Today In Patriots History September 23, 2007: Total Domination - Patriots 38, Bills 7

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
2007: Pats score 38 points for 3rd straight time
Patriots outgain Bills by nearly 300 yards
Brady, Moss, Maroney roll in 38-7 win​

Sunday Sept 23, 2007 at 1:00
Week 3, Game 3 at Gillette Stadium
New England Patriots 38, Buffalo Bills 7
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, **** Jauron
QBs: Tom Brady; JP Losman, Trent Edwards
Odds: Patriots favored by 16½
Pats improve to 3-0, Texans drop to 2-1


The F-U, espn tour continued.

For the third straight game the Patriot offense dominated their opponent. Tom Brady threw for 311 yards and four touchddowns, Laurence Maroney ran for 103 yards (5.4 yards per carry), Randy Moss caught two TDs on a 115-yard performance, and the Pats outgained Buffalo by a ridiculous margin of 485yards to 193.

Patriots 38, Bills 7: Domination

FOXBORO - Tom Brady quickly figured out how to play with Randy Moss: throw the ball, then watch in awe. That approach led the New England Patriots to their third straight rout to open the season. The…

www.metrowestdailynews.com

Tom Brady quickly figured out how to play with Randy Moss: throw the ball, then watch in awe.​

That approach led the New England Patriots to their third straight rout to open the season. The latest - and probably not the last - was a 38-7 win over the Buffalo Bills yesterday in which Moss scored on touchdowns of 45 and 3 yards.​

"He's a mismatch every time he's out there," Brady said. "My job's easy. I've just got to throw it up there."​

Now opponents must figure out how to play against the Patriots. A popular preseason pick to reach the Super Bowl, they've given no reason to change that opinion with their third 3-0 start in six years and a 114-35 scoring advantage.​

Patriots...38 Bills...7

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Tom Brady and Randy Moss are teaming up for touchdowns as if they've been playing together all their lives.

www.latimes.com

The Patriots outgained the Bills by nearly 300 yards (485-193). Laurence Maroney had 103 yards rushing and Brady went 23-for-29 for 311 yards. He's completing 79.5 percent of his passes this season.​

"The offensive line, the way they performed today was exceptional," Brady said. "We had a lot of holes there in the run game and they did a great job in pass protection."​

Brady has been sacked just three times all season.​

The Patriots started slowly and trailed 7-3 on Marshawn Lynch's 8-yard run, a lead that held up until Ben Watson scored with 5:08 left in the half. Then New England scored on four of its next five possessions, including touchdown passes of 3 yards to Moss and 4 yards to Jabar Gaffney.​

Patriots 38, Bills 7

Story line: Patriots have 114-35 scoring advantage to start 3-0 for 3rd time in 6 years. On game’s 1st series, Bills lost QB J.P. Losman to sprained left knee that coach **** Jauron called “pretty severe.” In 2nd quarter,…

www.chicagotribune.com

Jabari Greer, five inches shorter than the 6-foot-4 Moss, got a rare start. He covered him closely on the long touchdown, but Moss made an over-the-shoulder catch.​

"As we say in high school," Greer said, "I got Mossed."​

After the Patriots beat the New York Jets and San Diego Chargers by identical scores of 38-14 before dispatching the Bills by an even wider margin, you could say their first three opponents got Brady-ed. The quarterback had his third consecutive brilliant performance, throwing for four touchdowns with no interceptions. He had just six incompletions for the third Sunday in a row.​

The Brady-Moss combo has produced five touchdowns and 403 yards receiving. Moss, sidelined for all four exhibition games after being traded from Oakland on April 29, had five catches for 115 yards yesterday. He became the first receiver in NFL history to gain at least 100 yards receiving in each of his first three games with a new team.​

The 45-yard touchdown gave him 11,040 yards receiving and made him the 19th player with 11,000 yards.​

Brady, Moss, Maroney roll in 38-7 win

It was another dominating win for the 3-0 Patriots from all three units.​

The Patriots defense gave JP Losman a rude welcome to Gillette Stadium. On his first series of the game, Vince Wilfork got knocked forward into Losman's knee. The Bills quarterback came up limping and stayed in the game but two plays later, Ellis Hobbs came in on a corner blitz, nailed Losman and knocked the ball loose. Jarvis Green recovered on the Bills 35 and New England was poised to take an early lead.​

They did just that but only by a 24-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski. The Patriots had three tries from first and goal but a Maroney run for a loss of one and two Brady incompletes caused by good Bills coverage forced the field goal unit on the field.​

Brady added to the lead with a 3-yard strike to Moss with 1:17 left in the first half. The drive went 48-yards highlighted by a 20-yard connection to Kyle Brady, his first catch as a Patriot.​

After both teams went three and out to begin the second half, Brady put together a 9-play, 89-yard drive in which he hit Moss for 45 yards down the left sideline. The Bills defense had been softened up by a couple underneath passes to Wes Welker and once Moss got past the short zone he was wide open. Maroney did most of the work from where Moss was tackled at the Bills 23 and from 4 yards out on third down, Jabar Gaffney was all alone in the end zone for Brady's third touchdown pass of the day.​

New England piled up the points with 3:26 left in the third quarter. On first and 10 from the 41 Brady hit Welker over the middle. As Welker weaved his way down field he was met up by a couple Bills after 26 yards. As he turned his body on the way down to the ground, he spotted Moss right behind him and alertly handed Moss the ball who took it another 11 yards to the Bills 4. From there, Sammy Morris pounded it in for a 31-7 lead.​

The onslaught continued with a 45-yard bomb to Moss to make the score 38-7. With the game now in the fourth quarter, New England had started this drive on its own 2-yard line. Kevin Faulk had just caught two passes for 10 and 9 yards when Brady looked deep on second and 1. Moss was one-on-one with cornerback Jabari Greer and despite Greer being step for step, Brady's pass sailed over the leaping defender while Moss simply flicked out his hands and caught the ball on the run down the right sideline.​

The play gave Moss his third straight 100-plus yard receiving game this season and put him at 5 catches for 115 to that point along with two touchdowns.​

Patriots-Bills predictions

How national writers are picking in this week's Patriots-Bills contest.

www.boston.com

In terms of laughers though, even a Patriots blowout can’t compare to the utter hilarity of ESPN’s Gregg Easterbrook’s illogical rant earlier this week about Belichick and the demise of the NFL. Among the lowlights:​

“Will Belichick even be in coaching by season’s end? When the Vick dogfighting scandal first broke, most football pundits, and most in the Atlanta and league offices, thought there would be few repercussions. Then they thought Vick would have to make some kind of apology. Then they thought he’d need some leave of absence. Then they thought he’d be suspended for a year. Now they wonder whether he’ll ever be allowed to play again. By acting Nixonian, Belichick is accelerating his fall from grace. Today, Belichick and New England are trying to pretend the scandal is over. It would not surprise me in the slightest if, before the season ends, Belichick resigns or is suspended or is fired by Kraft, or even is permanently barred from the league.”​

Today’s Globe: “NFL investigation reveals no further improprieties”​

Easterbrook has quite a resume to be this out of touch with reality. According to his website he is a contributing editor of The Atlantic Monthly, The New Republic, and The Washington Monthly, and a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution. Oh, and he was born in Buffalo.​

2:48 Highlight Video
Bills vs Patriots 2007 Week 3



28:21 Offense Extended Highlights
2007 Patriots Offense @ Bills - Week 3



1:53:06 Full Game
2007 Week 3 Bills vs Patriots
​

Official NFL Media Game Summary


Box Score, Team & Individual Stats, and Full Play-by-Play:

Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots - September 23rd, 2007 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Buffalo Bills 7 at New England Patriots 38 on September 23rd, 2007 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[XLIX]

THAT was your "today in Patriots history" choice?!?!?!?!

September 23 is the anniversary of the single most impactful (no pun intended) play in New England Patriot history.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
2001: The Mo Lewis Game
Patriots turn the ball over four times
NYJ 10, Pats 3​

Sunday Sept 23, 2001 at 4:15
Week 2, Game 2 at Foxboro Stadium
New York Jets 10, New England Patriots 3
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Herm Edwards
QBs: Drew Bledsoe, Tom Brady; Vinny Testaverde
Odds: Jets favored by 1½
Pats drop to 0-2, Jets improve to 1-1


I vacillated on whether or not this should be the lead for 'Today in Patriots History', but in the end I decided to go with a victory over a near life-threatening injury. While it did alter the course of the franchise's history, it sure didn't seem so back then. I recall thinking at the time that this was a roster without its three best players - Drew Bledsoe, Terry Glenn and Willie McGinest - and would end the season at about 3-13, looking for another new head coach in the offseason.

I also recall speaking to some fellow Patriot fans that attended training camp practices, with very high praise about this backup quarterback from Michigan by the name of Tom Brady. From what they had said, it sounded like he would replace Bledsoe at some point in the season, and maybe the team could get some decent draft picks by trading Drew. While their prognosis was correct, my prediction for the 2001 season was could not have possibly been more wrong.


As for this game, the Pats actually outgained the Jets by 70 yards, 308 to 238 - but shot themselves in the foot with four turnovers. Curtis Martin rushed for 106 yards and the game's only touchdown for the Jets.

This was the second game of the NFL season, though it was originally scheduled to be played in week three. All of the original week two games were postponed until the end of the season due to the events on September 11, 2001.

A Timeline: How Brady replaced Bledsoe and sparked Pats dynasty

The story of the New England Patriots dynasty can’t be told without Drew Bledsoe. Learn all about the Patriots’ former franchise QB and No. 1 overall pick here.

www.nbcsportsboston.com

New England signed Bledsoe to a record-setting 10-year, $103 million contract in March 2001. However, a shocking event just months later altered the direction of Bledsoe's career and the Patriots organization.​

In the second game of the season on Sept. 23, 2001, the Patriots were down 10-3 to the New York Jets in the fourth quarter. On a third-and-10, Bledsoe ran toward the sideline where he was met by Mo Lewis. The Jets linebacker laid a massive hit on the Patriots' franchise QB that nearly proved fatal.​

​

Bledsoe was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital where it was discovered he suffered internal bleeding in his chest. While he was being treated for the life-threatening injury, second-year QB Tom Brady finished the game in his place.​

Drew Bledsoe hurt as 0-2 Patriots lose to Jets - The Boston Globe

On a day when the NFL honored those lost in the Sept. 11 attacks, Bledsoe suffered an injury that sent him to the hospital as the Patriots sank to 0-2 following a 10-3 loss.

www.bostonglobe.com

PRO FOOTBALL: EXTRA POINTS; A Hard Hit On Bledsoe (Published 2001)

Extra Points column discusses New York Jets victory over New England Patriots (M)

www.nytimes.com

Quarterback Drew Bledsoe was not on the field for the New England Patriots' final drive yesterday after being hit in the fourth quarter. Later, he was carried while sitting on a stretcher from the locker room to an ambulance. He was taken to a hospital for observation.​

Patriots Coach Bill Belichick said that Bledsoe had his ''bell rung'' when hit by Jets linebacker Mo Lewis and defensive end Shaun Ellis while carrying the ball.​

Bledsoe returned for the next series, and the only pass he attempted was a shovel pass. Belichick said Bledsoe's handling of that drive led him to switch to Tom Brady. ''I just don't think he was himself,'' Belichick said.​

N.F.L.: ROUNDUP; Bledsoe, Bleeding Internally, Remains in the Hospital (Published 2001)

New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe spends his second day in hospital and is expected to miss at least two games because of internal bleeding in his chest (M)

www.nytimes.com

Drew Bledsoe spent his second day in the hospital yesterday and was expected to miss at least two games because of internal bleeding in his chest following a tackle in Sunday's game against the Jets.​

Bledsoe, the Patriots' quarterback, was in stable condition after being taken to Massachusetts General Hospital on Sunday night. Doctors used a chest tube to alleviate the bleeding.​

Bledsoe was knocked out of the game by Jets linebacker Mo Lewis in the fourth quarter of the Jets' 10-3 victory.​

Bledsoe, who has missed just 6 of 130 games in nine years in the N.F.L., was hurt on third-and-10 from his 19 with about five minutes left. He ran around right end for an 8-yard gain before being hit hard by Lewis in front of the Patriots' bench.​

Bledsoe stayed on the ground for about two minutes. He returned for the next possession, but Tom Brady played the final series, with the Patriots needing to score a touchdown to tie or go ahead.​

Brady was 5 for 10 for 46 yards and led New England to the Jets' 29 before he threw four incompletions to end the game.​

Brady, who leapfrogged over the more experienced Damon Huard in training camp to be the No. 2 quarterback, will start Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.​

He was drafted in the sixth round of last year's draft out of Michigan. He threw three passes last season, completing one.​

Bledsoe completed 18 of 28 passes for 159 yards with two interceptions and a sack on Sunday. The loss dropped the Patriots to 0-2. They have scored a total of 20 points.​

''I've always told myself to be ready for the opportunity, because you never know how many you're going to get,'' Brady said.​

7:49 Mo Lewis Hit Video:



18:33 Highlight Video:
The Game That Changed the Future of the NFL! (Jets vs. Patriots 2001, Week 2)



24:45 Highlight Video:
2001-09-23 New York Jets vs New England Patriots



2:35:04 Full Game,
with introduction by by future laughing stock Rudy Giuliani
2001 Jets @ Patriots
​

Official NFL Media Game Summary


Box Score, Team & Individual Stats, and Full Play-by-Play:

New York Jets at New England Patriots - September 23rd, 2001 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

New York Jets 10 at New England Patriots 3 on September 23rd, 2001 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[XLIX]

I vacillated on whether or not this should be the lead for 'Today in Patriots History', but in the end I decided to go with a victory over a near life threatening injury. While it did alter the course of the franchise's history, it sure didn't seem so at the time. I recall thinking at the time that this was a roster without its three best players - Drew Bledsoe, Terry Glenn and Willie McGinest - and would end the season at about 3-13, looking for another new head coach in the offseason.​

I was just having some fun with my comment and didn't mean to force a recall

 

[jmt57]

THAT was your "today in Patriots history" choice?!?!?!?!

September 23 is the anniversary of the single most impactful (no pun intended) play in New England Patriot history.

I hear you, and you have a valid point. As I mentioned above, I went back and forth on which game to lead with first.

To me the big story was what Brady did the next week, changing attitudes - even though the media has since made it all about that hit, as if nothing that happened afterwards would have ever happened.

Personally, I disagree. Brady was always going to replace Drew at some point; it was just a question of when.

Just my opinion.

 

[sb1]

Gregg Easterbrook lol

This rant was always good for a few laughs

TMQ: Good vs. Evil - ESPN Page 2

The upcoming Colts-Patriots showdown is shaping up as the battle of Good vs. Evil.

www.espn.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
1979: Steve Nelson's interceptions saves the day
Pats hold on after jumping out to 20-0 lead
Stop undefeated Chargers and Air Corryell​

Sunday Sept 23, 1979 at 1:00
Week 4, Game 4 at Schaefer Stadium
New England Patriots 27, San Diego Chargers 21
Head Coaches: Ron Erhardt, Don Corryell
QBs: Steve Grogan, Dan Fouts
Odds: Patriots favored by 3
Pats improve to 3-1, Chargers drop to 3-1


Steve Grogan's fourth quarter touchdown pass to Russ Francis proved to be the winning points as New England held on for a 27-21 victory over Dan Fouts and the San Diego Chargers. Russ had 85 yards on four receptions, but the big story was the Patriots grounding San Diego's high powered offense, The defense sacked Fouts four times and picked him off twice, with Steve Nelson coming up with a critical fourth quarter interception.

Dan Fouts & Air Coryell Arrive: The 1979 San Diego Chargers Season – OUAT Sports

ouatsports.com

San Diego had been on the outside looking in since winning AFL championships in the early 1960s. The Chargers hadn’t enjoyed a winning season since 1969. After losing three of their first four games in 1978, Don Coryell was given the coaching reins and they promptly closed the season 8-4 and got positive momentum rolling into the 1979 NFL season.​

Coryell had an offensive coordinator who would make a pretty good name for himself, and that was Joe Gibbs, future legend for the Washington Redskins. Gibbs oversaw a passing game that was state-of-the-art by the standards of the era, with Dan Fouts as the triggerman. Fouts threw for over 4,000 yards. In a testament to how aggressive passing games were, and how much leeway defenses still had, Fouts threw 24 interceptions, but it didn’t stop him from being named 1st-team All-Pro.​

Wide receiver John Jefferson was also 1st-team All-Pro, and Charlie Joiner made the Pro Bowl. Both were 1,000-yard receivers. There was a young tight end named Kellen Winslow, who was still finding his way into the offense, but had a Hall of Fame career ahead of him. The right side of the offensive line, Ed White and Russ Washington, were Pro Bowl-bound.​

The running game was up-and-down, but Clarence Williams still ran for over 750 yards, and the offense as a whole ranked second in the NFL in points scored.​

San Diego’s defense in the Air Coryell era often came under scrutiny, but they also ranked second in the league. The talent wasn’t as explosive, but there were a pair of Pro Bowlers on the defensive front, with Gary Johnson and pass rusher extraordinaire Fred Dean. Two linebackers, Ray Preston and Woodrow Lowe, were alert to the ball and intercepted five passes. Defense wasn’t going to be a problem for the 1979 San Diego Chargers.​

The AFC West would be a good division, with four of its five teams ultimately finishing with a winning record and even the fifth-place Kansas City Chiefs winning seven games (the division was the Seattle Seahawks along with the AFC West’s four current teams). San Diego opened with two division games and quickly showed they meant business.​

San Diego traveled cross-country to New England for Week 4 and the running game disappeared. The Chargers dug a 20-0 hole in the second quarter, before Fouts started bringing them back. The lead was down to 27-21 and San Diego was driving for the winning score, before Fouts was intercepted near the goal line in the final two minutes. They had taken their first loss of the season.​

Patriots Hold Off Chargers, 27‐21 (Published 1979)

www.nytimes.com

The New England Patriots, a team as well endowed with fine athletes as any in pro football, confound their supporters. The Patriots are capable of playing superbly in spurts but seldom for the duration of a game. Often they commit a blunder, and sometimes they pay for it.​

Against San Diego today, the Patriots scored 20 points in the first 23 minues of play, to none for the Chargers, and had the game locked up late in the fourth quarter. Still, they were extended, needing to hold on for a 27?21 victory.​

The reason? One of those blunders, an intercepted pass that put the Chargers on the New England 10?yard line, points behind and two minutes left to play.​

But the Patriots, about to give a victory away, were saved by Dan Fouts, the Chargers’ quarterback, who threw a pass right into the paws of Steve Nelson, a Patriot linebacker standing on the goal line.​

Each Team Now 3?1​

So the Patriots achieved victory the hard way, which is their custom.​

The defeat was San Diego's first this season in four games, and only their second in the last 12 games. New England won for the third time in its four starts.​

The Chargers did not play especially well. They had a terrible time coping with the strong north wind blowing right at them in the first period, and Fouts, not a mobile quarterback, was sacked four times by a fierce pass rush. Their running game was all but nonexistent, good for only 39 yards, and some of the play calling from the sideline was of a dubious nature.​

But they lost by only 6 points, and Fouts at the end had only lofted his pass over Nelson into the hands of John Jefferson, his wide receiver free in the Patriot end zone, they would have won the game, or rather stolen it.​

Although Nelson was right in line between the passer and the receiver, Fouts said afterward that he “never saw” the New England linebacker, who stands 6 feet 2 inches, weighs 230 pounds and was wearing a red jersey with No. 57 on the front.​

Out of Nowhere​

That will happen. Jefferson was running laterally from right to left, and the passer's focus is on the receiver while he lets the pass go. After the football was thrown, Nelson came into view. Too late for Fouts.​

Steve Grogan, New England's quarterback, had a fine game except for two blunders that again typified the play of the Patriots. Late in the fourth quarter, with New England comfortably ahead by 13 points, Grogan overthrew Russ Francis, the tight end and his favored receiver today. Glen Edwards intercepted for San Diego at the Patriot 38.​

The Chargers moved quickly to touchdown in six plays, and a lethargic game suddenly became interesting.​

On the Patriots’ next series, Grogan was running away from a pass rusher, Fred Dean, when he threw a pass that was unnecessary, foolish and damaging.​

It went only 5 yards — right at the Chargers' middle linebacker, Bob Horn, who jumped up and snared the football for another interception. Horn returned 30 yards to the New England 10, and the crowd was stunned. It seemed certain that the Patriots would now lose the game and earn the scorn of New England's fickle fans, who are so hard on this team. Nelson's saving play, on third down, forestalled that.​

Pats Prevail - The Washington Post Archives

All was well in the beginning for New England.​

The Chargers won the coin toss and elected to receive the kickoff rather than choose to have the wind at their backs in the first and last quarters. In the opening quarter, New England shut off the Chargers' offense completely, and their punter, Jeff West, could get no good distance on his kicks into the wind. Also, Fouts could not throw deep pass accurately. So the Patriots had excellent field position, and they scored two touchdowns and a field goal on three short drives.​

Wrong Call​

Don Coryell, the San Diego coach, said later that he had contemplated choosing the wind advantage rather than receiving the kickoff but that he had spurned the idea because “I hate to start a game playing defense.”​

“Psychologically,” he said, “it's damaging, insulting to your offense, and we think we have a good one.”​

The Chargers in their first three games had scored 90 points, more than any other team in the league.​

The wind abated in the second half and was less of a factor, but the damage was done to the San Diego Club.​

Ron Erhardt, the New England coach, had an accurate summation. He said:​

“We thought we had control of the game from the start. We had a tremendous game from our defense, and when we had to come up with the big play we did.”​

No play was bigger than Nelson's. Erhardt also made reference to Grogan's last intercepted pass when he said: “That's the kind of play that used to kill us. Maybe we have come of age and can make the big play. I feel sorry for Steve. He had a good game and then had that thing, sort of a freak thing. . . .” The coach's voice trailed off.​

A roundup of the week Sept. 17-23

PRO FOOTBALL—Five of the six teams that entered the fourth week of play unbeaten kept their records unblemished. The only one to stumble was San Diego, which

vault.si.com

1:27 Highlight Video
(Note the opening scene; many fans had soured on Steve Grogan at this point)
Chargers vs Patriots 1979 Week 4


15:38 Highlight Video
1979-9-23 San Diego Chargers @ New England Patriots (Partial Edit)
​

NFL Official Typewritten Media Game Summary

Box Score, Team & Individual Stats:

San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots - September 23rd, 1979 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

San Diego Chargers 21 at New England Patriots 27 on September 23rd, 1979 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
1961: Larry Garron's 67-yard touchdown run leads the way
Patriots edge Buffalo, 23-21​

Saturday Sept 23, 1961 at 8:00
Week 3, Game 3 at War Memorial Stadium
Boston Patriots 23, Buffalo Bills 21
Head Coaches: Lou Saban, Buster Ramsey
QBs: Butch Songin, Babe Parilli; M.C. Reynolds, Richie Lucas
Odds: Patriots favored by 5
Pats improve to 2-1, Buffalo drops to 1-2


The details on this game were elusive, but check out the highlight video below for Larry Garron's 67-yard touchdown run. Jim Colclough had three catches for 69 yards while Gino Cappelletti had four receptions for 73 yards, and scored 11 points on three field goals plus two extra points.

One interesting detail from the video: watch the red zone plays, as the goal posts were on the goal line rather than in the back of the end zone (and there were two posts rather than one). On one goal line stand the goal posts were getting in the way of some lineman, and were noticeably twisting and shaking. Another time a receiver nearly slammed into the post - or was he using it as a screen on the defender?

This would turn out to be Lou Saban's final victory as head coach for the Patriots. The Pats lost the next two games and he was fired, replaced by Mike Holovak. Saban's career did not suffer from the setback; he would go on to coach for 14 more years with Buffalo and Denver.

1:40 Highlight Video
9/23/1961 Boston Patriots at Buffalo Bills highlights, American Football League Week 3



19:27 Season Yearbook
1961 Boston Patriots Highlight Film
​

I also stumbled across this article, which is interesting with the benefit of hindsight. It's a piece that paints Billy Sullivan in an extremely positive light, that was written when it was assumed that the Patriots were moving to Hartford.

Early Football Patriots: Ragged, Proud, Broke (Published 1998)

History of New England Patriots, charter team in maverick American Football League, recalled in light of team's planned move to $375 million Hartford, Conn, stadium; team, originally Boston Patriots, had no home stadium from 1960 to 1970; photo (M)

www.nytimes.com

So the team was happy to have a stadium of its own, even one it had to pay $7.1 million to build.​

Now the team will be on the move again, 85 miles away to Hartford. By 2001 at the earliest, the Patriots will move into a $375 million downtown stadium with 150 luxury suites and 5,000 club seats, thanks to a generous package approved Tuesday night by the Connecticut legislature. Some legislators complained about the generosity of the package.​

Although he described the terms as awesome, Mr. Sullivan, an investment banker and a former executive vice president of the team, said: ''My dad wouldn't have let the taxpayers of Massachusetts or Connecticut build a stadium for him. He felt the taxpayers shouldn't foot the bill for a private business.''​

Billy Sullivan was a gregarious raconteur, former sports publicity agent, newspaperman, printing salesman and oil company executive from Lowell, Mass. Initially, he wanted an N.F.L. team in Boston, but eventually acquired the eighth and final team in the new A.F.L. in 1959 with $8,300 of his own money and the rest of the $25,000 franchise fee from his brother, father-in-law and other investors.​

Those were arduous days for the A.F.L., which had to convince players it was serious and endure the scorn of the established National Football League. There were immensely wealthy owners, like the oil man Lamar Hunt, owner of the Dallas Texans (which became the Kansas City Chiefs), and those who were just getting by, like Harry Wismer, a former radio sportscaster who owned the New York Titans (now the Jets). They were the days of five-figure salaries and grass fields, a time when cities were not competing avidly to lure teams with promises of taxpayer-built stadiums filled with expensive luxury boxes and club seats.​

''One game we were playing the Titans, in either 1960 or 1961,'' Chuck Sullivan recalled. ''Harry couldn't meet his payroll, and we were not financially strong either. But my father wouldn't let anybody who was involved in the game not be paid. So he paid both teams.''​

Official typewritten media summary, with handwritten notes

Box Score, Team & Individual Stats:

Boston Patriots at Buffalo Bills - September 23rd, 1961 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Boston Patriots 23 at Buffalo Bills 21 on September 23rd, 1961 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
2018: Matt Patricia's Lions shock Pats, 26-10
New England drops to 1-2; PatsFans lose their minds​

Sunday Sept 23, 2018 at 8:20
Week 3, Game 3 at Ford Field
Detroit Lions 26, New England Patriots 10
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Matt Patricia
QBs: Tom Brady, Matthew Stafford
Odds: Patriots favored by 7
Patriots drop to 1-2, Lions improve to 1-2


Team Stats:
First Downs: Lions 25, Patriots 12
Offensive Plays: Lions 70, Pats 47
Time of Possession: Lions, 39:15 to 20:45
Third Down: Lions 7-14. Pats 2-9
Rushing Yards: Lions 159. Pats 89
Passing Yards: Lions 255, Pats 120
Total Yards: Lions 414, Pats 209

Lions 26-10 Patriots (Sep 23, 2018) Game Recap - ESPN

Expert recap and game analysis of the Detroit Lions vs. New England Patriots NFL game from September 23, 2018 on ESPN.

www.espn.com

Matt Patricia and the Lions defeat the Patriots, 26-10

Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia face off in this prime time matchup.

www.boston.com

Lions 26, Patriots 10: Detroit runs over punchless Pats | Poll

DETROIT — The Patriots' offense desperately needs some help. The good news is that the team recently traded for Josh Gordon and will get Julian Edelman back in two weeks. The bad news is that neit…

www.providencejournal.com

5 takeaways from the Patriots’ 26-10 drubbing in Detroit

COMMENTARY Five takeaways from the Patriots’ 26-10 drubbing in Detroit, where they were dominated by Matt Patricia and the Lions: A thorough beating When the Patriots have been beaten in recent seasons, it’s typically been in a tight game — or at least been close enough that defeat can be traced...

www.boston.com

Game Day Thread - Official Game Day Thread- Week 3 Pats @ Lions

Hoping to bounce back from last week with a good performance. Also, please no injuries!!!! Go Pats!!! Mike Reiss?Verified account @MikeReiss 40m40 minutes ago Scenes from the field: Tom Brady with a big fist pump to a gathering of Patriots fans in the end zone, which sparks an audible roar...

www.patsfans.com

Post Game Thread- Pats at Lions

Not many positives at all here. We have to improve and improve fast. Defense was really bad and our offense wasn't much better. Here is a positive thought: Jules comes back in two weeks, hopefully Gordon will help as well. Let's discuss Mike Clay?Verified account @MikeClayNFL 1m1 minute ago...

www.patsfans.com

Rewatch Thread: NE @ Detroit

Same deal as usual folks. Stay on topic and keep your whining and *****ing outside of this thread. This is about X&O and pure football discussion and not about hot takes or a place to vent. That is what the Postgame Thread is for. I created the thread early to add the snap counts and have a...

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Depleted Defense Struggled in Loss to Matt Patricia's Lions in Detroit | PatsFans.com

The Patriots seemed all game long to just sit back and wait for the Detroit Lions to start playing like the Detroit Lions.

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Game Notes

NFL Media Game Summary

Box Score, Team & Individual Stats, and Full Play-by-Play:

New England Patriots at Detroit Lions - September 23rd, 2018 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

New England Patriots 10 at Detroit Lions 26 on September 23rd, 2018 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

11:00 "Highlight" Video
Patriots vs. Lions Week 3 Highlights | NFL 2018
​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
2012: Justin Tucker's field goal as time expires
gives Baltimore a 31-30 victory over Pats
New England drops to 1-2​

Sunday Sept 23, 2012 at 8:30
Week 3, Game 3 at M&T Bank Stadium
Baltimore Ravens 31, New England Patriots 30
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, John Harbaugh
QBs: Tom Brady, Joe Flacco
Odds: Baltimore favored by 3
Patriots drop to 1-2, Ravens improve to 1-2


Another 1-2 start, another panic - but 2012 did not turn out as well as 2018 did.

This was the game that Torrey Smith caught two TDs and had 127 yards receiving, just hours after learning that his younger brother had died in a motorcycle accident.

Ravens 31, Patriots 30: Stunning defeat

Justin Tucker kicked a 27-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Baltimore Ravens a 31-30 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday night in a rematch of the AFC championship game.

www.metrowestdailynews.com

Final: Ravens 31, Patriots 30

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff BALTIMORE — Justin Tucker kicked a 27-yard field goal as time expired to give the Ravens a measure of revenge for last season’s AFC Championship loss with a dramatic 31-30 victory Sunday night. The Patriots fell to 1-2 as Joe Flacco orchestrated an eight-play...

www.boston.com

Ravens 31-30 Patriots (Sep 23, 2012) Game Recap - ESPN

Expert recap and game analysis of the Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots NFL game from September 23, 2012 on ESPN.

www.espn.com

Ravens 31, Patriots 30

BALTIMORE — Justin Tucker kicked a 27-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Ravens a 31-30 victory over the Patriots on Sunday night in a rematch of the AFC Championship Game.

www.tampabay.com

4:03 Highlight Video
Patriots vs Ravens 2012 Week 3
​

Patriots Media Game Notes

Official NFL Media Game Summary

Box Score, Team & Individual Stats, and Full Play-by-Play:

New England Patriots at Baltimore Ravens - September 23rd, 2012 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

New England Patriots 30 at Baltimore Ravens 31 on September 23rd, 2012 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
1990:
Bengals 41, Patriots 7​

Sunday Sept 23, 1990 at 1:00
Week 3, Game 3 at Riverfront Stadium
Cincinnati Bengals 41, New England Patriots 7
Head Coaches: Rod Rust, Sam Wyche
QBs: Marc Wilson, Boomer Esiason
Odds: Bengals favored by 9½
Patriots drop to 1-2, Cincinnati improves to 3-0


The Patriots were down 31-0 before the Pats finally got on the scoreboard via a touchdown pass from Marc Wilson to Marv Cook.

Breech Kick-Starts Bengal Offense, 41-7 : AFC: Cincinnati kicker scores in NFL-record 152nd consecutive game as Bengals bury suddenly mistake-prone Patriots.

The Cincinnati Bengals' offense had struggled in its first two games this season, but it broke out in a big way Sunday against the suddenly mistake-prone New England Patriots.

www.latimes.com

Bengals 41, Patriots 7 - UPI Archives

Cincinnati's potent offense punched into high gear Sunday thanks in large part to a low-rated but destructive defense....

www.upi.com

Box Score, Team & Individual Stats:

New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals - September 23rd, 1990 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

New England Patriots 7 at Cincinnati Bengals 41 on September 23rd, 1990 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
1984:
Washington 26, New England 10​

Sunday Sept 23, 1984 at 1:00
Week 4, Game 4 at Sullivan Stadium
Washington Redskins 26, New England Patriots 10
Head Coaches: Ron Meyer, Joe Gibbs
QBs: Tony Eason, Joe Theismann
Odds: Even pick-em
Patriots drop to 2-2, Washington improves to 2-2


John Riggins ran for 140 yards as Washington controlled the football by a more than two-to-one margin, 43:12 to 16:48.

If that TOP is not a record in the modern era, it has to be damn close.

Redskins 27, Patriots 6 - UPI Archives

Terry Hoage scored on a 45-yard interception return 1:31 into the game and the Washington Redskins went on to an easy 27-6 exhibition victory Saturday night...

www.upi.com

Official NFL Media Game Summary

Box Score, Team & Individual Stats:

Washington Redskins at New England Patriots - September 23rd, 1984 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Washington Redskins 26 at New England Patriots 10 on September 23rd, 1984 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
1960:
Buffalo Bills 13, Boston Patriots 0​

Friday Sept 23, 1960 at 8:00
Week 3, Game 3 at Boston University Field (Nickerson Field on Comm Ave)
Buffalo Bills 13, Boston Patriots 0
Head Coaches: Lou Saban, Buster Ramsey
QBs: Tom Greene, Butch Songin; Tommy O'Connell
Odds: Patriots favored by 10
Patriots drop to 1-2, Buffalo improves to 1-2


The Patriots turned the ball over seven times.

It was the first-ever victory for the Buffalo Bills' franchise.

**** Christy had 93 yards rushing on just nine carries for the Patriots.



Official AFL Media Game Summary, with Handwritten Notes

Box Score, Team & Individual Stats:

Buffalo Bills at Boston Patriots - September 23rd, 1960 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Buffalo Bills 13 at Boston Patriots 0 on September 23rd, 1960 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com