard touchdown return by Mike Haynes vs. Buffalo on Nov. 7, 1976. It is the first punt return for a touchdown by the Patriots since Troy Brown had a 68-yard return at Carolina on Jan. 6, 2002.
PATRIOTS FINISH EIGHTH IN NFL HISTORY WITH 65 TOUCHDOWNS
The Patriots scored 65 touchdowns in 2010, a total that ranks as the eighth-highest total in NFL history. New England set the league record with 75 touchdowns in 2007.
PATRIOTS ON THE POINT
With a total of 38 points against the Dolphins today, the Patriots finished the season with 518 points, a total that ranks seventh in NFL history. The Patriots averaged 32.4 points per game. New England set an NFL record with 589 points in 2007.
GREEN-ELLIS GOES OVER 1,000 YARDS
RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis finished the 2010 season with 1,008 rushing yards, becoming the first Patriots player to top the 1,000-yard rushing mark since Corey Dillon had a team-record 1,635 rushing yards in 2004. Green-Ellis is the 11th New England player to record a 1,000-yard rushing season. Green-Ellis recorded his 1,000 yard season without fumbling the ball all year, joining Ray Rice as the only NFL backs with at least 175 rushing attempts and no fumbles this season. Green-Ellis and Rice are the first running backs to have a 1,000-yard season without a fumble since DeAngelo Williams had a 1,000-yard season without a fumble in 2008.
EDELMAN SET A CAREER-HIGH WITH A 40-YARD RECEPTION
Julian Edelman set a career-best with his 40-yard pass reception in the first quarter, besting a 29-yard reception at the New York Jets on Sept. 20, 2009.
McCOURTY IMPROVES HIS TOTAL TO SIX INTERCEPTIONS
Rookie CB Devin McCourty improved to seven interceptions on the season with a pick in the first quarter. McCourty's seven interceptions are the second-highest rookie total in franchise history, trailing only Mike Haynes's eight interceptions in 1976. McCourty's seven interceptions are the most by a Patriots player since Asante Samuel had 10 interceptions in 2006. McCourty's total of seven interceptions is tied for sixth on the Patriots' single-season list, trailing only Ron Hall (11 in 1964), Asante Samuel (10 in 2006), Ty Law (9 in 1998), Mike Haynes (8 in 1976) and Ronnie Lippett (8 in 1986).
PATRIOTS HAVE 25 INTERCEPTIONS
The Patriots recorded a total of 25 interceptions in 2010, tying the fourth-highest single-season total in team history. The only times the Patriots have had more interceptions in a season were in 1964 (31 interceptions), 1963 (29 interceptions) and 2003 (29 interceptions).
GRONKOWSKI SCORES TENTH TOUCHDOWN OF THE SEASON
Patriots rookie tight end Rob Gronkowski caught his 10th touchdown reception of the season on a 13-yard pass from QB Tom Brady in the first quarter. Gronkowski set a Pariots rookie record for receiving touchdowns in a season, moving past WR Jim Colclough and WR Randy Vataha, who each had nine. Gronkowski ranks second in NFL history for touchdowns by a rookie tight end. Only Mike Ditka (12) had more touchdowns as a rookie tight end. Gronkowski's 10 touchdowns are the highest single-season total by a Patriots tight end in franchise history. Gronkowski is only the fourth Patriots player to record 10 or more touchdown receptions in a season, joining Randy Moss (3 times), Stanley Morgan (2) and Jim Colclough (1).
GRONKOWSKI SETS CAREER-HIGH IN RECEIVING YARDS WITH FIRST 100-YARD GAME
Rob Gronkowski had his first career 100-yard receiving game, totaling 102 yards on six receptions. Gronkowski's previous single-game best was 72 yards at Pittsburgh (11/14).
WOODHEAD SETS TEAM MARK FOR RUSHING AVERAGE
Danny Woodhead finished the season with 97 rushes for 551 yards, with his average of 5.68 yards per carry setting a new team record (minimum 90 rushing attempts). Woodhead topped Don Calhoun's previous team mark of 5.59 yards per carry in 1976 (129 attempts for 721 yards).
PATRIOTS SET TEAM RECORD WITH TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL OF 28
The Patriots set a franchise record by finishing the 2010 season with a turnover differential of 28, forcing 38 turnovers while allowing just 10 turnovers. The Patriots won the turnover battle again today, forcing a pair of Miami turnovers while turning the ball over just once. The previous Patriots' team record for best turnover differential in a season was 17, a record which was set in 2003. The Patriots finished 13-0 in 2010 when recording a positive turnover differential. The Patriots' turnover differential of 28 is the second-best since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, trailing only the 43 posted by the 1983 Washington Redskins.
EIGHT STRAIGHT GAMES WITH 30 POINTS TIES PATRIOTS' OWN NFL RECORD
The Patriots scored 38 points today and tied an NFL record for most consecutive games with 30 or more points with eight straight games with 30 or more points. The 2010 Patriots tied the record also achieved by the 2007 Patriots and the 2000 St. Louis Rams. The Patriots scored 30 or more points 11 times in 2010. The Patriots set a team record by scoring 30 or more points 12 times in 2007. The Patriots are now 61-2 when scoring 30 or more points under head coach Bill Belichick.
BRADY HAS LOW INTERCEPTION PCT. IN 2010
Tom Brady threw just four interceptions on 492 attempts in 2010, for a 0.81 interception percentage. That mark is the third best in NFL history and the best among all quarterbacks in league history who had at least 250 pass attempts in their low-interception season.
BRADY EXTENDS NFL RECORD WITH AT LEAST TWO TOUCHDOWNS AND NO INTERCEPTIONS IN NINE STRAIGHT GAME
Quarterback Tom Brady extended his NFL record by throwing at least two touchdowns without an interception in each of his past nine games. Brady passed Don Meredith's previous record of six straight games with two or more touchdowns and no interceptions (1965-66).
BRADY MOVES UP ON THE ALL-TIME YARDS LIST
Tom Brady passed Jim Hart for 19th place on the NFL's all-time passing yardage list. Hart had 34,665 career passing yards. Brady finished the game with 34,744 career passing yards.
BRADY MOVES UP ON THE ALL-TIME TOUCHDOWN LIST
Brady's 10-yard touchdown pass to TE Alge Crumpler was his 261st touchdown toss of his career, moving him into a tie with Dave Krieg for 10th place all time.
BRADY HAS THROWN AT LEAST ONE TOUCHDOWN PASS IN ALL 16 GAMES
Brady has thrown at least one touchdown pass in all 16 games of the 2010 season after finishing with two touchdown tosses against the Dolphins. Since the NFL went to a 16-game season in 1978, only six quarterbacks have thrown for at least one touchdown in each game.
BRADY HAS 12th GAME WITH TWO OR MORE TOUCHDOWNS IN 2010
Brady had his ninth straight game with two or more touchdowns. Brady had his 12th game with two or more touchdowns overall in 2010. He has had four 3-touchdown games and two 4-toucdown games in 2010. The Patriots are 70-12 when he throws for two or more touchdowns in a game. Brady had 14 games with two or more touchdowns in 2007.
BRADY FINISHES WITH NFL'S 5th-BEST SINGLE-SEASON PASSER RATING
Tom Brady's 2010 season will go down as one of the best seasons by a quarterback in NFL history. Brady finished the year with a passer rating of 111.0, a mark that stands as the fifth best all-time. Brady's 2010 season trails only Peyton Manning's 2004 season, Brady's 2007 season, Steve Young's 1994 season and Joe Montana's 1989 season on the all-time passer rating list. Brady is the only player to have two entries in the league's list of the top five single-season passer ratings.
BRADY EXTENDS NFL RECORD FOR MOST CONSEC. ATTEMPTS WITHOUT AN INTERCEPTION
Tom Brady extended his NFL-record interception-free streak to 335 consecutive pass attempts without an interception. Brady eclipsed Bernie Kosar's previous record of 308 attempts without an interception last week in Buffalo. Brady's previous personal record was 183 consecutive pass attempts without an interception (set in 2009). Brady's 335 pass attempts without an interception stretches from the overtime period vs. Baltimore (10/17) through today's win over Miami. Brady's last interception was on the last play of regulation vs. Baltimore (10/17). Brady has had previous streaks with 183, 175 and 173 consecutive pass attempts without an interception. Brady has thrown 26 touchdowns since his last interception.
HOYER HAS FIRST NFL TOUCHDOWN PASS
Backup QB Brian Hoyer's 44-yard touchdown pass to WR Brandon Tate in the third quarter was his first NFL touchdown pass. Hoyer scored his first NFL touchdown last season on a 1-yard run vs. Tennessee on Oct. 18, 2009.
PATRIOTS END STREAK AT SEVEN GAMES WITHOUT A TURNOVER
The Patriots had a turnover against Miami, ending an NFL-record streak of seven straight games without a turnover. No other NFL team had gone longer than four straight games without a turnover. The Patriots lost a fumble early in the first quarter against Miami. It was the Patriots' first turnover since an interception at Cleveland (11/7).
BENJARVUS GREEN-ELLIS SCORES 13th RUSHING TOUCHDOWN OF THE SEASON.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis scored his 13th rushing touchdown of the season on a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Green-Ellis's 13 rushing touchdowns are tied for the second highest rushing touchdown total by a Patriots player, trailing only two 14-touchdown seasons by Curtis Martin (1995 and 1996). Corey Dillon also had a 13-touchdown season in 2006. Green-Ellis is the first undrafted rookie to score 10 or more rushing touchdowns in a season for the Patriots. He is the eighth player in team history to record double digit rushing touchdowns in a season.
PATRIOTS HAVE NINE NON-OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS IN 2010 TO TIE TEAM RECORD
The Patriots have scored nine touchdowns that were not offensive touchdowns in 2010, tying a team record set in 1961 for most non-offensive touchdowns in a season. The Patriots returned four interceptions for a touchdown, returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, scored on one fumble return, blocked one field goal that was returned for a touchdown and scored on a punt return. The nine non-offensive touchdowns are second in the NFL to Arizona, who scored on 12 non-offensive touchdowns entering Week 17 play. The Patriots also had 9 non-offensive touchdowns in 1961 (2 kickoff returns, 2 interception returns, 2 blocked punts returned and 3 fumble returns). The NFL record for most non-offensive touchdowns is 13 by Seattle in 1998.
LB ROB NINKOVICH HAS FIRST CAREER TWO-SACK GAME
LB Rob Ninkovich was credited with his first NFL two-sack game. Ninkovich sacked Tyler Thigpen for a 3-yard loss in the second quarter and hit Thigpen for an 8-yard loss in the fourth quarter.
VINCE WILFORK CREDITED WITH TWO SACKS
Vince Wilfork had his first NFL two-sack game. Wilfork sacked Chad Henne for losses of nine yards and six yards on the same third-quarter possession. The Miami game was Wilfork's first career two-sack game.
PATRIOTS HAVE TWO PLAYERS FINISH WITH TWO SACKS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2007
Wilfork and Ninkovich each were credited with two sacks. It is the first time the patriots had two players finish with two or more sacks since Sept. 9, 2007 when Mike Vrabel had 2.5 and Jarvis Green had 2.0 against the Jets.
TAYLOR PRICE MAKES NFL DEBUT
Taylor Price, the Patriots 2010 third round draft pick, was active for his first game and made his debut.
He caught his first NFL pass on a 17-yard reception from QB Brian Hoyer in the third quarter.
CLAYTON MAKES NFL DEBUT
RB Thomas Clayton made his debut with the Patriots. He saw action in his first NFL games while a member of Cleveland earlier in the year.
ROOKIE DL KLYE LOVE MAKES FIRST NFL START
Rookie DL Kyle Love made his first NFL start when he lined up at right end to open the game.
LB JEROD MAYO ON PACE FOR 200 TACKLES
He had 185
The day-of-game stats crew credited Jerod Mayo with 6 tackles against the Miami, raising his total to a career-high 191 total tackles in 2010. Mayo had 139 tackles as a rookie in 2008 and 114 in 2009. With his 191 tackles in 2010 he is the first Patriots player to have three consecutive 100-tackle seasons since Lawyer Milloy registered five straight 100-tackle seasons from 1997 through 2001. Mayo's 191 total tackles are the third-best in team history.
GRAHAM FINISHES 12-FOR-12 ON FIELD GOALS
Shayne Graham finished the 2010 regular season a perfect 12-for-12 on field goals following his signing by the Patriots on Nov. 10, 2010. Graham became the first player in Patriots history who attempted 10 or more field goals to be successful on all of his field goal attempts.
