List of New England Patriots seasons

Members of the Patriots organization pose with then-US President George W. Bush following the Patriots' victory in Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005.

The New England Patriots are an American football team based in Foxborough, Massachusetts. They compete in the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) of the National Football League (NFL). Originally called the Boston Patriots, the team was founded as one of eight charter members of the American Football League (AFL) in 1960 under the ownership of Billy Sullivan.^[1] The team became part of the NFL when the two leagues merged in 1970. The following year they moved from Boston to nearby Foxborough, and changed their name to the New England Patriots.^[2]

The modern NFL championship game, the Super Bowl, was founded in the 1966 season; the first four were contested between the champions of the AFL and the NFL.^[3] After the merger, the Super Bowl became the united league's championship. The Patriots have won three Super Bowl championships (XXXVI, XXXVIII, and XXXIX). They also played in and lost the 1963 AFL Championship Game, and Super Bowls XX, XXXI, and XLII. Overall, the Patriots have made 18 playoff appearances, one of which was before the merger. Since the merger, they have played in seven AFC Championship Games, winning six of them to advance to the Super Bowl, and losing to eventual Super Bowl XLI champions Indianapolis following the 2006 season.^[4] In the Patriots' 51-year history, they have an overall regular season record of 401 wins, 362 losses, and 9 ties. They have made 18 postseason appearances, and have an overall postseason record of 21 wins and 15 losses. During the 2007 regular season, the Patriots became the only NFL team in history to win 16 games, and the first since the 1972 Miami Dolphins (in a then-standard 14-game season) to complete the regular campaign undefeated.^[5] They are one of only two teams to win three Super Bowls in four years (the other being the Dallas Cowboys from 1993 to 1996).^[6] The Patriots are tied for third (with the Denver Broncos) on the list of Super Bowl appearances with six, behind only the Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers.^[7]

Since Bill Belichick was hired as the team's head coach in 2000, the Patriots have finished first or second in the AFC East every year except Belichick's first season. Over that time, they have won three Super Bowls, four AFC Championship Games, and eight AFC East titles, while amassing a regular season record of 126–50.^[8] The team's quarterback over that same period, Tom Brady, has been awarded twice each the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP)^[9][10] and the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player; he is one of only four men named Super Bowl MVP more than once.^[11]

Seasons

For complete team history, see History of the New England Patriots.

AFL champions (1960–1969)

Super Bowl champions (1966–present)

Conference champions *

Division champions §

Wild Card berth ^

Season[a]	Team[a]	League	Conference	Division	Regular season[a]				Postseason results	Awards[Key]
					Finish	Won	Lost	Ties
Boston Patriots
1960	1960	AFL	—	Eastern	4th	5	9	0
1961	1961	AFL	—	Eastern	2nd	9	4	1
1962	1962	AFL	—	Eastern	2nd	9	4	1
1963	1963	AFL	—	Eastern §	1st §	7	6	1	Won Divisional Playoffs (Bills) 26–8 Lost AFL Championship Game (Chargers) 51–10
1964	1964	AFL	—	Eastern	2nd	10	3	1		Gino Cappelletti (AFL MVP)[12]
1965	1965	AFL	—	Eastern	3rd	4	8	2
1966	1966	AFL	—	Eastern	2nd	8	4	2		Babe Parilli (ASG MVP)[13] Mike Holovak (AFL COY)[14] Jim Nance (AFL MVP)[15]
1967	1967	AFL	—	Eastern	5th	3	10	1
1968	1968	AFL	—	Eastern	4th	4	10	0
1969	1969	AFL	—	Eastern	T-3rd	4	10	0
1970	1970	NFL	AFC	East	5th	2	12	0
New England Patriots
1971	1971	NFL	AFC	East	T-3rd	6	8	0
1972	1972	NFL	AFC	East	5th	3	11	0
1973	1973	NFL	AFC	East	3rd	5	9	0
1974	1974	NFL	AFC	East	T-3rd	7	7	0[b]
1975	1975	NFL	AFC	East	T-4th	3	11	0
1976	1976	NFL	AFC	East	2nd[c] ^	11	3	0	Lost Divisional Playoffs (Raiders) 24–21	Mike Haynes (Def. ROY)[16] Chuck Fairbanks (AFC COY)[17]
1977	1977	NFL	AFC	East	3rd	9	5	0
1978[d]	1978	NFL	AFC	East §	1st[e] §	11	5	0	Lost Divisional Playoffs (Oilers) 31–14
1979	1979	NFL	AFC	East	2nd	9	7	0
1980	1980	NFL	AFC	East	2nd	10	6	0
1981	1981	NFL	AFC	East	T-4th	2	14	0
1982	1982	NFL	AFC	[f]	7th ^	5	4	0	Lost First Round (Dolphins) 28–13
1983	1983	NFL	AFC	East	T-2nd	8	8	0
1984	1984	NFL	AFC	East	2nd	9	7	0
1985	1985	NFL	AFC *	East	T-2nd ^	11	5	0	Won Wild Card Playoffs (Jets) 26–14 Won Divisional Playoffs (Raiders) 27–20 Won Conference Championship (Dolphins) 31–14 Lost Super Bowl XX (Bears) 46–10	Raymond Berry (AFC COY)[18]
1986	1986	NFL	AFC	East §	1st §	11	5	0	Lost Divisional Playoffs (Broncos) 22–17
1987[g]	1987	NFL	AFC	East	T-2nd	8	7	0
1988	1988	NFL	AFC	East	T-2nd	9	7	0		John Stephens (Off. ROY)[19]
1989	1989	NFL	AFC	East	4th	5	11	0
1990	1990	NFL	AFC	East	5th	1	15	0
1991	1991	NFL	AFC	East	4th	6	10	0		Leonard Russell (Off. ROY)[20]
1992	1992	NFL	AFC	East	5th	2	14	0
1993	1993	NFL	AFC	East	4th	5	11	0
1994	1994	NFL	AFC	East	2nd[h] ^	10	6	0	Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Browns) 20–13	Bill Parcells (NFL COY)[21]
1995	1995	NFL	AFC	East	4th	6	10	0		Curtis Martin (Off. ROY)[22]
1996	1996	NFL	AFC *	East §	1st §	11	5	0	Won Divisional Playoffs (Steelers) 28–3 Won Conference Championship (Jaguars) 20–6 Lost Super Bowl XXXI (Packers) 35–21
1997	1997	NFL	AFC	East §	1st §	10	6	0	Won Wild Card Playoffs (Dolphins) 17–3 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Steelers) 7–6
1998	1998	NFL	AFC	East	4th ^	9	7	0	Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Jaguars) 25–10
1999	1999	NFL	AFC	East	T-4th	8	8	0
2000	2000	NFL	AFC	East	5th	5	11	0
2001	2001	NFL	AFC *	East §	1st[i] §	11	5	0	Won Divisional Playoffs (Raiders) 16–13 (OT) Won Conference Championship (Steelers) 24–17 Won Super Bowl XXXVI (1) (Rams) 20–17	Tom Brady (SB MVP)[23]
2002	2002	NFL	AFC	East	2nd[j]	9	7	0
2003	2003	NFL	AFC *	East §	1st §	14	2	0	Won Divisional Playoffs (Titans) 17–14 Won Conference Championship (Colts) 24–14 Won Super Bowl XXXVIII (2) (Panthers) 32–29	Tom Brady (SB MVP)[24] Bill Belichick (NFL COY)[25]
2004	2004	NFL	AFC *	East §	1st §	14	2	0	Won Divisional Playoffs (Colts) 20–3 Won Conference Championship (Steelers) 41–27 Won Super Bowl XXXIX (3) (Eagles) 24–21	Deion Branch (SB MVP)[26]
2005	2005	NFL	AFC	East §	1st §	10	6	0	Won Wild Card Playoffs (Jaguars) 28–3 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Broncos) 27–13	Tedy Bruschi (CBPOY)[27]
2006	2006	NFL	AFC	East §	1st §	12	4	0	Won Wild Card Playoffs (Jets) 37–16 Won Divisional Playoffs (Chargers) 24–21 Lost Conference Championship (Colts) 38–34
2007	2007	NFL	AFC *	East §	1st §	16	0	0	Won Divisional Playoffs (Jaguars) 31–20 Won Conference Championship (Chargers) 21–12 Lost Super Bowl XLII (Giants) 17–14	Bill Belichick (NFL COY)[25] Tom Brady (NFL MVP)[9] Tom Brady (NFL Off. POTY)[28]
2008	2008	NFL	AFC	East	2nd[k]	11	5	0		Jerod Mayo (Def. ROY)[29]
2009	2009	NFL	AFC	East §	1st §	10	6	0	Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Ravens) 33–14	Tom Brady (CBPOY)[30]
2010	2010	NFL	AFC	East §	1st §	14	2	0	Lost Divisional Playoffs (Jets) 28–21	Bill Belichick (NFL COY)[25] Tom Brady (NFL MVP)[10] Tom Brady (NFL Off. POTY)[31]
Total						401	362	9	(1960–2010, includes only regular season)
						21	15	—	(1960–2010,[l] includes only playoffs)[32]
						422	377	9	(1960–2010, includes both regular season and playoffs)

Tom Brady has twice been named the NFL's Most Valuable Player.

Key for the "Awards" section^Key

AFC COY	American Football Conference Coach of the Year Award
AFL COY	American Football League Coach of the Year Award
AFL MVP	American Football League Most Valuable Player
ASG MVP	American Football League All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award
CBPOY	National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award
Def. ROY	National Football League Defensive Rookie of the Year Award
Off. ROY	National Football League Offensive Rookie of the Year Award
NFL COY	National Football League Coach of the Year Award
NFL Off. POTY	National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award
NFL MVP	National Football League Most Valuable Player Award
SB MVP	Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award

Notes

• ^a The Season column links to an article about each season in the league (AFL for 1960–1969; NFL for 1970–present). The Team column links to an article about the Patriots' season that year. The Finish, Won, Lost, and Ties columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play. Regular season and postseason results are combined only at the bottom of the list. In the Finish column, a "T-" indicates a tie for that position.
• ^b Beginning in 1974, the NFL began playing a 15-minute sudden-death overtime period if a regular season game finished regulation tied. Since this change, ties have been rarer.^[33]
• ^c The Patriots and the Baltimore Colts finished tied. However, the Colts finished ahead of New England based on a better division record (7–1 to Patriots' 6–2).^[34]
• ^d The NFL expanded from a 14-game regular season schedule to 16 beginning in 1978.^[35]
• ^e The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins finished the 1978 season with the same record. However, the Patriots were awarded the Division Championship based on a better division record (6–2 to the Dolphins' 5–3).^[34]
• ^f The 1982 NFL season was shortened from 16 regular seasons games to nine due to a players' strike. For playoff seedings, division standings were ignored and eight teams from each conference were seeded one through eight based on their regular season records.^[36]
• ^g The 1987 NFL season was shortened from 16 regular season games to 15 due to a players' strike.^[37]
• ^h The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins finished the 1994 season tied. As the Dolphins had defeated the Patriots in both regular season meetings, the Dolphins were named Division Champions and the Patriots received a Wild Card berth in the playoffs.^[38]
• ⁱ The Patriots and the Miami Dolphins finished the 2001 season with the same record. However, the Patriots were named Division Champions based on a better division record (6–2 to the Dolphins' 5–3).^[39]
• ^j The Patriots, New York Jets, and Miami Dolphins finished the season with 9–7 records in 2002. For having the best record against common opponents, the Jets were awarded the Division Championship. Neither the Patriots nor the Dolphins qualified for the playoffs.^[40]
• ^k The Patriots, Dolphins, and Baltimore Ravens (AFC North) finished the 2008 season tied with identical 11–5 records. As the Dolphins and Ravens had 8–4 records within the AFC, and the Patriots a 7–5 AFC record, the Dolphins were awarded the AFC East title, and the Ravens were given a Wild Card berth in the playoffs. The Patriots did not qualify for the playoffs.^[41]
• ^l Years here refer to the year in which the season was played. Playoff games are commonly played in the January and February of the following year.

References

General

• "New England Patriots: History". CBS Sports. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/history/NE/new-england-patriots. Retrieved February 23, 2011. 
• "New England Patriots Franchise Encyclopedia". Pro Football Reference. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nwe/. Retrieved February 23, 2011. 

Bibliography

• 2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book. New York City: Workman Publishing Company. 2000. ISBN 9780761119821. 
• 2002 National Football League Record & Fact Book. New York City: Workman Publishing Company. 2002. ISBN 9780761126430. 

Specific

1. ^ Litsky, Billy (February 24, 1998). "Billy Sullivan, 86, Founder Of Football Patriots, Dies". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/24/sports/billy-sullivan-86-founder-of-football-patriots-dies.html. Retrieved February 23, 2011. 
2. ^ Shaughnessy, Dan (September 13, 2009). "Boston: Home of the Patriots once again". The Boston Globe (The New York Times Company). http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2009/09/13/for_a_few_games_patriots_given_name_will_be_given_back/. Retrieved February 23, 2011. 
3. ^ Cross, B. Duane (January 22, 2001). "The AFL: A Football Legacy". CNN Sports Illustrated. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/news/2001/01/22/afl_history_2/. Retrieved February 26, 2011. 
4. ^ "2006 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics". Pro Football Reference. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2006/. Retrieved February 25, 2010. 
5. ^ "Patriots Beat Giants 38–35 to Become First Undefeated NFL Team in 35 Years". FOX News. December 30, 2007. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,319005,00.html. Retrieved February 23, 2011. 
6. ^ "Patriots Win Third Super Bowl in Four Years". FOX News. February 7, 2005. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,146558,00.html. Retrieved February 23, 2011. 
7. ^ "Super Bowl Standings". Pro Football Reference. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/super-bowl/standings.htm. Retrieved February 23, 2010. 
8. ^ "Bill Belichick Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/BeliBi0.htm. Retrieved February 23, 2010. 
9. ^ ^{a b} "Brady romps to MVP after record season". Toronto Star (Torstar). January 6, 2008. http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/291342. Retrieved February 21, 2011. 
10. ^ ^{a b} Farmer, Sam (February 6, 2011). "Patriots' Tom Brady selected NFL MVP". The Los Angeles Times (Tribune Company). http://articles.latimes.com/2011/feb/06/sports/la-sp-newswire-20110207. Retrieved February 16, 2011. 
11. ^ "Super Bowl History". National Football League. http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/history. Retrieved February 23, 2011. 
12. ^ Marrapese-Burrell, Nancy (February 1, 2008). "Booth took him along for ride". The Boston Globe (The New York Times Company). http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2008/02/01/booth_took_him_along_for_ride/. Retrieved February 21, 2011. 
13. ^ "Parilli Off Bench to Lead East Stars". St. Joseph News-Press (Saint Joseph, Missouri: News-Press & Gazette Company): p. D1. January 22, 1967. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wU1hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-nQNAAAAIBAJ&dq=babe%20parilli%20all-star%20most%20valuable%20player&pg=1131%2C3942540. Retrieved February 22, 2011. 
14. ^ "Boston Has Top Mentor". Sarasota Herald-Tribune (Sarasota, Florida: The New York Times Company): p. 18. December 16, 1964. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cZscAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oGUEAAAAIBAJ&dq=mike%20holovak%20coach%20of%20the%20year&pg=7422%2C3418909. Retrieved February 22, 2011. 
15. ^ Manza Young, Shalise (June 10, 2009). "Patriots journal: Nance elected to Patriots Hall of Fame". The Providence Journal (A. H. Belo Corporation). http://www.projo.com/patriots/content/projo_20090610_patriots_journal.6a3c34e0.html. Retrieved February 21, 2011. 
16. ^ "Pats' Haynes Defensive Rookie". The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida: The New York Times Company). December 29, 1976. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IqsuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vvoDAAAAIBAJ&dq=mike%20haynes%20rookie%20of%20the%20year&pg=6460%2C8570835. Retrieved February 22, 2011. 
17. ^ "Fairbanks is Coach of Year". Spartanburg Herald (Spartanburg, South Carolina: Public Welfare Foundation). February 11, 1977. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=voksAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AM0EAAAAIBAJ&dq=chuck%20fairbanks%20coach-of-the-year&pg=1769%2C1517366. Retrieved February 22, 2011. 
18. ^ "UPI names Pats' Berry AFC coach of the year". The Providence Journal (A. H. Belo Corporation): p. C3. January 8, 1986. 
19. ^ Mascaro, Chris (September 3, 2009). "Former Pats RB killed". Newsday (Melville, New York: Cablevision). http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/glauber-s-nfl-hot-reads-1.811959/former-pats-rb-killed-1.1418461. Retrieved February 22, 2011. 
20. ^ "Leonard Russell, Mark Croel named top rookies of the year". The Vindicator (Youngstown, Ohio: Vindicator Printing Company): p. C4. December 27, 1991. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aydKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=toUMAAAAIBAJ&dq=leonard%20russell%20offensive%20rookie%20of%20the%20year&pg=4048%2C4603785. Retrieved February 22, 2011. 
21. ^ Wilner, Barry (December 30, 1994). "Parcels Coach of Year". The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, New York: The Daily Gazette Company): p. C1. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7e8wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jOAFAAAAIBAJ&dq=parcells%20coach%20of%20the%20year&pg=1738%2C7371050. Retrieved February 22, 2011. 
22. ^ "Martin Gets Rookie Prize". The Victoria Advocate (Victoria, Texas: Victoria Advocate Publishing Company). December 29, 1995. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GANZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yEoDAAAAIBAJ&dq=curtis%20martin%20rookie%20of%20year&pg=2147%2C5975473. Retrieved February 22, 2011. 
23. ^ Murphy, Mark (February 4, 2002). "Super Bowl XXXVI; Bledsoe Classy Til End". Boston Herald (Herald Media Inc.): p. 88. 
24. ^ Farinella, Mark (February 3, 2004). "MVP Brady on the go". The Sun Chronicle (Attleboro, Massachusetts: United Communications Corporation). http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2004/02/03/sports/sports1.txt. Retrieved February 28, 2011. 
25. ^ ^{a b c} "Belichick wins 3rd Coach of Year honor". The Associated Press. February 2, 2011. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gLRirhrbgla4QzsnYzSxpSY_yVtw?docId=0f2901943f0846dab09ef3c5059ef28f. Retrieved February 16, 2011. 
26. ^ Cobb, Mike (February 7, 2005). "Branch Catches MVP Honor". The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida: The New York Times Company). http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050207/NEWS/502070375/1002/SPORTS. Retrieved February 21, 2011. 
27. ^ Greenburg, Alan (January 6, 2006). "Surprising Comeback: Bruschi shares with Smith". Hartford Courant (Hartford, Connecticut: Tribune Company): p. C4. 
28. ^ "Tom Brady adds AP Offensive Player of Year to MVP". KXMB-TV (Bismark, North Dakota: Reiten Television, Inc.). January 8, 2008. http://www.kxnet.com/custom404.asp?404;http://www.kxnet.com/Sports/196054.asp. Retrieved February 21, 2011. 
29. ^ "Mayo is AP's top defensive rookie". ESPN.com. The Walt Disney Company. January 1, 2009. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3801728. Retrieved February 16, 2011. 
30. ^ Kilgore, Adam (January 6, 2010). "Brady Wins Comeback Player of the Year". The Boston Globe (The New York Times Company). http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/2010/01/brady_wins_come.html. Retrieved February 16, 2011. 
31. ^ Manza Young, Shalise (February 1, 2011). "Brady Wins AP Offensive Player of Year". The Boston Globe (The New York Times Company). http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/2011/02/brady_wins_ap_o.html. Retrieved February 16, 2011. 
32. ^ "New England Patriots playoff history". ESPN.com. The Walt Disney Company. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4785768. Retrieved February 24, 2011. 
33. ^ 2002 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 394–395.
34. ^ ^{a b} 2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 293.
35. ^ Pasquarelli, Len (May 18, 2009). "Schedule expansion gaining momentum". ESPN.com. The Walt Disney Company. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=4173119. Retrieved August 10, 2009. 
36. ^ 2002 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 413.
37. ^ 2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 291.
38. ^ 2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 289.
39. ^ 2002 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 404.
40. ^ Golen, Jimmy (December 30, 2002). "New England 27, Miami 24, OT". Yahoo! Sports. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/recaps/20021229/mianwe.html. Retrieved February 23, 2011. 
41. ^ Gosselin, Rick (December 29, 2008). "Even without Patriots, AFC looks dominant in playoffs". Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Texas: A. H. Belo Corporation). http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/122908dnspogosselin.37ea0dd.html. Retrieved February 23, 2011.