1976 New England Patriots season

Infobox NFL_season
team = New England Patriots
teamcolor = New England Patriots71thru92
year = 1976
record = 11-3
division_place = T-1st AFC East
coach = Chuck Fairbanks
stadium = Schaeffer Stadium
playoffs = Lost Divisional Playoffs (Raiders) 24-21
pro bowlers = 4
uniform =

The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's 1976 season with a record of eleven wins and three losses, and finished tied for first in the AFC East division.

eason summary

After a nine-year stretch in which they posted just one .500 season (1974) amid eight losing years, the Patriots erupted to an unprecedented turnaround, going 11-3 and rushing for 2,957 yards, then the fifth-highest total in NFL history. The Patriots made only their second playoff appearance in their history and first since 1963.

Game-by-game results

Notable games

*September 12 vs. Baltimore Colts:Four Steve Grogan interceptions and a fumble doomed the Patriots as the Colts ran roughshod at Schaefer Stadium 27-13, this despite the sacking of Colts quarterback Bert Jones for 40 yards and 179 rushing yards by the Patriots.

*September 19 vs. Miami Dolphins:The Pats rebounded with 278 rushing yards and four touchdowns (two rushing scores by Andy Johnson, a Grogan rushing score, and a four-yard toss to Russ Francis) in a 30-14 rout of Miami. Bob Griese had one touchdown throw and three picks.

*September 26 @ Pittsburgh Steelers:The Patriots wiped out a 20-9 third-quarter gap as Steve Grogan threw to Russ Francis and Darryl Stingley and ran in a touchdown for 21 second-half points and a 30-27 win.

*October 3 vs. Oakland Raiders:The Raiders suffered their only loss of the season in a 48-17 slaughter by the Patriots. Ken Stabler had a touchdown throw to Fred Biletnikoff but was sacked four times while Steve Grogan ran wild with three touchdown throws (to Darryl Stingley and Marlin Briscoe) and two rushing scores; Andy Johnson and Jess Phillips rushed in additional touchdowns.

*October 10 @ Detroit Lions:The Patriots never got untracked as Grogan threw five picks and the Lions led by running back Horace King and quarterback Greg Landry stampeded the Patriots 30-10. One of the members of the Lions staff in this game was assistant special teams coach Bill Belichick, who introduced a two tight-end set on Detroit's offense that was rare for the NFL at the time.

*November 7 vs. Buffalo Bills:
Mike Haynes became the first Patriot to ever return a punt for a touchdown as he fielded a second-quarter punt at his 11 and stormed to the Buffalo endzone. The Patriots won 20-10 as Sam Cunningham rushed for 141 yards and a score while Joe Ferguson of the Bills threw four picks.

*November 28 vs. Denver Broncos:The Patriots amassed their highest rushing yardage of the year as Don Calhoun (177 yards), Andy Johnson, and Ike Forte ground up 332 yards on the ground. Mike Haynes also returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown as the Patriots sacked Denver's quarterbacks nine times, led 31-0 at the half, and cruised to a 38-14 final.

*December 18 @ Oakland Raiders:The 1976 AFC Divisional Playoffs. This would become the infamous "Ben Dreith Game" as officiating became a major controversy with numerous questionable penalties. Bill Lenkaitis had not been flagged for holding all season yet was flagged three times in this game. No penalty was called when George Atkinson of the Raiders hammered Russ Francis in the facemask and broke his nose. There was also a running controversy over mugging of Russ Francis by the Raiders' Phil Villapiano and even controversy over a Sam Cunningham run late in the fourth quarter where he went out of bounds; John Hannah claimed the sideline official moved the first down marker just before Cunningham went out of bounds, denying him a first down. [Felger, Michael (2004) TALES FROM THE PATRIOTS SIDELINES (IL: Sports Publishing LLC) ISBN 1-59670-154-5] In the final minute of the fourth quarter Raymond Hamilton of the Patriots was flagged for roughing the passer against Ken Stabler of the Raiders on a 3rd-and-18 play, even though replays showed no roughing; Dreith said the call was made because Hamilton had hit Stabler's helmet, but replays showed Stabler ducking away from Hamilton. Despite Patriot protests (Hamilton was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for his protests) the call stood, and at the Patriot 1-yard line Stabler ran in the game-winning touchdown with ten seconds left in a 24-21 Raiders win. Patriot protests over Dreith's call were such that Dreith was not assigned to work any games involving the Patriots until 1987.

Roster

All of the following players appeared in at least one game for the 1976 New England Patriots.

References

ee also

*New England Patriots seasons

sequence
prev=1975 New England Patriots season
next=1977 New England Patriots season
list=1976 New England Patriots season