Win #1. With Tom Brady out, Jimmy Garoppolo had big shoes to fill in the season opener at Arizona and he came through with coolness in the desert, completing 24 of 33 passes for 264 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions in the Patriots' 23-21 come-from-behind win. 

Win #2. After the Patriots built a 31-3 lead, compliments of three-first half Jimmy Garoppolo TD passes, they survived a comeback bid by the Dolphins. Duron Harmon made a game-saving interception in the end zone with two seconds left, securing a 31-24 victory in the home opener.

Win #3. The Patriots were dominant in all three phases of the game. Third-string QB Jacoby Brissett sparked the offense with a 27-yard first-quarter TD run, the special teams units forced two turnovers, and the defense pitched a shutout in a 27-0 win over the Houston Texans on "Thursday Night Football."

Win #4. Returning from a four-game suspension, Tom Brady put up Brady-like numbers, going 28-for-40 for 406 yards and three TDs – all to tight end Martellus Bennett – as the Patriots defeated the Browns 33-13.

Win #5. Dont'a Hightower swung the momentum in the Patriots' favor when he sacked Bengals QB Andy Dalton in the end zone for a second-quarter safety, helping New England turn a close contest into a runaway in their 35-17 win over Cincinnati. 

Win #6. LeGarrette Blount torched his former team with 127 yards (on 27 carries) and two touchdowns, including a five-yard score early in the fourth quarter, as the Patriots defeated the host Steelers 27-16.

Win #8. Rookie WR Malcolm Mitchell broke open a close game with an electrifying 56-yard touchdown catch early in the third quarter. It was one of four TD passes by Tom Brady, who played in his hometown area for the first time in his 17-year career.

Win #9. James White's four-yard reception on 4th-and-4 from the Jets' 37-yard line late in the fourth quarter kept  the drive alive and the Pats scored the go-ahead TD on an eight-yard TD pass from Brady to Mitchell at the two-minute warning in a 22-17 comeback win over the Jets.

Win #10. The Patriots honored the 2001 Super Bowl team at halftime and did them proud during the game, as they overwhelmed Rams rookie QB Jared Goff, who threw two interceptions and was sacked four times in the Patriots' 26-10 win.

Win #11. Big plays came early and late in this one. In the first quarter, Patriots linebacker Shea McClellin leapt over the line and blocked a Justin Tucker field goal attempt. New England nearly squandered a big lead, but a 79-yard TD pass from Brady to Chris Hogan in the fourth quarter secured a 30-23 win over the Ravens on "Monday Night Football." 

Win #12. The Patriots put forth their most impressive defensive effort of the season by holding the defending Super Bowl champions to just a field goal in a 16-3 win over the Broncos at Mile High Stadium. No play symbolized the stinginess more than Devin McCourty's ball-jarring hit on Denver WR DeMaryius Thomas on a fourth-down play with six minutes left in the fourth quarter.