Today In Patriots History 2019: Pats score five 1st half TDs; throttle Chargers, 41-28

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Pats stun Chargers with five 1st half TDs
James White sets NFL playoff record with 15 receptions
Sony Michel runs for 129 yards; Edelman w/9 catches for 151 yards​

Sunday January 13, 2019 at 1:00
2018 AFC Divisional Game, at Gillette Stadium
New England Patriots 41, San Diego Chargers 28
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Anthony Lynn
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Philip Rivers
Odds: Patriots favored by 3½
Weather: 26°, 3 mph wind, clear
Game MVPs: Tom Brady, James White, Julian Edelman, Sony Michel
Pats improve to 12-5; advance to AFCCG at Kansas City
Chargers finish season with a record of 13-5


Sony Michel ran for 129 yards and three touchdowns as the Pats jumped out to a 35-7 halftime lead, cruising to their eighth straight AFC championship game.

Tom Brady went 34-44 for 343 yards, James White tied an NFL playoff record with 15 receptions, and Julian Edelman had 151 yards on nine catches.

The Patriots scored touchdowns on their first four possessions before the Chargers forced a three-and-out. But the punt was muffed and after a challenge it was New England's ball on the 35. Four plays later the Patriots found the end zone again, making the score 35-7.

Sony Michel stretches to reach the pylon for Patriots first TD​

5 takeaways from the Patriots' eye-opening obliteration of the Chargers

COMMENTARY Five takeaways from the Patriots’ eye-opening obliteration of the Chargers, a 41-28 win that gives Tom Brady his 28th career playoff win and punches New England’s ticket to an eighth-straight AFC championship… Setting a tone from the start Before the AFC championship game three years...

www.boston.com

Patriots Make a Statement With a Furious Rout of the Chargers (Published 2019)

New England scored on its first four possessions and Los Angeles was never close in an A.F.C. divisional-round matchup.

www.nytimes.com

Chargers are done early in 41-28 loss to Patriots

“Any Squad, Any Place” finally met this squad in this place.

www.latimes.com

Sony Michel Scores 3 TDs, Patriots Roll Past Chargers 41-28

Michel ran for 129 yards and had three touchdowns and the Patriots beat the Chargers 41-28 to earn their eighth straight trip to AFC championship game.

www.wbur.org

New England Patriots batter Chargers 41-28, advance to eighth straight AFC title game

New England led 35-7 at halftime of an instant blowout at Gillette Stadium.

www.masslive.com

Patriots Vs. Chargers Live: Pats Blow Past Bolts 41-28, Advance To AFC Title Game - NESN.com

Final, Patriots 41-28: For the eighth consecutive year, the New England Patriots are headed to the AFC Championship Game. Facing what should have a difficult matchup against a Los Angeles Chargers team that won 12 games during the regular season, the Patriots asserted their dominance from the...

nesn.com

The biggest takeaways from the Patriots’ 41-28 win over Chargers | Washington Post

Total Domination As Patriots Set Up Showdown Against Chiefs

It’s too bad that the Patriots took their foot off the gas pedal in the second half, or else they may have dropped 60 on the Los Angeles Chargers.

www.patsfans.com

It’s too bad that the Patriots took their foot off the gas pedal in the second half, or else they may have dropped 60 on the Los Angeles Chargers.​

If the Patriots play next Sunday night like they did today, they have a chance to make it to Super Bowl LIII. Tom Brady was surgical in the first half, Sony Michel did a lot to justify his first-round selection, Julian Edelman and James White looked like Super Bowl LI all over again, and the defense was mostly dominating except for a few long plays to Keenan Allen and going into autopilot in the second half.​

The Patriots scored touchdowns on the first five drives of the game, a franchise first for a postseason game. They scored field goals on their first two drives of the second half. Ryan Allen did not punt until the fourth quarter. The only drive prior to that which failed was at the end of the first half, when Phillip Dorsett failed to get out of bounds to stop the clock on fourth down, and the Patriots, with no timeouts left, could not get a field goal attempt off in time (which would have been a 49-yard attempt).​

The Chargers made a comeback in the second half and wound up outscoring the Patriots 21-6, but this only served to mask the outcome. The Patriots held a 41-14 lead with 12:23 left in the fourth quarter, and school was out. The Patriots treaded water the rest of the way, and the game was over quick but took forever to complete. But make no mistake, this win was all Patriots, and the Chargers, seemingly unafraid to play on the road and expected to give the Patriots a tough game, were simply obliterated in every way.​

The Patriots outcoached, out-physicalled, outsmarted the Chargers. Game plans on both sides of the ball worked perfectly. Offensively, the Patriots mixed up the run and the pass perfectly. Defensively, the Patriots pressured Phillip Rivers all game long, never allowed him to get into a rhythm, and even found a way to shut down the running game.​

Brady was in his typical Canton-esque form, hitting on 34 of 44 passes for 343 yards, one touchdown and a passer rating of 106.5. White tied the record set by Darren Sproles with 15 pass receptions (for 97 yards), most ever in a postseason game in NFL history. Edelman had 151 receiving yards on nine catches, with many of those yards after the catch and some of those yards gained with sheer strength and will. Edelman now has 98 career postseason catches, second most in NFL history behind Jerry Rice.​

Ironically, Rob Gronkowski had only one catch for 25 yards. But Gronk had a hand in the running game, and had seal blocks on two of the touchdowns scored. Michel had a marvelous game, rushing for 129 yards on 24 carries (a 5.4-yard average), and three touchdowns. As a team, the Patriots rushed for 155 yards and a 4.6-yard average. This attack helped Brady greatly in the passing game, as it served to neutralize the pass rush threat from Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. Michel will be badly needed next week at Kansas City if the Patriots are to have a chance to pull out a win there.​

Defensively, the Patriots held Rivers under 50% passing, sacked him twice, and held Allen to only two catches. Rivers was 25 of 51 passing for 331 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, and an 81.4 passer rating. Ty Williams and Mike Williams had an aggregate ten catches for 162 yards, as they used their height (both guys are six-foot-four) to snag some difficult catches. Allen’s two catches were a 43-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter on blown coverage by Stephon Gilmore, and a 32-yard catch in the fourth quarter which was almost a touchdown, falling a yard short of the end zone.​

Patriots Thrash Chargers, Move On To Kansas City

the Pats offense rolled up 35 points, 347 yards, and 24 first downs, numbers that usually add up to a good game by halftime.

www.patsfans.com

Five Things We Learned From the Patriots Win Over the Chargers

The Patriots spent two weeks listening to the doubters and came out on Sunday and made quite the statement, annihilating the Chargers 41-28 and sending a message to the world that it’s a little too early to write them off.

www.patsfans.com

Patriots Pregame Thread - AFC Divisional: We're on to the Chargers (Beat LA!)

This is not necessarily the game we wanted, but Chargers it is. I am hoping back-to-back weeks of travel to the east coast and cold weather (low 30s/high 20s) will help us. The Chargers are now 9-1 on the road, with their only loss being against the Rams, which really doesn't count as a road...

www.patsfans.com

Game Day Thread - Official Game Day Thread- Divisional Playoff Chargers @ Pats

Going to start this thread a little early because it's the playoffs. Can't wait for this game, if you can't get up for a playoff game, then I guess you can't get up for any game. I hope everyone is as ready as I am. Let's make it 9 straight home playoff wins today!!! Go...

www.patsfans.com

Chargers vs. Patriots 2018 AFC Divisional Highlights | NFL
5:49 Highlight Video



Chargers vs. Patriots Divisional Round Highlights | NFL 2018 Playoffs
12:01 NFL Highlight Video
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Divisional Round - Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots - January 13th, 2019 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Los Angeles Chargers 28 at New England Patriots 41 on January 13th, 2019 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Pats limit Derek Henry to 28 yards
Set team record with 8 sacks in 35-14 win over Tennessee
Brady sets NFL record with 10th 3-TD game in postseason​

Saturday January 13, 2018 at 8:15
2017 AFC Divisional Game, at Gillette Stadium
New England Patriots 35, Tennessee Titans 14
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Mike Mularkey
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Marcus Mariota
Odds: Patriots favored by 13½
Weather: 24°, 12 mph wind
Game MVPs: Tom Brady; Patriot defensive front
Pats improve to 14-3; advance to AFCCG vs Jacksonville
Titans finish season with a record of 10-8


The Patriot defense led the way, sacking Marcus Mariota eight times to set a franchise playoff record. Tennessee RB Derrick Henry had rushed for 156 yards the previous week against KC - but on this day the Pats limited him to just 28 yards on 12 carries. Six different players had sacks, led by Deatrich Wise and Geneo Grissom with two each.

The defense forced three straight 3-and-outs (all for negative yardage) to open the second half, with the Patriots then going on two long scoring drives that chewed up over 11 minutes off the clock to put the game away.

Tom Brady passed for 337 yards and three touchdowns; it was his tenth career postseason game with at least three touchdown passes, moving him past Joe Montana for the most in NFL history. Danny Amendola led the Patriots with 11 catches for 112 yards, while Dion Lewis totaled 141 yards from scrimmage.

The victory sent New England to the AFC championship game for a record-setting seventh consecutive season.

5 takeaways from the Patriots' 35-14 win over the Titans

COMMENTARY Five takeaways from the Patriots’ 35-14 win over the Titans, a divisional round victory that sends New England to the AFC championship game for a record-setting seventh consecutive season… PATS BELIEVE IN BRADY Among the juicier assertions of the provocative Patriots piece ESPN...

www.boston.com

Among the juicier assertions of the provocative Patriots piece ESPN published eight days before the divisional round was the commentary that people within Gillette Stadium had not only begun to see slippage in Tom Brady’s play, but there was a feeling among some that the quarterback had become more fragile, and was starting to play with nervousness.​

Well, it’d be hard for the Patriots to refute that claim with stronger evidence than the gameplan for their playoff opener. New England entrusted its 40-year-old quarterback to throw the ball 31 times in the first half alone, and in the process of tying a career high it wasn’t as though those throws were designed to get the ball out quickly and protect the old man. There were some screens mixed in, and a touchdown pass to James White came on a shovel pass, but the Pats weren’t shy about Brady dropping back five to seven steps, surveying the scene, and throwing toward a favorable matchup.​

To put his first-half workload in perspective, consider that Brady has seven times thrown fewer than 31 passes in an entire playoff game. He totaled 202 passing yards in the first two quarters Saturday; he also has seven playoff games where he hasn’t thrown for that many in four quarters.​

Of course, putting the ball in Brady’s hands with the season on the line is nothing new, as before Saturday he’d attempted at least 50 passes in four of his past eight playoff contests, and by the three-minute mark of the third quarter against Tennessee he’d already made it at least 42 tosses in seven of his last nine postseason tilts. But that’s the point. ESPN’s story built part of its case around the idea that part of the alleged fracture in Foxborough is based on a diminished level of confidence in Brady. That there were doubts creeping in about his ability to carry things forward. A mediocre stretch to close the regular season had some on the outside casting those doubts, too.​

But ultimately a stat line showing 53 attempts (including 35 completions for 337 yards and three scores), said more about the Pats current belief in Brady than an anonymous source effectively could.​

Patriots Rout the Titans to Reach Their 7th Straight A.F.C. Title Game (Published 2018)

Tom Brady passed a milestone — Joe Montana — by throwing for three touchdowns.

www.nytimes.com

Patriots beat Titans 35-14 to head back to AFC championship game

Tom Brady passed for three touchdowns and 337 yards, and the New England Patriots cruised past the Tennessee Titans 35-14 on Saturday night to advance to their seventh consecutive AFC championship game.

www.latimes.com

Patriots 35, Titans 14: Tom Brady dices Tennessee defense in AFC divisional playoffs

Five quick observations from the Titans' 35-14 divisional playoff loss to the Patriots on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.

www.tennessean.com

Patriots 35, Titans 14

The New England Patriots defeated the Tennessee Titans 35-14 Jan. 13 at Gillette Stadium, advancing to the AFC Championship.

www.wickedlocal.com

Brady, Patriots Manhandle Titans 35-14, Advance To AFC Title Game

Brady, Patriots Manhandle Titans 35-14, Advance To AFC Title Game Steve Balestrieri While throwing to Dion Lewis out of the backfield, Brady was 9-10 for 79 yards. Overall he was 13-17 for 108 yards targeting the backs. Continue reading... (If you enjoyed this entry - hit the Thumbs Up/If...

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Game Day Thread - Official Game Day Thread- Divisional Round Titans @ Pats

I'm starting this thread a little early today because it's the playoffs and there is no pre game thread The playoffs are finally here for us!!! We're going into the game as healthy as we've been in a long time It's going to be nice to get Hogan, and James back on offense. Let's hope for an...

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Post Game Thread- Pats Destroy the Titans

Great game!!! We are going to the AFC Championship Game again. Defense played great, Danny, Dion, Gronk and and Brady had great games. I thought the O-line played really well also. Let's discuss!!!

www.patsfans.com

Rob Gronkowski's 6 Grabs, 81 Yards & 1 TD! | Titans vs. Patriots | Divisional Round Player HLs
2:00 Gronk Highlights



Tom Brady Leads Pats to Victory w/ 337 Yards & 3 TDs! | Titans vs. Patriots | Divisional Player HLs
6:34 Brady Highlights



Titans vs. Patriots | NFL Divisional Round Game Highlights
14:55 NFL Game Highlights
​

Patriots Drives

# Quarter Time LOS Plays Length Net Yds Result 1 1 15:00 NWE 25 6 2:23 27 Punt 2 1 9:12 NWE 34 6 2:41 20 Punt 3 1 1:14 NWE 27 7 2:56 73 Touchdown 4 2 11:16 TEN 48 6 1:56 48 Touchdown 5 2 7:10 NWE 9 16 5:18 91 Touchdown 6 2 0:17 TEN 49 4 0:17 14 Missed FG 7 3 12:30 NWE 25 5 1:54 16 Punt 8 3 8:22 NWE 44 9 4:20 56 Touchdown 9 3 2:20 NWE 10 15 6:58 90 Touchdown 10 4 8:06 NWE 22 4 2:18 21 Punt 11 4 1:55 TEN 38 3 1:55 -1 End of Game

Titans Drives

# Quarter Time LOS Plays Length Net Yds Result 1 1 12:37 TEN 8 5 3:25 13 Punt 2 1 6:31 TEN 5 11 5:17 95 Touchdown 3 2 13:18 TEN 21 3 2:02 -4 Punt 4 2 9:20 TEN 22 4 2:10 30 Punt 5 2 1:52 TEN 25 7 1:35 24 Downs 6 3 15:00 TEN 25 3 2:30 -2 Punt 7 3 10:36 TEN 23 3 2:14 -7 Punt 8 3 4:02 TEN 36 3 1:42 -6 Punt 9 4 10:22 TEN 25 7 2:16 14 Punt 10 4 5:48 TEN 20 15 3:53 80 Touchdown

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The "Letterman Game" Rematch
Welker, Vereen with big games as Patriots down Texans 41-28
Brady overtakes Montana as winningest QB in NFL playoff history​

Saturday January 13, 2013 at 4:40
2012 AFC Divisional Game, at Gillette Stadium
New England Patriots 41, Houston Texans 28
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Gary Kubiak
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Matt Schaub
Odds: Patriots favored by 9½
Weather: 51°, 10 mph wind, mostly cloudy
Game MVPs: Tom Brady; Wes Welker; Shane Vereen; Rob Ninkovich
Pats improve to 13-4; advance to AFCCG vs Baltimore
Titans finish season with a record of 13-5


This was a rematch of the Letterman Jacket Game from six weeks earlier, when New England trounced Houston 42-14 to end the Texans' six-game winning streak. This time the Pats held a slim 17-13 halftime lead, then broke the game open in the third quarter. New England went 69 yards on seven plays on the opening drive of the second half, upping the lead to 24-13 on an 8-yard Stevan Ridley run.

Two possessions later the Texans drove to the Patriot 37, but Matt Schaub was intercepted by Rob Ninkovich at the 31. Less than three minutes later the Patriots scored on Brandon Lloyd's 5-yard touchdown catch, making the score 31-13. This was Brady's 40th career playoff touchdown pass, making him only the third player with that many in the postseason.

On their next drive, very early in the 4th quarter, Houston went for it on 4th-and-1 from their own 33 - but Schaub's long pass fell incomplete. On the very next play Brady hit Shane Vereen on a 33-yard touchdown pass. It was Vereen's third touchdown of the day, putting the game away with a 38-13 lead.

Houston did come back to trim the lead to 38-28 with 5:11 remaining, but Ninkovich recovered the ensuing onside kick after multiple bounces. The Pats held the ball for nearly four minutes before Stephen Gostkowski connected on a 38 yard field goal for the final score.

Ridley finished 82 yards rushing, averaging 5.5 yards per carry with one touchdown. Brady spread the ball effectively between Wes Welker (eight catches for 131 yards), Aaron Hernandez (six for 85 yards) and Vereen (five for 83 yards and two touchdowns).

With the victory Tom Brady became the winningest quarterback in NFL playoff history with his 17th postseason win, breaking a tie with Joe Montana. The game was also the 450th win (regular season and playoffs) in Pats franchise history. The victory put the Patriots into the AFCCG for the ninth time in franchise history, and a rematch of the 2011 title game (as well as a rematch of Week 3) with the Baltimore Ravens.


The aftermath of the game was not all jubilation, however. Rob Gronkowski - who had broken his forearm on a fluke play in week 11 against the Colts on an extra point - re-injured the same forearm, requiring surgery and sidelining him for the remainder of the postseason.

Patriots 41-28 Texans (Jan 13, 2013) Game Recap - ESPN

Expert recap and game analysis of the New England Patriots vs. Houston Texans NFL game from January 13, 2013 on ESPN.

www.espn.com

Patriots 41, Texans 28

The Sports Xchange By Mike Shalin, The Sports Xchange Patriots 41, Texans 28 FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots, bidding to go to their sixth Super Bowl in the last 12 years, advanced to the AFC title game with a 41-28…

www.chicagotribune.com

Final: Patriots 41, Texans 28

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff FOXBOROUGH — The Patriots got a surprise performance from backup running back Shane Vereen, who totalled three touchdowns, en route to a 41-28 win over the Houston Texans Sunday to advance to the AFC championship against the Baltimore Ravens. The Patriots will...

www.boston.com

The Patriots got a surprise performance from backup running back Shane Vereen, who totalled three touchdowns, en route to a 41-28 win over the Houston Texans Sunday to advance to the AFC championship against the Baltimore Ravens.​

Vereen tallied 124 total yards, including 83 receiving yards on five catches while filling in for the injured Danny Woodhead. Woodhead got hurt in the first quarter on the Patriots’ first offensive series. He went on to catch two touchdowns and run for another as the team’s no-huddle running back.​

Patriots 41, Texans 28: New England takes care of Houston once more

After a weekend full of crazy twists and turns, and a lot of exciting football, the AFC Championship Game has ended up back in the same spot it was last season.

www.providencejournal.com

Little-used second-year running back Shane Vereen scored three touchdowns. Rob Ninkovich, who had been a question mark because of a hip injury suffered in the regular-season finale, came up with another clutch interception that helped clinch the victory. The Pats overcame injuries to three key players, the biggest of which was to tight end Rob Gronkowski — another injury to his left arm. This one apparently will end his season.​

Houston put up a better challenge than it had in its 42-14 loss at Gillette last month, but it was not nearly enough.​

Pats Beat Texans 41-28, Return To AFC Title Game

Tom Brady became the winningest quarterback in postseason play, throwing for three touchdowns, lifting Patriots into the AFC championship game.

www.wbur.org

Tom Brady made history. Now it's his coach's turn.​

The Patriots' quarterback added to a string of postseason success that stretches back more than a decade, earning his 17th playoff win to break a tie with his boyhood idol, Joe Montana, for most by a quarterback.​

After New England's 41-28 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday night, Bill Belichick needs two more playoff wins to match Tom Landry's NFL high of 20. If Belichick gets there this season he'd also tie Chuck Noll for most Super Bowl championships by a coach with four.​

Texans vs Patriots 2012 AFC Divisional
8:44 Highlight Video



2012 AFC Divisional Playoff Game: Patriots vs Texans
2:08:41 Full Game



NFL Primetime 2012 Divisional Playoff Sunday (ESPN January 13th, 2013)
41:26 ESPN Post-Game Show
​

Divisional Round - Houston Texans at New England Patriots - January 13th, 2013 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Houston Texans 28 at New England Patriots 41 on January 13th, 2013 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Answer to the trivia question
"Who Replaced Leon Gray?"​

Happy 70th birthday to Dwight Wheeler
Born January 13, 1955 in Memphis
Patriot OT/LS, 1978-1983; uniform #62
Pats 4th round (102nd overall) selection of the 1978 draft, from Tennessee State
Pats résumé: 6 seasons, 72 games (40 starts), plus one playoff game


Dwight 'Wimpy" Wheeler had the unenviable task of replacing the great Leon Gray in 1979. Billy Sullivan held a grudge against Gray for a prior contract holdout, and in the 1979 offseason traded the 27 year old All Pro to Houston for a bag of money and a couple of draft picks. Gray continued to perform at an elite level with the Oilers, while the Patriot run blocking and pass protection regressed without him on the line.

Wheeler spent three seasons as the Patriot starting left tackle (1979-81), and three more as a backup lineman. He played in 72 games for New England with 40 starts. Dwight later played in another 19 games as a reserve for the Raiders and Chargers.

​

From the 1983 Patriots Media Guide:
Dwight switched from OT to center last season, playing the backup role to starter Pete Brock while continuing to handle PAT/FG snapping duties. . . prior to the switch last year, Dwight had started 36 of a possible 48 games over the previous three seasons at left tackle. . . after starting the first 11 games of 1981, he gave way to first round pick Brian Holloway. . . as a rookie in 1978 he received praise from players and coaches alike, but was lost for the season after breaking his ankle in the second game. . . upon his return the next year, he was thrust into the starting left OT position after Leon Gray was traded to Houston. . . after a fine start, a list of nagging injuries, primarily to his neck and ankle, forced him out of the starting lineup after ten games. . . he then saw spot duty in the next five games before being placed on injured reserve (12-12-79) for the balance of the season. . . in 1980 he matured as a pro OT, starting 15 of 16 games.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
More January 13 Birthdays and Trivia​

Happy 62nd birthday to Rico Corsetti
Born January 13, 1963 in Newton, Massachusetts
Patriot LB, 1987; uniform #93
Signed as a rookie free agent on September 23, 1987
Pats résumé: two replacement player games

The Dolphins originally signed Enrico Corsetti as an undrafted rookie On May 1, 1987. He was on the Miami roster for all of the '87 offseason before being cut at the end of training camp. Rico is a local guy who was then able to play for the team he grew up rooting for, signing with the Patriots two days after a week two loss at the Jets. Corsetti went to Belmont Hill High School and Bates College in Maine, then was able to play two of the three replacement player games for the Pats during the player strike in 1987.




Happy 63rd birthday to Eric Stokes
Born January 13, 1962 in Derby, Connecticut
Patriot C/G, 1987; uniform #78
Signed as a veteran free agent on September 23, 1987
Pats résumé: one replacement player game (one start)

Like Rico Corsetti, Eric Stokes was another local who had an opportunity to join the Patriots as a replacement player; he is credited with one start. Stokes grew up in Ansonia CT, which is about ten miles west of New Haven, and went to Northeastern when they still had a football team. He was a sixth round pick by the Bengals in 1985, and also spent time with the Jets and 49ers before making Foxborough the final stop of his NFL career.
was originally a sixth round draft pick by the Bengals in 1985, out of Northeastern.




There are also two Patriot draft picks born on this date, who chose the NFL over the AFL:

Jim Bradshaw, 86 (1939)
Pats 20th round (158th overall) selection of the 1963 draft, from Tennessee-Chattanooga
Bradshaw played in 62 games over five seasons at safety and punt returner for Pittsburgh.

Clarence Childs, 87 (1938)
Pats 20th round (155th overall) selection of the 1961 draft, from Florida A&M
The CB/HB/KR played in 59 games over five seasons in the sixties, mostly with the Giants.




One draft-trade birthday triviality today:
Doug Martin, 36 (1989)
In 2012 the Patriots traded their first round pick (31st overall) and a fourth to move up to #25, where they selected Dont'a Hightower. Denver then traded the 1.31 pick to Tampa, who chose the running back from Boise State. As a rookie Martin scored 12 touchdowns and had 1,926 yards from scrimmage, but being injuries from overuse limited "The Muscle Hamster" to just two good seasons in the NFL.




And one other New England football player born on this date:
Isaiah Wright, 28 (1997)
born in Waterbury CT; raised in West Hartford CT; Kingswood Oxford School (West Hartford)
Signed by Washington as an undrafted rookie from Temple, Wright had 27 receptions as a rookie in 2020. He was waived at the end of training camp in 2021, and though never caught on with another NFL team, he did play for Toronto in the 2022 CFL season.




While researching Rico Corsetti, I stumbled across this article. It is about Tom Carr, the only Bates football player to ever be drafted. The fullback was selected in the 13th round, 111th overall by Mike Holovak for the Patriots in the 1966 AFL draft.

The 'inside' story of Bates football's only professional draft pick: Tom Carr '66 - Bates College

In 1966, the Boston Patriots selected a fullback in the 13th round of the American Football League draft. The back was the all-time leading point-scorer at Bates

gobatesbobcats.com

Around the same time, Carr was fielding offers from the NFL and the AFL. Both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Patriots wanted his services. In the end, the Patriots won out and selected him in the 13th round out of 20 in the final AFL Draft. (The drafts merged before the leagues.)​

"A kid from Bates being drafted, I mean, it was unbelievable," Yuskis said. "You would expect somebody from the University of Maine to get drafted but not somebody from Bates."​

Vandersea signed multiple free-agent contracts with the Chicago Bears. And years later, Rico Corsetti '85 played two games in the NFL as a replacement player with the Patriots. But to this day, Carr is the only Bobcat player to get drafted by a professional football team.​

That summer he competed for a spot on Boston's roster, playing in exhibition games, including one in Quincy, Mass., against the New York Jets. Farrington and a number of other Hatchmen went to watch him play. In typical Carr fashion, he didn't call attention to the fact he was playing in the game, but his Bates teammates found out about it nonetheless.​

Carr was put on what was then known as the "taxi squad," the equivalent of today's practice squad. So he had to be ready at any moment to be called up to the Patriots. But in the meantime he could play semi-pro ball. So Carr signed with the Lowell Giants.​

"I got a paycheck for playing with the Patriots on the practice squad, and I got another paycheck each week playing for the Giants," Carr said. "Those semi-pro teams were great for guys who wanted to keep playing football."​

Carr never got the call to the Patriots that season and returned to the team's training camp in 1967, only to see the opportunity end before it got started.​

"I broke my jaw in an exhibition game," Carr said. "I got hit by a middle linebacker, and so that put me out for the whole year."​

"In the interim," Carr says, "I ended up getting married." When his wife became pregnant, he "decided to get a real job."​

After spending a few years as a physical education director, Carr spent most of his career in sales, retiring 12 years ago.​

Now 75, he looks back on his days at Bates with fondness.​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
More January 13 Events and Trivia​

January 13, 2009:
New England Patriots Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli is hired as General Manager of the Kansas City Chiefs.


January 13, 2010:
Junior Seau retires - without a Super Bowl ring, unfortunately. The Hall of Fame linebacker recorded 1,847 tackles, 56.5 sacks, 18 fumble recoveries and 18 interceptions over a 17 season, 268 game career. Seau was a six-time First Team All-Pro and was named to twelve Pro Bowls, all while with the San Diego Chargers.


January 13, 2016:
The previous day's news of Chandler Jones seeking medical help explodes, becoming a nationwide story.

Report: Synthetic marijuana led to Chandler Jones' strange hospital trip

Jones was briefly hospitalized with a "medical emergency" on Sunday morning.

www.cbssports.com

Patriots Star Chandler Jones Hospitalized for Synthetic Marijuana — But What Is That?

New England Patriots player Chandler Jones was briefly hospitalized on Sunday because of an adverse reaction to synthetic marijuana, sources say. But what is synthetic marijuana?

www.yahoo.com

All this led to a 42-page thread:

Foxboro cops: Pats' Chandler Jones sought medical help early Sunday

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2016/01/foxboro_cops_pats_chandler_jones_sought_medical_help_early_sunday Practiced Monday and today, so must not be serious , probably a cut finger or something .

www.patsfans.com

Well I'm on my way to MarketBasket to shop and I turn on the radio.....

......and like in the space of 5 minutes my entire world turned upside down (sports -wise) Now you know I don't usually start threads during the week, but for some reason I can't find the Manning HGH thread and I need a safe place to rant about a few things. You see that in those few moments...

www.patsfans.com

January 13, 2017:

Jacoby Brissett proving even a 3rd-string rookie quarterback can be a leader for Patriots

Jacoby's been quite the revelation this season.... I still wanna know if he has what it takes to become a starting, franchise QB. But no one - not even me - can deny his leadership qualities. A rare find indeed! Jacoby Brissett proving even a 3rd-string rookie quarterback can be a leader for...

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ESPN admits temperature can affect PSI as much as 20 %

I hate to link to them, but I do not know how to embed this. If I can get a PM telling me how to, I would appreciate it. The info does not come until you skip the first video, just click to the near end, then the next video comes up. They mention punts, but implicate that the football IS...

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January 13, 2021:

Jerod Mayo to interview for Eagles head Coach position

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the team is expected to interview Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo for the opening created by firing Doug Pederson on Monday. Report: Jerod Mayo is expected to interview for Eagles head coach - ProFootballTalk

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Today in Pro Football History
More January 13 Events and Trivia​

January 13, 1974:
The Miami Dolphins win their second straight Super Bowl in their third straight appearance with a 24-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Larry Csonka, the game’s MVP, gains 145 yards on 33 carries and scores a touchdown.


January 13, 2013:
Matt Bryant kicks a 49-yard field goal with 8 seconds left and the Atlanta Falcons bounce back after blowing a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter, defeating Seattle 30-28 in an NFC divisional playoff game. The Falcons lead 27-7 at the start of the final quarter before rookie quarterback Russell Wilson leads the Seahawks to three fourth-quarter touchdowns and a 28-27 lead with 31 seconds left.


January 13, 2013:
Tom Brady becomes the winningest quarterback in postseason play, throwing for three touchdowns to beat Houston 41-28 and lift the New England Patriots into the AFC championship game. Brady gets his 17th victory, surpassing Joe Montana, by throwing for 344 yards.


January 13, 2016:
Former first round draft pick Lawrence Phillips is found dead in his jail cell at the age of 40.

Lawrence Phillips, 40, found dead in California jail cell

Former Nebraska football star Lawrence Phillips was found dead Wednesday morning in his prison cell, and officials say they suspect suicide.

www.espn.com

Coroner's report reveals contents of Lawrence Phillips' suicide note

The No. 6 overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft died in January after hanging himself

www.cbssports.com

OT Lawrence Phillips Dead

Former Football Star Lawrence Phillips Found Dead In Prison

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