TEAM NOTES
ROBERT KRAFT EARNS HIS 26th POSTSEASON WIN
The Patriots have now won 26 playoff games since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994. Kraft's 26 career postseason wins are the third-most postseason wins by an ownership group in NFL history.
WINS OWNERSHIP
35 The Rooney Family, Pittsburgh (1933-present)
33 Green Bay Packers, Inc., Green Bay (1919-present)
26 Robert Kraft, New England (1994-present)
24 The Mara Family, New York Giants (1925-present)
22 Eddie DeBartalo, Jr., San Francisco (1977-1999)
21 Al Davis, Oakland/Los Angeles (1972-2011)
21 Bowlen Family, Denver (1984-present
PATRIOTS ADVANCE TO A RECORD SIXTH STRAIGHT AFC TITLE GAME
The Patriots have advanced to the AFC Championship game for the sixth straight season, the most consecutive appearances by an NFL team in history.
PATRIOTS TIE DALLAS BY ADVANCING IN POSTSEASON FOR SIXTH STRAIGHT SEASON
The Patriots have advanced in the postseason for six straight seasons (2011-2016) to tie the Dallas Cowboys (1991-1996) for the most consecutive seasons advancing in the postseason.
PATRIOTS ADVANCE TO 13th AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME OVERALL
The Patriots are 8-4 in AFC Championship Games, including a 5-1 record at home and a 4-1 record at Gillette Stadium.
MOST APPEARANCES IN CONF. CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Pittsburgh 15
San Francisco 15
Dallas 14
New England 13
Oakland 11
Denver 10
Los Angeles Rams 9
MOST CONSEUCTIVE SEASONS, PARTICIPATING IN A POSTSEASON GAME
The Patriots have participated in at least one postseason game in eight straight seasons, second in NFL history to the nine by Dallas (1975-93) and Indianapolis (2002-10).
Most Consecutive Seasons, Participating in a Postseason Game
9 - Dallas (1975-83), Indianapolis (2002-10)
8 - New England Patriots (2009-16), Green Bay Packers (2009-16), Dallas (1966-73), Pittsburgh (1972-79), LA Rams (1973-1980), San Francisco (1983-1990)
7 - Houston (1987-93), San Francisco (1992-98)
PATRIOTS HOST A DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAME FOR 7TH STRAIGHT SEASON
The Patriots added to their NFL record by hosting a Divisional Playoff game for the seventh straight season (2010-2016). Miami is next with five straight home Divisional Playoff games (1981-1985).
PATRIOTS ALL-TIME IN PLAYOFF GAMES;BECOME FIFTH NFL TEAM TO REACH 30 POSTSEASON WINS
The Patriots have compiled a 30-19 record in their 49 playoff games and their .612 playoff winning percentage is second in NFL history among teams that have played at least 15 playoff games. They are the fifth NFL team to reach 30 postseason wins.
Most Playoff wins in NFL History
Team Playoff Wins
Pittsburgh 35
Dallas 34
Green Bay 33
New England 30
San Francisco 30
Oakland 25
New York Giants 24
PATRIOTS IMPROVE TO 19-4 ALL-TIME IN HOME PLAYOFF GAMES
New England improved its all-time home playoff record to 19-4 (.826), which is the second best home playoff record in NFL history among teams that have played at least 10 home playoff games (Seattle, 12-2, .857).The Patriots are now 15-3 all-time in home playoff games played at Gillette Stadium since the facility opened in 2002.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
BELICHICK WILL MOVE PAST LANDRY BY COACHING IN HIS 11 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME *
Bill Belichick will coach in his 11th conference championship game as head coach, to move past Tom Landry for the most conference championships by a head coach.
Head Coach Conf. Champ. Appearances*
Bill Belichick 11
Tom Landry 10
Don Shula 7
Chuck Noll 7
BELICHICK COACHED IN HIS 14th DIV. PLAYOFF GAME; TIED FOR MOST
Bill Belichick coached in his 14th Divisional Playoff Game, to tie Don Shula for the most Divisional Playoff Games in NFL history. Belichick has coached in 13 Divisional Playoff Games as head coach of the Patriots.
Most Divisional Playoff Games by a Head Coach in NFL History
14 Bill Belichick
14 Don Shula
13 Tom Landry
BELICHICK SETS POSTSEASON MARK WITH SIX STRAIGHT SEASONS OF ADVANCEMENT
Belichick has led the Patriots to advancement in the playoffs for the sixth straight season, the most in NFL history. Belichick (2003-07), John Harbaugh (2008-12), Mike Holmgren (1993-97), John Madden (1973-77) and Andy Reid (2000-04) won a playoff game in five consecutive seasons.
BELICHICK HAS MOST POSTSEASON WINS IN NFL HISTORY
Belichick added to his postseason record with his 24th career playoff win as a head coach.
MOST POSTSEASON GAMES AS A HEAD COACHHead Coach GAMES
Tom Landry (Dallas) 36
Don Shula (Baltimore/Miami) 36
Bill Belichick (Cleveland/New England 34
Chuck Noll (Pittsburgh) 24
Mike Holmgren (Green Bay/Seattle) 24
Joe Gibbs (Washington) 24
BRADY REACHES RECORD 11 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Tom Brady has reached his 11th AFC Championship game, moving past Gene Upshaw (10) and George Blanda (10) for the most appearances in a conference title game by any player in NFL history. In 15 full seasons as the Patriots' primary starting quarterback (omitting the 2008 season in which Brady started only one game due to injury), Brady has led the Patriots to 11 AFC Championship Games in 15 seasons as the Patriots' primary starting quarterback.
BRADY ADDS TO HIS RECORD WITH HIS 32ND POSTSEASON GAME
Tom Brady played in his 32nd career postseason game, the most in NFL history.
TOM BRADY PLAYS IN 13th DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAME; TIES JERRY RICE FOR THE MOST DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAMES IN NFL HISTORY
Tom Brady played in his 13th Divisional Playoff Game, to tie Jerry Rice for the most AFC Divisional playoff game appearances.
Most Divisional Playoff Games Played
13 Tom Brady
13 Jerry Rice, San Francisco, Oakland
BRADY EXTENDS NFL RECORD FOR MOST MULTI-TD GAMES IN POSTSEASON
Brady threw two touchdowns against Houston to extend his NFL record for the most multi-TD passes in the playoffs with 18.
MOST MULTI-TD PASSING GAMES IN THE PLAYOFFS – NFL HISTORY
Tom Brady 18
Brett Favre 15
Joe Montana 14
Terry Bradshaw 10
Dan Marino 10
Peyton Manning 10
WINNINGEST COACH AND QB TANDEM IN THE POSTSEASON
Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are the winningest coach and quarterback tandem in the postseason.
Quarterback/Head Coach Postseason wins
Bill Belichick/Tom Brady 23
Chuck Noll/Terry Bradshaw 14
Tom Landry/Roger Staubach 11
JULIAN EDELMAN BECOME PATRIOTS ALL-TIME LEADER IN POSSEASON RECEPTIONS;MOVES INTO THE TOP 10 ALL-TIME IN POSTSEASON RECEPTIONS
Julian Edelman (76) passed Wes Welker (69) to become the Patriots all-time leader in receptions after finishing the game with 8 receptions for 137 yards. He also moved into second on the Patriots list with 819 receiving yards in the postseason, 33 yards behind the all-time leader Deion Branch with 852 yards.
Most Postseason Receptions in Patriots History
76 Julian Edelman
69 Wes Welker
58 Troy Brown
56 Dion Branch
52 Rob Gronkowski
Most Postseason receiving yards
852 Deion Branch
819 Julian Edelman
754 Rob Gronkowski
694 Troy Brown
686 Wes Welker
412 Kevin Faulk
Most Postseason Receptions/NFL History
1. Jerry Rice 151
2. Reggie Wayne 93
3t. Hines Ward 88
3t. Wes Welker 88
5. Michael Irvin 87
6. Andre Reed 85
7t. Julian Edelman 76
7t. Thurman Thomas 76
9. Cliff Branch 73
10t. Fred Belinikoff 70
10t. Anquan Boldin 70
11. Art Monk 69
EDELMAN HAS THIRD POSTSEASON 100-YARD GAME
Edelman finished with 8 receptions for 136 yards. his third 100-yard game in the postseason. He had 109 yards in Super Bowl XLIX vs. Seattle on Feb. 1, 2015 and 100 yards receiving vs. Kansas City in the Divisional Playoffs on Jan. 16, 2016.
GOSTKOWSKI PLAYS IN HIS 20TH POSTSEASON GAME;ONE OF SIX PATRIOTS WITH 20 POSTSEASON GAMES
32 Tom Brady
22 Tedy Bruschi
21 Vince Wilfok
20 Stephen Gostkowski
20 Troy Brown
20 Matt Light
GOSTKOWSKI MOVES PAST JERRY RICE INTO FOURTH FOR POSTSEASON POINTS
Stephen Gostkowski first quarter extra point moved him out of a tie for fourth place with Jerry Rice (132) and into sole possession of fourth place on the NFL's all-time postseason points list. Gostkowski added 10 points in the game to give him 142 postseason points.
Most Points in the Postseason / NFL History
1.Adam Vinatieri 234
2.David Akers 175
3.Gary Anderson 153
4.Stephen Gostkowski 142
5.Jerry Rice 132
6t.Emmitt Smith 126
6t.Thurman Thomas 126
8.George Blanda 115
9.Matt Stover 106
10.Matt Bahr 103
11.Franco Harris 102
Patriots with 100 or More Points in the Postseason
Stephen Gostkowski (142 – 26 FGs, 64 PATs)
Adam Vinatieri (117 points – 26 FGs, 39 PATs)
Most Kicking Points in the Postseason / NFL History
1.Adam Vinatieri 234
2.David Akers 175
3.Gary Anderson 153
4.Stephen Gostkowski 142
5.George Blanda 115
6.Matt Stover 106
7.Matt Bahr 103
Most Field Goals in Patriots Postseason History
26 Stephen Gostkowski (20 games)
26 Adam Vinatieri (17 games)
MOST FIELD GOALS MADE IN NFL POSTSEASON HISTORY
56 Adam Vinatieri
39 David Akers
32 Gary Anderson
26 Stephen Gostkowski
25 Matt Sover
24 Mason Crosby – Green Bay
LEWIS IS THE FIRST PLAYER IN NFL POSTSEASON HISTORY TO HAVE A RUSHING TD, A RECEIVING TD AND RETURN A KICK FOR A TD IN A SINGLE GAME
RB Dion Lewis is the first player in NFL postseason history to have a rushing TD, receiving TD and kickoff return for a touchdown in a single game. Lewis is the fifth Patriots player to score at least three touchdowns in a postseason game. He scored on a 13-yard reception in the first quarter and returned a kick 98 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. He added a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Most Touchdowns in a Postseason Game/Patriots history
4 LeGarrette Blount, vs. Indianapolis, Jan. 11, 2014 (4 rushing TDs)
3 Dion Lewis, vs. Houston, Jan. 14, 2017 (1 rushing, 1 receiving and 1 kickoff return)
3 LeGarrette Blount, vs. Indianapolis, Jan. 18, 2015 (3 rushing TDs)
3 Shane Vereen, vs. Houston, Jan. 13, 2013 (2 rec. TDs, 1 rush TD)
3 Rob Gronkowski, vs. Denver, Jan. 14, 2012 (3 rec. TD)
3 Curtis Martin, vs. Pittsburgh, Jan. 5, 1997 (3 rush TD).
LEWIS SCORES FIRST TOUCHDOWN OF THE SEASON IN HIS FIRST POSTSEASON GAME
Lewis scored his first touchdown of the season on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the first quarter. Lewis played and started in the first postseason game of his career.
LEWIS HAS FIRST PATRIOTS KICKOFF RETURN FOR A TD IN POSTSEASON HISTORY
RB Dion Lewis scored on a 98-yard kickoff return in the first quarter. It is the first kick ever returned for a touchdown in Patriots postseason history. It is also the longest in a Patriots postseason history. The previous best in the postseason was an 80-yarder by Ellis Hobbs at Indianapolis on June 21, 2007 in the AFC Championship Game.
LEWIS IS THE 6TH TO SCORE TWO TDS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF A DIVISIONAL GAME
Dion Lewis became the sixth player in NFL history to score two touchdowns in the first quarter of a divisional playoff game. The last player to do so was Patriots RB LeGarrette Blount on January 11, 2014 in New England's 2013 divisional playoff game against Indianapolis.
MCCOURTY HAS SECOND POSTSEASON INTERCEPTION
S Devin McCourty picked off a Houston pass in the third quarter for his second postseason interception. He had his first in the 2014 Divisional Playoff Game vs. Baltimore on Jan. 10, 2015.
LINEUP NOTES
DANNY AMENDOLA RETURNS TO ACTION
WR Danny Amendola, who missed the final four games of the regular season due to injury, returned to action.
FOURTEEN PLAYERS ON THE 53-MAN ROSTER MAKE THEIR NFL POSTSEASON DEBUT
Fourteen players on the Patriots 53-man roster made their NFL postseason debuts. Playing in their first postseason game were: DL Trey Flowers, DL Geneo Grissom, WR Chris Hogan, DB Jonathan Jones, OL Ted Karras, TE Matt Lengel, RB Dion Lewis, DE Chris Long, LB Shea McClellin, LB Barkevious Mingo, LB Elandon Roberts, DB Eric Rowe, OL Joe Thuney and DT Vincent Valentine.
