TEAM NOTES
- Robert Kraft earns 23rd winning season in 26 years of ownership
- Patriots earn 34th winning season since 1970, second-most since merger
- Patriots secure 19th straight winning season
- Edelman completed second career TD pass; first regular-season TD pass
- Edelman is 4-for-4 for 90 yards for a perfect passer rating of 158.3 in regular season
ROBERT KRAFT HAS 23 WINING SEASONS IN 26 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP
With the Patriots ninth victory this season the team solidified a winning record in 2019. It is the 23rd time in Robert Kraft's 26 seasons of ownership that the Patriots have finished the season with at least nine victories or above .500 for the season.
PATRIOTS EARN 34TH WINNING SEASON SINCE 1970; SECOND-MOST SINCE THE MERGER
The Patriots now have 34 seasons in which the team has finished above .500 since the 1970 merger, second only to the Pittsburgh Steelers (36). New England also leads the NFL with 19 consecutive winning seasons since 2001.
MOST WINNING SEASONS SINCE THE 1970 MERGER
Team Seasons
Pittsburgh......................................... 36
New England.................................... 34
Dallas................................................ 33
Miami............................................... 30
Minnesota........................................ 30
Denver.............................................. 29
MOST SEASONS OF 9+ WINS SINCE 2001
Team Seasons
New England..................................... 19
Pittsburgh......................................... 14
Indianapolis...................................... 13
Seattle............................................... 13
Green Bay......................................... 12
Philadelphia...................................... 12
MOST consecutive winning seasons (active)
Team Seasons
New England..................................... 19
Seattle................................................. 7
Kansas City.......................................... 6
Pittsburgh........................................... 5
PATRIOTS HAVE 19TH CONSECUTIVE WINNING SEASON
The Patriots won more than half of their games for the 19th straight year in 2019. They are the first team to win more than half of their games in 19 straight seasons since free agency began in 1993. The Patriots are also the first team to win more than half of their games in 19 straight seasons since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, more than the 49ers (16 straight from 1983-98) and the Cowboys (16 straight from 1970-85).
MOST CONSECUTIVE WINNING SEASONS
(Since 1970 NFL Merger)
Team Years Winning Seasons
New England......... 2001-19................... 19
San Francisco ........ 1983-98................... 16
Dallas..................... 1970-85................... 16
Oakland.................. 1970-80................... 11
MOST CONSECUTIVE WINNING SEASONS ALL-TIME
Team Years Winning Seasons
Dallas...................... 1966-85................... 20
New England.......... 2001-19................... 19
San Francisco.......... 1983-98................... 16
Oakland.................. 1965-80................... 16
Chicago................... 1930-44................... 15
Green Bay............... 1934-47................... 14
Cleveland................ 1957-69................... 13
Among the other three major professional league sports, a franchise has authored 19 or more consecutive winning seasons on only seven occasions: New York Yankees (39, 1926-64), Montreal Canadiens (32, 1951-52 to 1982-83), Boston Bruins (29, 1967-68 to 1995-96), New York Yankees (27, 1993-2019), Detroit Red Wings (24, 1991-92 to 2015-16), San Antonio Spurs (22, 1997-98 to 2018-19) and Utah Jazz (19, 1985-86 to 2003-04).
2019 PATRIOTS HAVE SIXTH LARGEST POINT DIFFERENTIAL THROUGH FIRST 10 GAMES
The 2019 Patriots have a +179 point differential through the first 10 games of the season, the sixth largest point differential through the first ten games during the Super Bowl era (since 1966).
PATRIOTS HAVE ALLOWED JUST 108 POINTS IN 2019
The Patriots have allowed 108 points in 2019 through 10 games. Since the NFL moved to a 16-game schedule, only seven teams have allowed under 200 points in a season. Through 10 games, the team is on pace to allow 173 points for the season. The 1977 Patriots allowed 217 points in a 14-game season. The Patriots fewest points allowed in a 16-game season was 237 in 2006. The NFL record for fewest points in a 16-game season was the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, who allowed 165 total points. Of the Patriots 108 points allowed this season, 28 points were scored on opponent turnovers returned for touchdowns (one interception and three fumbles returned for touchdowns). The fewest points by a Bill Belichick coached defense was the 1994 Cleveland Browns, who allowed just 204 points.
Fewest Points Allowed Per Game in a 16-game Season (since 1978)
Team Year PPG
Baltimore 2000 10.3
Chicago 1986 11.7
Tennessee 2000 11.9
THE PATRIOTS DEFENSE HAS ALLOWED JUST NINE TOUCHDOWNS SO FAR IN 2019
The Patriots defense has allowed nine touchdowns so far in 2019. The fewest touchdowns allowed by a defense since 1970 (rushing or passing TDs). The fewest rush/pass TD allowed in a season since 1970 is the 10 in 1970 by the Minnesota Vikings. Since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule, the fewest touchdowns allowed by a defense are the 16 by the 1986 Chicago Bears and the 16 by the 2000 Baltimore Ravens
Fewest Defensive Touchdowns Allowed in a Season
Team Year Touchdowns Allowed
Minnesota Vikings 1970 10
Minnesota Vikings 1971 12
Minnesota Vikings 1969 12
Minnesota Vikings 1973 13
Pittsburgh Steelers 1976 14
Atlanta Falcons 1977 14
Miami Dolphins 1982 14
Buffalo Bills 1982 14
DEFENSE ON PACE TO FINISH WITH 59 SACKS; SIXTH GAME IN 2019 WITH AT LEAST FIVE SACKS.
The Patriots defense finished with five sacks, the sixth time in 2019 that the team has had at least five sacks in a game. The Patriots now have 37 sacks in 2019 and are on pace to finish with 59 sacks for the season. The 1984 Chicago Bears have the record with 72 sacks in 1984. The franchise record for most sacks in a season was 66 in 1963 (14 games). The team record for most sacks in a 16-game season is 57 in 1979. The Patriots record for most sacks under Bill Belichick is 49 in 2015. The Patriots 37 sacks through 10 games are the most since 1979 when they had 43 sacks through the first 10 games.
DEFENSE HOLDS ON THIRD DOWN
The Patriots continued to be strong on third down, holding the Eagles to just 3-of-13. Overall, the Patriots have held teams to just 23-for-119 (19.3 pct) on third down in 2019. The fewest third downs allowed in a 16-game season is 49 by 1991 Saints.
BOUNCE BACK PATRIOTS
Since 2003, the Patriots are 45-8 (.849) in regular-season games following a loss. They have dropped back-to-back regular-season games in 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015 (twice) and 2018 (twice). As a starter in his career, Tom Brady is 47-12 in games following a loss.
PATRIOTS IMPROVE UNDER BELICHICK AFTER A BYE WEEK
The Patriots improved to a 15-5 record after the bye week under Bill Belichick.
PATRIOTS HAVE HELD OPPONENTS SCORELESS IN 24 QUARTERS
The Patriots have held teams scoreless in 24-of-40 quarters. The most scoreless quarters by a defense since 1970 is 40 by the Baltimore Ravens in 2000.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
BELICHICK LEADS PATRIOTS TO 19TH winning season
Bill Belichick has led the Patriots to 19 straight seasons with a winning record (2001-19), second all-time behind Tom Landry, whose Dallas Cowboys accomplished the feat 20 straight years from 1966-85.
MOST CONSECUTIVE SEASONS WITH
A WINNING RECORD
Head Coach Team Years
Tom Landry Dallas 20 – 1966-85
Bill Belichick New England 19 – 2001-19
Curly Lambeau Green Bay 14 – 1934-47
Curly Lambeau Green Bay 12 – 1921-32
George Halas Chicago 10 – 1933-42
John Madden Oakland 10 – 1969-78
JULIAN EDELMAN COMPLETES FIRST REGULAR-SEASON TOUCHDOWN PASS;
HAS COMPLETED ALL FOUR OF HIS REGULAR-SEASON PASS ATTEMPTS
WR Julian Edelman completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to WR Phillip Dorsett in the third quarter. It is his second completion of the season. He completed a 32-yard pass to RB James White in the first quarter of the season opener vs. Pittsburgh. Overall, Edelman is now 4-for-4 for 90 yards with one touchdown in the regular season for a perfect passer rating of 158.3. It is Edelman's second touchdown pass overall. He had a 51-yard touchdown pass to WR Danny Amendola in a Divisional Playoff win vs. Baltimore on Jan. 10, 2015.
EDELMAN ON PACE FOR CAREER YEAR
Through the first 10 games of the 2019 season, WR Julian Edelman has 68 receptions for 716 yards and is on pace for 108 receptions for 1,146 yards. He posted career highs with 105 receptions in 2013 and 1,106 yards receiving in 2016.
SANU SR. LINED UP TO RETURN PUNTS FOR SECOND STRAIGHT GAME
WR Mohamed Sanu Sr. was utilized as a punt returner due to Gunner Olszewski being inactive for the second game. He was utilized as a punt returner in the Baltimore game for the second time in his career but did not have any returns. Against Philadelphia, he had his first positive yards. Prior to this game, Sanu has returned one punt for 2 yards on Sept. 29, 2019, vs. Tennessee while with Atlanta. He finished with three punt returns for 23 yards.
ELANDON ROBERTS GETS FIRST SACK OF THE SEASON
LB Elandon Roberts registered an 11-yard sack in the second quarter for his first sack of the season.
DANNY SHELTON FORCED A FUMBLE ON A 10-YARD SACK TO HELP SET UP A FIELD GOAL
Danny Shelton forced a fumble on a 10-yard sack in that was recovered by DL Lawrence Guy at the Philadelphia 22-yard line late in the second quarter to help set up a field goal.
LB KYLE VAN NOY TIES CAREER HIGH WITH 5½ SACKS
LB Kyle Van Noy sacked Philadelphia QB Carson Wentz for a 7-yard loss at the end of the second quarter to improve to 5½ sacks for the season. That matches his career-high of 5½ sacks he had in the 2017 season.
NICK FOLK CONNECTS ON ALL THREE FIELD GOALS
K Nick Folk connected on all three field goal attempts with field goals of 35, 22 and 39 yards.
LINEUP NOTES
2019 FIRST-ROUND DRAFT PICK N'KEAL HARRY MADE HIS NFL DEBUT
2019 first-round draft pick WR N'Keal Harry made his NFL debut after being activated to the 53-man roster the day before the game. He entered the game for the first time on the second play of the Patriots first offensive series. He caught his first pass on an 11-yard reception from Tom Brady in the second quarter. He finished with three receptions for 18 yards.
TE MATT LACOSSE RETURNS TO ACTION
TE Matt LaCosse both returned to the field after missing three games due to injury.
JONATHAN JONES MAKES FIRST START AT SAFETY IN BASE DEFESNE
Jonathan Jones started at safety in place of the injured Patrick Chung. It was Jones' eighth start of the season but first start ever in the base defense.
