Today in Patriots History

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
November 16 Birthdays​

Happy 41st birthday to Daniel Graham
Born Nov 16, 1978 in Torrance, California
Patriot TE, 2002-2006; uniform #82
Pats 1st round (21st overall) selection of the 2002 draft, from Colorado

On April 20, 2002 the Patriots made a relatively rare maneuver, trading up rather than down in the draft. The Pats packaged their first round (32nd overall) pick with a 3rd (#96) and 7th to Washington, for the Skins #21 draft pick. New England chose Graham, who had 51 receptions for 753 yards and six touchdowns with the Buffalos - and received the John Mackey Award as college football's best tight end in 2001.

Graham surpassed Christian Fauria as the top tight end in his second season in Foxborough, catching 38 passes for 409 yards, four touchdowns and 21 first downs. Graham had four receptions for 46 yards in the 32-29 Super Bowl victory over Carolina. The following season he had 30 receptions for 364 yards, a career-high seven touchdowns and 20 first downs, and earned his second Super Bowl ring.

The Patriots drafted Ben Watson in 2004, and by 2005 Watson had surpassed both Graham and Fauria as Tom Brady's favorite tight end. Graham was an excellent blocking tight end but his receiving numbers dropped to 235 yards in both '05 and '06.

On March 6, 2007 Graham scored a nice payday for his five years of work in New England. The Denver Broncos signed Graham to a five year contract worth $30 million, with $15 million guaranteed - a significant amount for a tight end considering what the salary cap was at that time. In five seasons with the Patriots Graham played in 63 regular season games, averaging 11.6 yards on 120 receptions. Seventeen of those catches went for touchdowns, and 69 were good for a first down. The Patriots went 9-2 in his eleven playoff games with the team, with Graham contributing 13 receptions for 143 yards and one touchdown.

Graham spent four seasons in Denver, one in Tennessee and one with New Orleans before retiring. He played in 148 NFL games (plus the 11 playoff games) with 224 receptions and 25 touchdowns.

Nov 21, 2006: Behind the Scenes with TE Daniel Graham | Patriots.com


On a side note, it is interesting in hindsight to read the immediate 2002 post-draft grades. Most of the national writers loved the trade and draft pick for Graham, but did not care at all for the Deion Branch selection in the second round.

April 22, 2002: Grading out the draft | Patriots.com




Happy 30th birthday to Akiem Hicks
Born Nov 16, 1989 in Elk Grove, California
Patriot DL, 2015; uniform #72
Acquired from New Orleans in trade for TE Michael Hoomanawanui on Sept 30, 2015

Although he played in New England for just one season, this trade was a win for the Patriots. Hicks registered three sacks, four QB hits and 11 hurries in 13 regular season games, plus four more hurries in two playoff games.

Hicks hit free agency the following season and the Pats couldn't/wouldn't top a two-year $10 million deal with Chicago. His decision may have been as much about his role and playing time rather than money; he was only averaging 23 snaps per game for the Pats. Hicks played very well in '16 and the Bears signed him to a four-year, $48 million extension in 2017, with 430 million guaranteed.

Akiem Hicks has simple message for Patriots haters after latest Super Bowl win

​

Happy 46th birthday to Sedrick Shaw
Born Nov 16, 1973 in Austin, Texas
Patriot RB, 1997-1998; uniform #23
Pats 3rd round (61st overall) selection of the 1997 draft, from Iowa

Sedrick Shaw had a redshirt rookie season, then totaled 266 yards from scrimmage as a backup to Robert Edwards in 1998. He was traded to the Browns the following year, and later spent two seasons in the CFL.

Sedrick Shaw is Honorary Captain | University of Iowa Athletics

Shaw was a four-year letterman for the Hawkeyes from 1993-96. The native of Austin, Texas rushed for 4,156 yards and 33 touchdowns on 837 attempts. His career totals also include 438 receiving yards, 380 yards on kickoff returns and 35 total touchdowns.

At the completion of his final season in 1996, Shaw held Iowa records for rushing attempts, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns, and was tied for third in career scoring. At the time, he ranked eighth in the Big Ten Conference in both rushing attempts and yards.

Shaw rushed for more than 200 yards twice, including a career best 42 attempts for 250 yards and one touchdown in a 21-7 win at Michigan State in 1995. Later that season, he rushed 41 times for 214 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-20 win at Wisconsin. Iowa posted a 17-7 record in his final two seasons. Shaw rushed for more than 100 yards in 19 games.​

25 Sedrick Shaw | Saskatchewan Roughrider Fan Page

2002 Preseason: Riders wanted more power in their running game and think Shaw fits the bill. He may not. Even though he is big, he is more of a track star than power back. Played under the legendary Hayden Frye at Iowa and was considered one of the best running backs to play at Iowa. That's quite a feat considering the great Ronnie Harmon played there.

Originally a surprise third round draft pick of the New England Patriots in 1997, Shaw was a projected first-rounder and was considered the second best runningback in the draft behind Warrick Dunn. In 1998, after losing RB Curtis Martin through free agency to the New York Jets, Shaw was the projected starting running back for the Patriots but was a disappointment and relegated to a backup role. In 1999, the Patriots traded Shaw to the Cleveland Browns where he only played two games and had three carries for two yards before being released and playing one game with Cincinnati Bengals in 2000.

Because of injuries to both knees that hindered the latter part of his NFL career, Shaw took himself out of football in 2001 before trying a comeback with Saskatchewan in 2002. Has played very little football over the last three years, so at 27 years old, still has a very fresh body but lots of rust. His knee injuries have slowed down his 4.3 speed.​

Happy 53rd birthday to Ivy Joe Hunter
Born Nov 16, 1966 in Gainesville, Florida
Patriot FB, 1991; uniform #45
Signed April 1, 1991 as a Plan B free agent from the Indianapolis Colts

Hunter was not recruited by his hometown Florida Gators, and instead went to the University of Kentucky. His college highlight game was rushing for 238 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Wildcats to a 34-22 victory. In 13 games with the Patriots he had 150 yards from scrimmage on 18 carries and 11 receptions.

Happy 71st birthday to Art May
Born Nov 16, 1948 in Bessemer, Alabama
Patriot DE, 1971; uniform #71
Waiver claim from Cincinnati on Sept 15, 1971

The Bengals originally drafted Art May out of Tuskegee in the 1971 draft. Cincy placed him on waivers as part of final roster cuts before Week One on September 13. May played in 11 games with five starts for the Clive Rush and John Mazur in 1971. He spent 1972 on IR and was cut by the Pats on July 9, 1973. May later spent time with the Houston Texans and Chicago Winds of the WFL.




Happy 83rd birthday to Jack Atchason
Born Nov 16, 1936 in Springfield, Illinois
Patriot end, 1960; uniform #85

Jack Atchason played in one game with the Pats. In week three of the 1960 season he had two receptions for 22 yards in a 13-0 loss to Buffalo. The Western Illinois alum later played sparingly with the 1960 AFL champion Houston Oilers, where he had his only AFL touchdown - a six yard reception from George Blanda in a 27-21 victory over the New York Titans.

 

[italian pat patriot]

Yes, that is correct!!!!

Happy 60th Birthday to the Patriots!​

November 16, 1959
Billy Sullivan is awarded the eighth franchise of the American Football League

History of the American Football League - 1959 | Remember the AFL

In 1958, Texas oilman H. L. Hunt's son and heir, Lamar Hunt, wanted to bring professional football to Texas. He was rebuffed in his efforts to establish an NFL franchise there, and in 1959, decided to form a new professional football league, which he called the American Football League. In Chicago's Conrad Hilton Hotel, on August 14th, 1959, the franchises that initially joined Hunt's Dallas Texans were: K.S. (Bud) Adams' Houston Oilers, Harry Wismer's New York Titans, Bob Howsam's Denver Broncos, Barron Hilton's Los Angeles Chargers, and Max Winter and Bill Boyer's Minnesota franchise. By November they had been joined by Ralph Wilson's Buffalo Bills and William H. (Billy) Sullivan's Boston Patriots.

Thus, Hunt's vision brought a new professional football league not only to California and New York, but to parts of the nation that did not have the game: New England, Colorado and Texas. It would later be brought to Missouri and Florida. The AFL also adopted the first-ever cooperative television plan for professional football, in which the league office negotiated an ABC-TV contract, the proceeds of which were divided equally among member clubs.​

"The Foolish Club" American Football League Owners in 1961
Seated left to right: Houston Oilers owner K.S. "Bud" Adams, Jr., AFL Commissioner Joe Foss
Standing left to right: Boston owner Bill Sullivan, Denver owner Cal Kunz,
Buffalo owner Ralph Wilson, Dallas owner Lamar Hunt, New York owner Harry Wismer, Oakland owner Wayne Valley, and San Diego owner Barron Hilton​

Originally six cities/owners were committed to the formation of the American Football League in the summer of 1959. Lamar Hunt - who had been repeatedly rebuffed by the NFL in his attempt to bring a franchise to Dallas, leading to his decision create the AFL - wanted to add two more teams before play began in 1960.

Ralph Wilson (a part owner of the Detroit Lions) first attempted to put together a team in Miami. Unable to do so, he instead created the Buffalo Bills. Billy Sullivan, who had failed to obtain an NFL franchise for Boston, paid the $25,000 to get into the AFL.

semplicemente F A N T A S T I C O
60 ANNI DI STORIA...GRANDI BOSTON PATRIOTS-NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

 

[italian pat patriot]

Today in Patriots History
Eason to Morgan to Fryar Hail Mary TD​

Sun Nov 16, 1986 at 4:00
Week 11, Game 11 at Anaheim Stadium
Patriots 30, Rams 28
Head Coaches: Raymond Berry, John Robinson
QBs: Tony Eason, Jim Everett
Odds: New England favored by 2½
Pats improve to 8-3, two games behind the Jets
Los Angeles drops to 7-4, half game ahead of SF in NFC West

On the final play of the game Tony Eason threw a Hail Mary down the right sideline which Stanley Morgan leaped over the L.A defenders to tip, and Irving Fryar dove to catch for the game-winning score.

Eason threw for what was at that time franchise records for completions (36) and passes (52), finishing with 375 yards passing. After the game he admitted that he was just throwing it up for grabs and was simply trying to keep the ball in bounds..

On the final drive the Pats faced a 4th-and-7 at their own 42 but Eason hit Tony Collins with a 7-yard pass to keep their hopes alive. The quarterback also had key completions of 18 yards to Morgan and 13 yards to Fryar on the drive.

That was the second touchdown of the 4th quarter for Fryar, the first coming when the Pats trailed 28-16 after a touchdown from Ram rookie Jim Everett to Henry Ellard. The other New England points came on three Tony Franklin field goals and a blocked punt that was returned 31 yards for a score by Rod McSwain. Morgan finished the game with seven receptions for 118 yards for the Patriots, and Collins had a combined 93 yards rushing and receiving.

​

what a play...TONY EASON - STANLEY MORGAN - IRVIN FRYAR

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

what a play...TONY EASON - STANLEY MORGAN - IRVIN FRYAR

One month earlier, Dave Henderson tore the hearts out of Angels fans in that same area of that stadium. I think SoCal had enough of the Boston area teams for a while after Eason-to-Morgan-to-Fryar.

Regards,
Chris

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Marion, Fryar lead Pats over Seattle​

November 17 has not historically been a good day for the Pats. The club has won only one game on this date since the merger, that coming in 1985. Hopefully that trend will reverse to the norm today against Philadelphia.


Sun Nov 17, 1985 at 4:00
Week 11, Game 11 at the Kingdome
Patriots 20, Seahawks 13
Head Coaches: Raymond Berry, Chuck Knox
QBs: Steve Grogan, Dave Krieg
Odds: Seattle favored by 3½
Pats improve to 8-3, tied with Jets for 1st
Seattle drops to 6-5, 3rd in AFC West

The Patriots came from behind with two fourth quarter touchdown passes by Steve Grogan to win their sixth consecutive game, and eighth game of the season.

Seattle led 13-7 at the end of three quarters but Grogan found Craig James on a 23-yard score to tie it, and then Irving Fryar on a 13-yard strike with 2:39 remaining to win the game.

The winning score was set up when LB Larry McGrew tipped a Dave Krieg pass and safety Fred Marion returned it 83 yards to the Seattle 15. Marion had two interceptions on the game and Roland James had another; Andre Tippett and Garon Veris each had two sacks and Don Blackmon had one as well. Fryar finished with 82 yards receiving; he also had the first touchdown of the game on an 8-yard end around.




Fri Nov 17, 1961 at 7:00
Week 11, Game 11 at Nickerson Field
Patriots 20, Raiders 17
Head Coaches: Mike Holovak, Marty Feldman
QBs: Butch Songin, Babe Parilli; Tom Flores
Pats improve to 6-4-1, half game behind Houston in AFL East
Oakland drops to 2-8, 4th in AFL West

The Patriots won on a bizarre play that could not happen in today's NFL. In the 4th quarter the Pats had Oakland backed up in their end of the field, and forced the Raiders to punt out of their own end zone. Important reminder: at that time football goal posts were on the goal line, not at the back end zone. Oakland's Wayne Crow punted the ball and it hit the crossbar of the goal post, deflecting back into the end zone but not out of play. Patriot DE Leroy 'Sweat Pea' Moore pounced on it, giving the Pats the lead - and the victory.

Ron Burton's six-yard run gave the Pats a 7-0 first quarter lead. In the second period Oakland’s Tom Flores tied it up with a 31 yard pass, and then Gino Cappelletti regained the lead for the Pats with a 29-yard field goal. Oakland came back on another Flores touchdown pass before a Cappelletti 33-yard field goal made the score 14-13 Raiders at halftime. Oakland added three more in the third quarter on a FG before Moore's touchdown gave the Patriots the lead, improving their record to 6-4-1.

Sun Nov 17, 1963 at 1:00
Week 11, Game 11 at Fenway Park
Patriots 24, Chiefs 24
Head Coaches: Mike Holovak, Hank Stram
QBs: Babe Parilli, Eddie Wilson
Patriots move to 5-5-1, one game behind Houston
Kansas City goes to 2-6-2, 3rd in AFL West

The Chiefs tied the game on a last second touchdown from backup Eddie Wilson, who was making his first pro start, to Curtis McClinton. For the Patriots Babe Parilli passed for 354 yards, Tony Romeo caught 10 passes for 149 yards and one TD, Jim Colclough had 9 catches for 137 yards, and Larry Garron ran for one touchdown and 75 yards on just 9 carries.

More details on this game here.

Sun Nov 17, 1968 at 4:00
Week 11, Game 10 at Municipal Stadium
Chiefs 31, Patriots 17
Head Coaches: Mike Holovak, Hank Stram
QBs: Tom Sherman, Len Dawson
Pats drop to 3-7, four games behind
KC improves to 9-2 with best record in the AFL

The Chiefs, who went on to finish 12-2 this season, were just too good on both sides of the ball for the Pats in this game as Len Dawson threw for 333 yards and three touchdowns. The Patriots were led by Jim Whalen (5 catches for 59 yards), Bill Murphy (4 catches for 72 yards) and Tom Sherman, who threw two touchdowns.

Sun Nov 17, 1974 at 1:00
Week 10, Game 10 at Schaefer Stadium
Jets 21, Patriots 16
Head Coaches: Chuck Fairbanks, Charley Winner
QBs: Jim Plunkett, Joe Namath
Pats drop to 6-4, two games behind Miami
Jets improve to 3-7, 4th in AFC East

Sam Cunningham (21 rushes for 113 yards) outplayed counterpart Emerson Boozer, but that was not enough. The Jets RB had a better supporting cast as the Pats settled for three field goals while the Jets were scoring touchdowns; Mack Herron scored the only TD for the Pats on a 5-yard run.

​

Sun Nov 17, 1991 at 1:00
Week 12, Game 11 at Foxboro Stadium
Jets 28, Patriots 21
Head Coaches: **** MacPherson, Bruce Coslet
QBs: Hugh Millen, Ken O'Brien
Odds: NYJ favored by 3
Pats drop to 3-8, 4th in 5-team AFC East
Jets improve to 6-5, four games behind Buffalo

The Pats rallied from a 21 point deficit but Jon Vaughn was tackled on the one-yard line as time expired, losing in the final minute of play for the fourth consecutive game.

Down 21-0 the Patriots rallied for three touchdowns in ten minutes, with an instant-replay reversal giving Vaughn a two-yard touchdown (his second of the day) to tie the score with 2:16 to go.

Ken O'Brien brought the Jets back and threw a 3-yard touchdown to backup OL/TE Trevor Matich with 57 seconds left. Matich, who does a very good job as a college football analyst these days, was drafted in the first round of the 1985 draft by the Pats and considered to be a huge draft bust. He did manage to bounce around for 12 NFL seasons with five teams though, primarily as a long snapper.

The Pats got the ball back on their 27 and Hugh Millen directed the final drive; a 16-yard pass to Irving Fryar (who had scored the first NE touchdown on a 56 yard reception) gave the Pats first down on the Jets 8-yard line with 12 seconds left. Millen then completed a pass to Greg McMurtry to the one-yard line, but Vaughn’s run behind the left side of the line was stopped short of the goal line.

After the game coach **** MacPherson admitted that Vaughn had not practiced that play, but rather FB Leonard Russell (who had only 5 yards on 8 carries) got the ball in practice on those situations – but he decided to 'go with the hot hand', and let Vaughn run it instead.

Millen finished with 372 yards passing on a 30-43 game; Fryar had 8 catches for 143 yards; McMurtry had 7 catches for 94 yards; and Marv Cook had 8 catches for 89 yards for the Patriots.




Sun Nov 17, 1996 at 1:00
Week 12, Game 11 at Foxboro Stadium
Broncos 34, Patriots 8
Head Coaches: Bill Parcells, Mike Shanahan
QBs: Drew Bledsoe, John Elway
Odds: New England favored by 2½
Pats drop to 7-4, one game behind Buffalo
Denver improves to 10-1 with best record in the NFL

Terrell Davis flashed his Hall of Fame form as Denver won their 7th straight game, and simultaneously ended the Pats four game winning streak. This is the game when marbles mouth Shannon Sharpe emitted his infamous National Guard comment.

John Elway had a long history of greatness against the Pats, but on this day he just sat back and watched. Davis finished with 210 yards from scrimmage: 154 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries, plus four receptions for 56 yards and another TD.

The only points for the Patriots came in the third quarter on a 7-yard run by Curtis Martin, and a 2-point conversion from Drew Bledsoe to Keith Byars.

Denver finished the season with a 13-3 record but lost their first playoff game to Jacksonville; the Pats would go on to finish 11-5 and make it to the Super Bowl, losing to the Packers in New Orleans.

​

Sun Nov 17, 2002 at 8:30
Week 11, Game 10 at Network Associates Coliseum
Raiders 27, Patriots 20
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Bill Callahan
QBs: Tom Brady, Rich Gannon
Odds: Oakland favored by 4½
Pats drop to 5-5, one game behind Miami
Raiders improve to 6-4, one game behind Denver and San Diego

The Raiders exacted a very minute bit of revenge as they beat the team that had defeated them in the previous year’s playoffs - in what is alternately known as the Snow Bowl Game or the Tuck Rule Game, depending on your allegiance and point of view.

Oakland recovered a Tom Brady fumble that led to a score to take a 17-6 halftime lead, then Zack Crockett ran for his second touchdown in the third quarter to put the Raiders up by 18. Tedy Bruschi intercepted a pass that had bounced off the foot of Lawyer Milloy and ran it back 48 yards for a touchdown to close the gap but the Pats couldn’t get much of any offense going against a stingy and fired up Oakland defense. Late in the 4th quarter Sebastian Janikowski field goal made the score 27-13 but Kevin Faulk ran the ensuing kickoff back 86 yards for a touchdown, with 59 seconds left to play. Adam Vinatieri, who had kicked two field goals, attempted the onside kick but the Raiders recovered and ran out the clock.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Leonard Russell​

Happy 50th birthday to Leonard Russell
Born Nov 17, 1969 in Long Beach, California
Patriot RB, 1991-1993; uniform #32
Pats 1st round (14th overall) selection of the 1991 draft, from Arizona State

In 1993 Leonard Russell rushed for 1,088 yards and seven touchdowns, and in six NFL seasons he totaled 4,819 yards from scrimmage with 29 touchdowns. Russell was the 1991 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, with 959 yards rushing.

As a rookie Russell was good enough to replace John Stephens, who had totaled 3,310 yards from scrimmage in his first three seasons. However, he was never able to become a 'Parcells guy' after the Tuna replaced **** MacPherson as head coach in Foxboro, and lasted only three seasons with the Pats. With the benefit of hindsight Parcells should have retained Russell, a far better choice at RB than Marion Butts and his 2.9 yards per carry in 1994.

Happy 24th birthday to J.C. Jackson
Born Nov 17, 1995 in Immokalee, Florida
Patriot CB, 2018-present; uniform #27
Signed as a rookie undrafted free agent from Maryland on May 11, 2018

Jackson overcame long odds to make the 2018 roster, and ended up starting five games. As a rookie he had three interceptions and six pass deflections, while limiting opponents to a 48.9% completion rate. Jackson performed well enough for the Pats to trade away two drafted corners. In the Patriot victory against Buffalo Jackson became the first NFL player in thirty years to block a punt and also intercept two passes in a single game.






Happy 45th birthday to Marc Edwards
Born Nov 17, 1974 in Cincinnati, Ohio
Patriot FB, 2001-2002; uniform #44
Signed March 19, 2001 as an unrestricted veteran free agent

Marc Edwards was selected in the second round of the 1997 draft by San Francisco, and spent two seasons with the 49ers and two with Cleveland before becoming a Patriot. The Notre Dame alum never missed a game in his two years with the Pats. Edwards rushed for 237 yards and one touchdown as a short yardage runner, and added 362 yards and one touchdown receiving. Over nine NFL seasons Marc Edwards scored 13 touchdowns, with 1,706 yards from scrimmage.

Happy 41st birthday to Reggie Wayne
Born Nov 17, 1978 in New Orleans
Patriot WR, 2015 offseason; uniform #15
Signed Aug 25, 2015 as an unrestricted veteran free agent

Reggie Wayne caught 1,070 passes for 14,345 yards and 82 touchdowns in 14 seasons with the Colts. He was named to six Pro Bowls and was one of the very best receivers of his era. From 2004 to 2012 he averaged 92 receptions, 1,240 yards receiving and 7½ touchdowns per season.

The Patriots signed Wayne late in the 2015 offseason, three months shy of his 37th birthday. If his idea was to wait to sign and avoid an arduous training camp, that plan backfired. Eleven days later the Pats granted Wayne's request to be released, after he stated that the work environment was too tough and not fun.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Joe Thuney​

Happy 27th birthday to Joe Thuney
Born Nov 19, 1992 in Centerville, Ohio
Patriot LG, 2016-present; uniform #62
Pats 3rd round (78th overall) selection of the 2016 draft,
from North Carolina State University

From Mike Reiss via espn on 9/15/2019:

a 5-position offensive lineman: A run of injuries and retirements on the offensive line has created roster-related stress for the Patriots -- starting in spring practices, extending through training camp, and now into Week 2 of the season. Thankfully for them, they have Thuney, who is one of the few linemen in the NFL who can play all five positions at a high level.

Thuney has started every game at left guard since the Patriots selected him in the third round out of NC State in 2016, with a pick that was acquired as part of the team trading defensive end Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals.

But in spring practices and parts of training camp this year, he worked as the top left tackle as Isaiah Wynn was brought back cautiously from a torn Achilles. And last Sunday, he kicked out to right tackle when starter Marcus Cannon left the game because of a shoulder injury.

If the Patriots needed him at center or right guard, he'd easily be a fit there as well -- as he was in the 2016 preseason finale (playing center for a touchdown drive) and in his redshirt sophomore year at NC State (playing right guard).

The 6-foot-5, 308-pound Thuney, whose smarts and athleticism contribute to his versatility, has value to the Patriots similar to that of former left guard Logan Mankins (2005-2013). Bill Belichick once noted that Mankins could play all five spots on the line in a starting role.​

Jan 29, 2019: What makes Joe Thuney the most underrated New England Patriot? | masslive

Midway through his third season, Thuney has continued to win on Sundays at a rate few outside of Foxborough could've expected. Pro Football Focus ranks Thuney as the NFL's fifth-best guard this year. Better yet, he's become New England's most dependable offensive player, as the only one to start every game since 2016.

Bill Belichick summarized Thuney's impact rather succinctly Tuesday.

"He's one of our best players," Belichick said. "One of our most consistent players."

Never has Thuney been better than over the last month. The North Carolina State product has been a one-man stonewall in three of the Pats' last four games, surrendering zero pressures and run stuffs. He's allowed a team-low four pressures all season and been whistled for a single holding penalty.​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Sayonara, Rex​

Mon Nov 23, 2015 at 8:30
Week 11, Game 10 at Gillette
Patriots 20, Bills 13
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Rex Ryan
QBs: Tom Brady, Tyrod Taylor
Odds: New England favored by 7
Pats improve to 10-0, 2 games ahead of Cincy and Denver for #1 seed
Buffalo drops to 5-5, T-2 with Jets

The Patriots won their tenth straight game in what turned out to be the final game between Rex Ryan and Bill Belichick.

James White caught a 20 yard pass for the first touchdown of his pro career just before the half, and then ran for a 6-yard score in the third quarter to put the Pats up for good. Ryan dropped to 4-11 versus the Patriots and 5-5 in his final season as a head coach. The Pats improved to 10-0 but finished the game with just two healthy receiver after Danny Amendola - who had nine receptions for 117 yards - was sidelined with a knee injury. Future Patriot Stephon Gilmore picked off a 4th quarter Brady pass to keep the game close, but Buffalo was unable to score on their final possession.

​

Sun Nov 23, 2014 at 1:00
Week 12, Game 11 at Gillette
Patriots 24, Lions 9
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Jim Caldwell
QBs: Tom Brady, Matthew Stafford
Odds: New England favored by 7
Pats improve to 9-2, 3-game lead in AFC East
Detroit drops to 7-4, 1 game behind Green Bay

The Patriots were productive in all three phases of the game, cruising to their seventh straight victory. Tom Brady threw for 349 yards and two touchdowns on the 14th anniversary of his pro football debut. Jonas Gray was benched a week after his 201-yard performance, so newly re-signed LeGarrette Blount stepped in and ran for 78 yards and two touchdowns. NFC South division leading Detroit was only able to score three field goals, as the Patriot defense made crucial stops all afternoon.

Ryan Allen boomed a 66 yard punt early, and after a 3-and-out the Pats were in good field position. Tim Wright scored on the first of his two touchdown receptions, and then Danny Amendola's 81 yard kickoff return set up a Blount TD. It was the sixth game of the season that New England won by at least 22 points, and stopped a four game winning streak by the Lions.

​

Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 1:00
Week 12, Game 11 at Dolphin Stadium
Patriots 48, Dolphins 28
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Tony Sparano
QBs: Matt Cassel, Chad Pennington
Odds: New England favored by 2
Pats improve to 7-4, one game behind Jets
Miami drops to 6-5, T-3 with Bills

Randy Moss caught three touchdown passes as the Pats broke open a tight game with 31 second half points.

Matt Cassel was 30-43 for 415 yards and three touchdowns as the Dolphins were able to force the Pats to punt just one time; for Cassel it was his second straight 400-yard game. Moss finished with eight catches for 125 yards, Wes Welker had eight receptions for 120 yards, Jabar Gaffney had five catches for 88 yards, and Kevin Faulk had 105 yards from scrimmage (53 rushing, 52 receiving). Besides Moss's three touchdowns the Pats also scored three rushing touchdowns (by Cassel, Faulk and BenJarvus Green-Ellis), and Stephen Gostkowski kicked a pair of field goals.

Brandon Meriweather's interception with under nine minutes to play (on the first play from scrimmage after the third touchdown by Moss) pretty much sealed the victory, with the Pats up 38-28. Four plays later after a Gostkowski field goal made it 41-28, Matt Light famously had enough of Channing Crowder - and you can see the result below.

​

Sun Nov 23, 2003 at 1:00
Week 12, Game 11 at Reliant Stadium
Patriots 23, Texans 20 in OT
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Dom Capers
QBs: Tom Brady, Tony Banks
Odds: New England favored by 5
Pats improve to 9-2, 2 games ahead of Miami
Houston drops to 4-7, 3rd in AFC South

The Pats won in overtime for the second time of the year, and were victorious for the game in a row. Adam Vinatieri rebounded from one field goal attempt that bounced off the upright and another that was blocked, by kicking a 28-yard game-winning field goal. Mike Vrabel had intercepted a pass on the first play from scrimmage in overtime but a Texan broke through from the left side to block Vinatieri’s first OT kick.

The victory improved the Pats record to 9-2, their best in franchise history after 11 games.

Tom Brady threw for 368 yards (including a 27-yard touchdown pass to Bethel Johnson), and later hit on a 4-yard TD to Daniel Graham to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Earlier in the game Johnson, who got the start due to an injury to Troy Brown, made a nice play to strip the ball away after the Texans had intercepted Brady; his recovery set up a field goal by Vinatieri. Houston had taken the lead when they scored a TD after a fumble by Brady, and a field goal after a blocked punt.

Kevin Faulk had 188 yards from scrimmage, with eight receptions for 108 yards and 80 yards rushing. On defense Rodney Harrison and Richard Seymour both had a sack, and Mike Vrabel had an interception.

​

Thu Nov 23, 2000 at 12:30
Week 13, Game 12 at the Pontiac Silverdome
Lions 34, Patriots 9
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Gary Moeller
QBs: Drew Bledsoe, Charlie Batch
Odds: Lions favored by 6½
Pats drop to 3-9, 5th in AFC East
Detroit improves to 8-4, 2nd in NFC Central

This game is noteworthy for being the one in which Tom Brady threw his first NFL pass. For trivia buffs both his first pass (incomplete, too fast) and first completion (two plays later) went to J.R. Redmond.

The only Patriot points came on three Adam Vinatieri field goals as they lost in their second-ever Thanksgiving game.

The game was actually a lot closer than the final score would indicate. The Patriots led 9-6 in the 3rd quarter before Detroit took the lead on a 1-yard TD pass by Charlie Batch. Then in the 4th quarter the Lions scored three times.

The dagger was set up when a Drew Bledsoe pass was intercepted deep in Patriots territory, setting up a TD. The exclamation point was a 101-yard interception return by Bryant Westbrook off another Bledsoe pick with 4:13 to go. After that turnover Bledsoe was done for the day, replaced by the rookie Brady. In his first NFL game TB12 went 1-3 for six yards.

After the game was over Willie McGinest led a players only meeting, saying that "I told them that I take these games personally. Our team has to be accountable for our mistakes. As a team, this can’t go on."​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Bledsoe Beats Marino, Twice​

Mon Nov 23, 1998 at 8:20
Week 12, Game 11 at Foxboro Stadium
Patriots 26, Dolphins 23
Head Coaches: Pete Carroll, Jimmy Johnson
QBs: Drew Bledsoe, Dan Marino
Odds: New England favored by 3
Pats improve to 6-5, one game behind
Miami drops to 7-4, tied with Buffalo and NY for 1st

On Monday Night Football the Patriots rallied for a 4th quarter victory on Shawn Jefferson's 25-yard touchdown reception from Drew Bledsoe with 34 seconds left to play, in a game which took second billing to news that the Patriots would be moving to Hartford in 2001.

The winning touchdown capped a 15-play, 80-yard drive with Bledsoe gutting it out after jamming his finger on his throwing hand after slamming it on a helmet while converting two 4th-and-10's on the drive. The winning touchdown came one play after Bledsoe hit Jefferson for 12 yards on 4th-and-7.

The Pats abandoned the run in this game, throwing the ball 54 times while running it just 19 times. Bledsoe finished the game with 423 yards passing. Jefferson had six catches for 131 yards and one TD; Ben Coates had nine catches for 78 yards and a TD; and Adam Vinatieri was 4-for-4 on field goals of 25, 44, 45 and 24 yards.

(fan with video camera from stands, full hour video
​

Sun Nov 23, 1997 at 1:00
Week 13, Game 12 at Foxboro Stadium
Patriots 27, Dolphins 24
Head Coaches: Pete Carroll, Jimmy Johnson
QBs: Drew Bledsoe, Dan Marino
Odds: New England by 4
Pats improve to 7-5, T-2 with Dolphins
Miami drops to 7-5, one game behind NYJ

The Pats jumped out to a 24-3 halftime lead and held on to beat Dan Marino and the Dolphins.

In the 2nd quarter a wide open Troy Brown scored on a 35-yard option pass from Dave Meggett to give the Patriots a 10-3 lead. About three minutes before halftime Larry Whigham picked Marino off and returned the ball 60 yards to put the the Pats up by two scores.

Miami drove down the field and with 20 seconds left on the clock Jimmy Hitchcock one-upped Whigham, returning an interception 100 yards for another New England touchdown.

Adam Vinatieri kicked what turned out to be the game winning points on the opening drive of the 3rd quarter with his second field goal of the game. Miami scored three times on one-yard runs by Karim Abdul-Jabbar but the Pats were able to hang on for the win, despite Miami recovering two onside kicks. With the victory the Pats moved in to a second place tie at 7-5 with Miami in the AFC East.




Sun Nov 23, 1986 at 1:00
Week 12, Game 12 at Sullivan Stadium
Patriots 22, Bills 19
Head Coaches: Raymond Berry, Marv Levy
QBs: Tony Eason, Jim Kelly
Odds: New England favored by 13
Pats improve to 9-3, one game behind the Jets
Buffalo drops to 3-9 (but 3 games ahead of Indy)

Greg Baty's 13-yard touchdown pass from Tony Eason with 1:40 to go gave the Patriots a come from behind win - after blowing a 15-0 lead - for the Pats sixth consecutive victory.

The Pats seemed to be in control early - scoring on a safety, a Craig James run, and a pair of Tony Franklin field goals - before a Scott Norwood field goal got the Bills on the scoreboard as the Pats led 15-3 at halftime.

The Patriots couldn't get much going offensively in the second half and Buffalo kept chipping away. Norwood booted three more field goals and then Jim Kelly threw a touchdown pass to give the Bills their first lead of the game, 19-15, before Baty's game-winner.

Tony Collins had eight receptions for 84 yards to lead the Pats offense. On the defensive side of the ball Raymond Clayborn and Ronnie Lippett each had an interception while Johnny Rembert had a pair of sacks, and Don Blackmon, Larry McGrew, Steve Nelson and Brent Williams had one sack apiece.

Patriots Drive Bills 'Baty' With Comeback Victory

Tony Eason kept his promise and rookie Greg Baty lived up to his reputation Sunday, lifting the New England Patriots to their second straight comeback victory, a 22-19 triumph over the Buffalo Bills.

Eason passed 13 yards to Baty for his first NFL touchdown reception with 1:40 left to win the game.

The Patriots (9-3), who beat the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday on a desperation pass as time expired, won their sixth straight. The Bills have lost 22 straight road games.

Buffalo (3-9) recovered from a 15-0 second-quarter deficit to breifly take a 19-15 lead on Robb Riddick's 31-yard touchdown reception from Jim Kelly with 3:50 left.

Then Eason made his promise -- or so Patriots coach Raymond Berry said.

"Tony Eason told the guys in the huddle, 'If you protect me, I guarantee that we'll score."'

Eason hit Tony Collins with a 15-yard pass on third-and-one, putting the ball on Buffalo's 37-yard line. On the next play, Eason passed 24 yards to Stanley Morgan, moving the Patriots to the 13.

Baty, an eighth-round draft pick from Stanford with a reputation for having sure hands, beat safety Dwight Drane to the left corner of the end zone and then held on as both players fell.

"The defender had a hand on it and was trying to knock it away," Baty said. "But I had two hands on it."

Backup quarterback Steve Grogan, who calls plays for the Patriots, received Baty's compliments.

"The call and the timing were, right and the defense was perfect," Baty said. "I said, 'This is a TD.' If I could get by him (Drane) at the line, I knew I could beat him."​

Sun Nov 23, 1980 at 1:00
Week 12, Game 12 at Schaefer Stadium
Patriots 47, Colts 21
Head Coaches: Ron Erhardt, Mike McCormack
QBs: Matt Cavanaugh, Greg Landry
Odds: New England favored by 6
Pats improve to 8-4, one game behind Buffalo
Baltimore drops to 6-6, T-3 with Miami

The Pats ran for 245 yards and the defense forced five Baltimore turnovers – returning three for touchdowns – as the Patriots steamrolled the Colts in Foxboro.

The Patriots led 10-0 at halftime, and then Rod Shoate picked off a pass and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown. After a Colts TD and a John Smith field goal the Pats led 20-7 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Rick Sanford recovered a fumble and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown to give the Pats a 20-point lead, but two touchdown runs by Baltimore's Curtis ****ey sandwiched around a 9-yard TD pass from Matt Cavanaugh to Carlos Pennywell cut the lead to 33-21. Don Calhoun (19 carries for 106 yards) then scored his second touchdown of the game, and Allan Clark finished things off with a touchdown on a 15-yard fumble return.

Defensively Steve Nelson and Roland James both had an interception, while on offense Vagas Ferguson joined Calhoun with 100 yards rushing of his own. The rare feat of two New England players rushing for 100 yards in the same game would not be repeated until 2012, against the Bills. Coincidentally the three touchdown returns was a record for both the Pats (scored) and the Colts (allowed); it would be repeated 32 years later in the Pats 59-24 win over Indy in 2012.




Sun Nov 23, 1975 at 1:00
Week 10, Game 10 at Rich Stadium
Bills 45, Patriots 31
Head Coaches: Chuck Fairbanks, Lou Saban
QBs: Steve Grogan, Joe Ferguson
Pats drop to 3-7, one game ahead of the Jets
Buffalo improves to 6-4, T-2 with Baltimore

Sam Cunningham ran for 100 yards and scored three times in a see-saw battle in Buffalo.

Joe Ferguson's 77-yard touchdown pass to J.D. Hill gave the Bills an early 14-0 lead, but the Pats tied it on two scores by Cunningham: a 10-yard run and an 11-yard pass from Steve Grogan. After the Bills regained the lead, Grogan connected with Russ Francis on a 21-yard touchdown pass to cut the Buffalo lead to 24-21 at halftime.

Cunningham’s third touchdown of the day gave the Pats the lead, but O.J. Simpson (who had scored earlier on a 2-yard run) caught a 3-yard pass from Ferguson to give the Bills a 31-28 lead after three quarters. John Smith's 34-yard field goal tied it, but Simpson scored two more times - on a 1-yard run and a 3-yard pass - to win it for Buffalo.

For the Patriots Grogan finished the game with 365 yards passing, Cunningham had 100 yards on 19 carries, Francis had 7 receptions for 125 yards, and Randy Vataha had 5 catches for 96 yards.




Sun Nov 23, 1969 at 1:00
Week 11, Game 11 at Alumni Stadium
Patriots 35, Bills 21
Head Coaches: Clive Rush, John Rauch
QBs: Mike Taliaferro, Jack Kemp
Pats improve to 3-8, T-3 in the AFL East
Buffalo drops to 3-8

Mike Taliaferro threw three touchdown passes and Carl Garrett had 226 all-purpose yards as the Pats rallied in the 4th quarter to beat the Bills.

Taliaferro threw two first quarter TDs to Charley Frazier, and then in the 2nd quarter hit Ron Sellers (5 catches for 102 yards) on a 35-yard TD to give the Pats a 21-7 lead. However, Buffalo came back on a pair of touchdown passes from Jack Kemp to Haven Moses and the score was tied at 21 entering the 4th quarter. Jim Nance plowed into the end zone on a 2-yard plunge, and then Garrett scampered 65 yards for the final score.

The Patriot defense did an excellent job, picking Kemp off four times; Ed Philpott had two interceptions, and Larry Carwell and John Charles had one each. Garrett finished the game with 96 yards on 13 rushes, two receptions for 26 yards, a 63-yard kickoff return, and a 41-yard punt return.




Fri Nov 23, 1962 at 7:00
Week 12, Game 11 at Nickerson Field
Patriots 21, Bills 10
Head Coaches: Mike Holovak, Lou Saban
QBs: Tom Yewcic, Jack Kemp
Pats improve to 7-3-1, a half game behind Houston
Buffalo drops to 5-6-1, 3rd in AFL East

In an era when offenses completed just a hair over half of their pass attempts, Tom Yewcic connected on 71% of his passes and threw three touchdowns to lead the Patriots to their seventh victory. It was a career-best day for the punter and backup QB from Michigan State, who went 12-17 for 231 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a near-perfect 152.6 passer rating.

After Jack Kemp scored on a 6-yard run to give Buffalo an early lead, Yewcic hit Jim Colclough with a 31-yard TD. He then connected with Ron Burton on a 69-yard pass to put the Pats up 14-7 at the half. The Bills closed to within four with a 3rd quarter field goal, and then Yewcic threw an 18-yard 4th quarter touchdown pass to Gino Cappelletti to finish the scoring. Burton had 133 total yards from scrimmage on the day for the Pats, and Colclough finished with 72 yards receiving.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Muffed Punt caps 24-point
OT comeback over Broncos​

Former Patriots Tony Carter and Wes Welker combine for a Denver special team gaffe in overtime. That headline overshadowed the fact that the Patriots rebounded from bad early bounces to overcome a 24-point deficit. The Pats win on a Stephen Gostkowski field goal with less than two minutes remaining in overtime, 34-31.

​

Sun Nov 24, 2013 at 8:30
Week 12, Game 11 at Gillette
Patriots 34, Broncos 31 in OT
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, John Fox
QBs: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning
Odds: Denver favored by 2½
Weather: 22 degrees with 22 mph wind; wind chill of six degrees
Pats improve to 8-3
Broncos drop to 9-2


The Patriots rallied from a 24-0 deficit in one of the best comebacks in team (and NFL) history in front of a national Sunday night audience.

Stephen Gostkowski's game winning 31-yard field goal came with just 1:56 remaining in overtime. It was set up on a Denver special teams gaffe by two former Patriots. Tony Carter was attempting to block Patriots running downfield in coverage but ran into Ryan Allen's punt after it bounced. Denver punt returner Wes Welker appeared to be late in waving off the punt, and Carter did not see or hear the former Patriot. Nate Ebner recovered to set up Gostkowski's kick.

Early on it appeared to be another National Guard game, as the Patriots turned the ball over on a fumble on each of their first three drives. The rest of the first half possessions weren't much better: three punts and a failed fourth down conversion.

The Patriots drove 80 yards to open the second half and score their first touchdown on a 5-yard pass to Julian Edelman. The Pats got the ball back when Dane Fletcher forced a fumble and Brandon Spikes recovered at the Denver 32. That led to a Brandon Bolden rushing TD, and the Bronco lead was quickly cut to 24-14.

A sack by Jamie Collins on third down forced a punt, and the Patriots scored again. Tom Brady connected with Kenbrell Thompkins for 14 and then Edelman for a gain of 42 on the first two plays of the drive. Brady hit Rob Gronkowski on 3rd down for a 6-yard TD, and just before the third quarter ended it was a three-point game.

Three plays later Logan Ryan picked off a Peyton Manning pass for Eric Decker. Three more plays after that Brady's 14-yard TD pass to Edelman gave the Patriots their first lead of the game, 28-24. After forcing a three and out the Pats had the ball and the momentum. New England drove deep but could not capitalize on a 1st and ten at the 14, settling for a field goal.

The rout appeared to continue when Aqib Talib intercepted Manning on Denver's first play of the ensuing possession, but that was nullified by a penalty. The Broncos scored to tie the game with 3:10 remaining, and both offenses were forced to punt in the final minutes. Overtime consisted of four more punts before the muff that set up the game-winning field goal.

The much hyped meeting between Brady and Manning was extremely one-sided. TB12 threw for 344 yards, 3 TD and no interceptions. Manning was just 19-36 for 150 yards (a net of 132 after two sacks), 2 TD and 1 INT, averaging just 4.2 yards per pass.



Recap from Chad Finn at the Boston Globe:
Degree of difficulty makes Patriots' rally over the Broncos all the sweeter

The hideous opening scenes will be lost in the buzz of the greatest comeback in franchise history against their most prominent individual rival, and that's how it should be.

Unless you decided a decent night's sleep or beating traffic was a superior option to watching the Patriots' sure-to-be-hopeless attempt to rally from a self-inflicted 24-0 deficit Sunday night, well, this is a day for giddiness and heightened hopes and trying and trying again to believe what you just saw the night before.

"What a crazy game,'' said tight end Rob Gronkowski after the Patriots' 34-31 overtime victory over Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos at Gillette Stadium. "It was unbelievable, so fun to be a part of."

Stephen Gostkowski's 31-yard field goal in overtime provided the official margin of victory after Nate Ebner recovered a misplayed punt by former Patriot Tony Carter.


The comeback is credited to the whole, of course, but it was it ever marked by brilliant individual performances. Julian Edelman out-Welkered prodigal son Wes Welker, catching 9 passes for 111 yards and scoring the Patriots' first touchdown, then a second that gave them their first lead at 28-24.

Tom Brady submitted a vintage performance in frigid conditions, completing 34 of 50 passes for 354 yards -- his 56th career 300-yard game, fifth all-time -- and three touchdowns.

Gronkowski, obviously back at full Gronk Strength after offseason surgeries, had seven catches for 90 yards, pummeled Broncos defensive backs like they were his kid brother. He also offered his usual stellar work as a blocker, particularly for Brandon Bolden (58 yards, one TD, no fumbles), who took over for Stevan Ridley and LeGarrette Blount after both coughed up the football and became personas non grata for the remainder of the night.

At least they had good seats for the show. Oh yes, this was one to savor, something even Belichick admitted after it was all said and done.

"We'll enjoy this one for a little while -- a couple hours anyway," he deadpanned.​

From the opponent's point of view, longtime Patriot hater Mike Klis:
Tom Brady, Patriots rally past 24-point Broncos lead to stun Peyton Manning | Denver Post

It couldn’t have been Bill Belichick’s halftime speech. Ever hear the New England Patriots coach talk? There are technical-drawing professors who are more inspiring.

Maybe it was not so much the Patriots’ comeback but an utter collapse by the Broncos. Improbably, incomprehensibly, the Broncos lost to New England 34-31 in overtime Sunday, wasting a 224-yard rushing performance by tailback Knowshon Moreno and a 24-0 halftime lead at frigid, blustery Gillette Stadium.


To repeat, the Broncos were up 24-0 at halftime.

The game was billed as Manning-Brady XIV. It will be remembered back home as the Great Gag at Gillette.


This Brady-Manning showdown is strange. Manning has been a great quarterback for games upon games, seasons upon seasons.

Not against Brady. Manning came into this game seemingly with the better team. Manning by a long shot was having the better season.

But Brady is not just Manning’s nemesis. Brady has Manning’s number. In head-to-head meetings, Brady is 10-4 against Manning.

There was no excuse for Manning, or the Broncos to lose this one.​

Very nice recap with film breakdown of this game here:
The 2013 Broncos Comeback: New England Patriots Greatest Games | Last Word on Pro Football

The 2013 New England Patriots were in something of a transition. After tearing up the league together for six seasons, Wes Welker and the Patriots had a nasty divorce. The duo notoriously had a tough time agreeing to contract terms, and Welker scorned New England to sign with Manning and the Broncos. The Patriots signed Danny Amendola as a replacement, but the former St. Louis Ram tore his groin in the season opener and wasn’t himself for the entire season. The Patriots were supposed to have Aaron Hernandez for 2013, but that…did not work out.

For the majority of the season, the Patriots relied on an unproven Julian Edelman and rookies Kenbrell Thompkins and Aaron Dobson. The offense was still good, but it didn’t play up to its’ usual standards. Fortunately, Rob Gronkowski was healthy for this matchup. The big tight end battled forearm and back injuries throughout the off-season and missed the first six games of the season. However, Gronkowski had knocked off the rust and was going full speed heading into the Week 12 matchup.

New England’s offense was hitting their stride, but Denver’s offense was on a ridiculous pace. The 2013 Broncos were one of the best offenses in football history, as Manning was in the midst of arguably the best season of his career. Surrounded by a fantastic set of weapons in Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, and Wes Welker...​

Full Game:
​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Other November 24 Games​

Sun Nov 24, 2002 at 1:00
Week 12, Game 11 at Gillette
Patriots 24, Vikings 17
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Mike Tice
QBs: Tom Brady, Daunte Culpepper
Odds: New England favored by 8
Pats improve to 6-5, one game behind Miami
Minnesota drops to 3-8, 3-way tie behind GB

Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes and the Patriots recovered three Minnesota fumbles to improve their record to 6-5.

The Pats jumped out to a 21-0 lead when they scored on each of their first three possessions, ending in Brady TD passes of 9 yards and 1 yard to Christian Fauria, and a 5-yarder to Troy Brown. For Fauria that was his sixth touchdown of the year, after totaling seven touchdowns in his previous seven NFL seasons combined.

Up by three scores the Pats got the ball again when Richard Seymour recovered a Minnesota fumble by Randy Moss with 2:14 left to play in the half. Unfortunately the Pats could not deliver the knockout punch. Due to a strong wind the Pats went for it on 4th and 10 rather than attempt a field goal, and Brady was sacked at the 39. Minnesota drove down the field and scored to make it 21-7 at halftime.

The wind came in to play again in the 3rd quarter when a Ken Walter punt traveled only 24 yards. The Vikings took advantage of the field position and scored on Daunte Culpepper's second touchdown pass to make it 21-14.

Turnabout was fair play though as Minnesota had the wind in their face on their final drive. A long pass from Culpepper to Moss fell short with 25 seconds to play, and on 4th down Culpepper's next pass sailed wide of his target.

Sun Nov 24, 1996 at 1:00
Week 13, Game 12 at Foxboro Stadium
Patriots 27, Colts 13
Head Coaches: Bill Parcells, Lindy Infante
QBs: Drew Bledsoe; Jim Harbaugh, Paul Justin
Odds: New England favored by 6
Pats improve to 8-4, one game behind Buffalo
Indy drops to 6-6, tied with Miami

Curtis Martin rushed for 141 yards on a season-high 35 carries as the Pats got their fifth win in six games, and improved to 8-4. The victory allowed the Pats to stay within one game of first place Buffalo, while opening up a two-game lead over the third place Colts.

The Patriots dominated the whole game, leading 17-0 before the Colts had made even a single first down. Martin had 92 yards rushing by halftime and set a team record with his 16th touchdown of the season.

The Colts were without DT Tony Siragusa and the Pats made a concerted effort to run at his replacement behind LT Max Lane. The effective running set up play action passes, with Drew Bledsoe throwing touchdown passes to Shawn Jefferson and Terry Glenn to put the Pats up 17-0.

The Patriots were just as productive on defense, holding Marshall Faulk to 25 yards on 10 carries and knocking QB Jim Harbaugh out of the game. The only Indianapolis touchdown came with less than three minutes to play with the Pats up by 21 points.

​

Sun Nov 24, 1991 at 1:00
Week 13, Game 12 at Foxboro Stadium
Patriots 16, Bills 13
Head Coaches: **** MacPherson, Marv Levy
QBs: Hugh Millen, Jim Kelly
Odds: Buffalo favored by 8½
Pats improve to 4-8, 4th in 5-team AFC East
Bills drop to 10-2, still best record in AFC

On Steve Grogan Fan Appreciation Day the Pats ended a four-game losing streak in which all the losses came in the final minutes, upsetting the heavily favored Bills and handing Buffalo just their second loss of the season.

The Patriots defense was spectacular, intercepting four Jim Kelly passes and also sacking the Buffalo QB four times. Kelly's longest completion went for just 14 yards and the Pats blanketed James Lofton, limiting him to just one catch – and then forcing and recovering a fumble on that play.

Buffalo led 10-0 early but the Pats came back with a 46-yard field goal by Charlie Baumann, and then a 50-yard touchdown from Hugh Millen to Irving Fryar to cut the lead to 10-9 at halftime. A 34-yard pass from Millen to Fryar set up the game-winning score, a two-yard quarterback sneak by Millen with 13:09 left to play.

Millen finished with 263 yards passing and Fryar had six receptions for 134 yards and one touchdown. Fryar was named the AFC Offensive Player Of the Week for his performance in this game.

​

Sun Nov 24, 1985 at 1:00
Week 12, Game 12 at Giants Stadium
Jets 16, Patriots 13 in OT
Head Coaches: Raymond Berry, Joe Walton
QBs: Steve Grogan, Tony Eason; Ken O'Brien
Odds: NYJ favored by 3½
Pats drop to 8-4, T-2 with Miami
Jets improve to 9-3

The Pats six-game winning streak came to an end when Pat Leahy kicked his third field goal of the game in overtime.

Steve Grogan - who was undefeated after having been promoted to the starting QB over an ineffective Tony Eason after a 2-3 start - suffered a broken leg early in this game. The Jets moved into sole possession of first place with a 9-3 record while the Pats dropped one game behind them at 8-4.

After the Jets opened up a 13-3 lead on an 88-yard pass from Ken O’Brien to Wesley Walker the Pats tied it up in the 4th quarter on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Eason to Cedric Jones, and Tony Franklin's second field goal of the game. Craig James rushed for 108 yards on 14 carries and added another 58 yards on six receptions for the Pats; on defense they sacked O’Brien six times, including three by Julius Adams.

Sun Nov 24, 1974 at 1:00
Week 11, Game 11 at Memorial Stadium
Patriots 27, Colts 17
Head Coaches: Chuck Fairbanks, Joe Thomas
QBs: Jim Plunkett, Marty Domres
Pats improve to 7-4, one game behind Miami and Buffalo
Baltimore drops to 2-9, last place in AFC East

Jim Plunkett passed for one touchdown and ran for another in a 17-point 2nd quarter, and the Pats cruised from there to improve their record to 7-4 to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Plunkett completed 17 of 26 passes for 194 yards with no interceptions, including a two-yard scoring toss to John Tanner to put the first points of the game on the board in the second quarter. After the Colts scored in the 3rd quarter to cut the lead to 17-10, Mack Herron found the end zone on a one-yard run, and then John Smith's second field goal put the game out of reach. The Pats defense came up with three turnovers to stifle Baltimore, including interceptions by Jack Mildren and John Sanders.

​

Sun Nov 24, 1968 at 1:00
Week 12, Game 11 at Fenway Park
Dolphins 34, Patriots 10
Head Coaches: Mike Holovak, George Wilson
QBs: Tom Sherman, Bob Griese
Pats drop to 3-8, 4th in AFL East
Miami improves to 4-6-1, 3rd place

The Pats took an early lead but Miami broke the game open in the 4th quarter.

Early on the Patriots drove inside the Dolphins ten yard line but settled for a short field goal by Gino Cappelletti. When they got the ball back rookie Aaron Marsh scored on a 60-yard touchdown pass from Tom Sherman, and the Pats led 10-0 after one quarter. In the 2nd quarter Larry Csonka scored on 9-yard pass from Bob Griese and the Dolphins added two field goals to head into halftime with a 13-10 lead.

Another short Griese TD pass put Miami up 20-10 after three quarters. The Pats appeared to be about to close the gap when they drove deep into Miami territory, but **** Anderson intercepted a pass by Sherman and ran it back 96 yards for a touchdown. The 14-point swing effectively ended the game. King Corcoran got on the playing field in garbage time, with the self-promoter registering the only pass completions (3) of his AFL career.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
November 24 Birthdays​

Happy 43rd birthday to Artrell Hawkins
Born Nov 24, 1976 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Patriot CB, 2005-2006; uniform #25

Artrell Hawkins appeared in 19 regular season games with 16 starts for the Patriots, plus five playoff games in his 1½ seasons in Foxboro. In a bit of Pats history trivia, Hawkins was the player signed (re-signed) when Willie McGinest was released in 2006.

Hawkins - who went to the University of Cincinnati and was a 2nd round pick by the Bengals in 1998 - initially had a nice post-NFL career going. with a show on Fox Sports radio, working Bengal games on the radio, and was hired to be a high school football coach at his alma mater. That was all lost in early 2015 when Hawkins was arrested for domestic violence. Although he was acquitted, Hawkins lost all of those jobs.

On a side note, Hawkins thought highly enough of the Patriots organization that he convinced his younger brother Andrew to sign with the Pats in 2017.

Via Mike Reiss:

"I think it's awesome. If it were up to me, he would have been there when he was a restricted free agent a few years ago," Artrell said, adding that he was "heavy-handed" when asked by his brother about what he should choose.

"The opportunity to play with [Tom] Brady, to win, to play for arguably the greatest coach of all-time, it's just a really awesome experience. I know it's not going to be mine exactly, but the primary pieces are still in place there. I've always said that being a part of the Patriots kind of saved my NFL experience. Not to say that I'm not appreciative or didn't enjoy playing other places, but as a kid, or when you're dreaming up playing in the National Football League, it's vying for championships, it's winning. So when he was talking to me about it about a week or so ago, I was a big advocate of it."

The Patriots were the last team Artrell played for in a 10-year career that began when the Bengals selected him in the second round of the 1998 draft.

The brothers, despite being 10 years apart, share a close bond. The connection also extends to the next generation of Hawkins playing football, as Artrell's son, Aeneas, is one of the nation's top 2018 college recruits and Andrew has spent considerable time helping him.

"When I was in Foxborough, Aeneas was [age] 6-7 at the time, and he would come to the stadium with me, sit in the hot tub. Brady would take him in the weight room with him," Artrell recalled. "So he's a big Patriots fan."

Artrell, who turned 40 in November, splits his time between Cincinnati and Pennsylvania. He is studying to become a preacher and said, "Life has never been better."​

Happy birthday to **** Christy (1935 - 1966)
Born November 24, 1935 in Philadelphia, PA
Patriot HB/KR/PR, 1960; uniform #23

**** Christy was a jack-of-all trades in the inaugural 1960 season for the Boston Patriots. The North Carolina State alum caught three touchdown passes, rushed for two more TDs, returned 24 kickoffs and eight punts. Christy also went 6-11, passing for two more touchdowns.

The Packers drafted the All-American in the third round (27th overall) of the 1958 draft, but he was injured in the College All-Star game prior to the start of his rookie season. Christy was also an AFL All-Star in 1962, and the ACC Player of the Year in 1957.

In 1966 he signed to play in the old Atlantic Coast Football league, but sadly died in an automobile accident at the age of 30.

2016 NC State Athletic Hall of Fame: **** Christy
​

Happy 30th birthday to Travis Howard
Born November 24, 1989 in Miami
Patriot CB, 2013 practice squad

The Ohio State Buckeye spent time with the Pats, Giants and Falcons.




Other pro football players born on this date with a New England connections:

Ryan Fitzpatrick, 37 (Nov 24, 1982)
Harvard University

In twelve games against the Patriots, Fitzpatrick has thrown 22 interceptions.

Player Game Finder - Ryan Fitzpatrick Query Results | Pro-Football-Reference.com


George Zorich (1918 - 1967)
Born and raised in Wakefield MA; Wakefield HS
RG/LB in the 40s for the Bears, Miami Seahawks, and Colts

Larry Siemering (1910 - 2009)
Boston Redskins
The center played 22 games with Boston in 1935-36

Donny Brady, 46 (Nov 24, 1973)
Browns/Ravens CB makes this list for his name; does Belichick remember him as an undrafted rookie free agent in '95?




Notable pro football players born on November 24 include three Hall of Famers and an AFL great:

Yale Lary (1930-2017)
HoF Bio:

Detroit Lions fans recall Yale Lary in many different ways. Some remember him as a superb right safety, a key cog in Detroit's fearsome defensive platoon in the 1950s and 1960s. Others will tell you he was one of history's truly great punters. Still others say it was his breakaway ability on punt returns that set him apart from all the rest.

In reality, each assessment is correct because the multi-talented Texas A&M product did all of those things superbly well during his 11 years with the Lions. There is no question that Yale's defensive play was exceptional. A fixture at right safety throughout his career, he was named to the All-NFL team five times and played in nine Pro Bowls. His career mark showed 50 interceptions and he might well have had many more had not opposition quarterbacks avoided throwing in his area.

Still those who remember Lary as a superb punter have plenty of reason to do so. His career average of 44.3 yards on 503 punts places him among the best ever. He won three NFL punting titles and missed a fourth by a razor-thin margin. "Kicking from the end zone, Yale invariably put the ball across midfield with enough hang time to let us cover the kick," team captain and Hall of Fame linebacker Joe Schmidt recalled. "He made our defense look good because he always gave us room to work."​

John Henry Johnson (1929-2011)
HoF Bio:

When he retired after the 1966 season, his 6,803 career rushing yards ranked him behind only Jim Brown, Jim Taylor, and Joe Perry as the top ground gainers of all time. Johnson also was an excellent pass receiver with 186 receptions for 1,478 yards. He scored 330 points on 55 touchdowns in his career.​

Stan Jones (1931-2010)
HoF Bio:

He switched to guard in 1955 and, for the next eight seasons, was a fixture at that position and one of the NFL's most highly respected guards. For most of those years, he was the Bears' offensive captain. Jones possessed size, quickness and strength. He was one of the first pro football players to concentrate on a weight-lifting program to build him into playing condition. A good pass blocker and respected as a pulling guard, Jones was disciplined and dependable.

He missed only two games his first 11 seasons. He was an All-NFL guard in 1955, 1956, 1959, and 1960 and played in seven straight Pro Bowls following the 1955 through 1961 seasons. When the Bears needed help on their defensive unit in 1962, assistant coach George Allen decided that Jones, with size and game intelligence, could help at defensive tackle.

Jones played both ways in 1962 and then switched to defensive tackle permanently in 1963. That year, the Bears marched to the NFL championship on the strength of an outstanding defensive platoon.​

Jerry Mays (1939-1994)
Tales from AFL:

By all accounts Jerry Mays was a special person. A phenomenal player with a work ethic that set him apart from most others, he quickly became one of the league’s best at his position. He earned First Team All-Pro honors in just his second season, and was honored with the first of his seven trips to the AFL All-Star or NFL Pro Bowl Games.

In fact, so beloved was Mays that when he considered retiring early to join his father in the construction business, a local dairy printed a form letter on the side of milk cartons that fans could sign and send to Mays. He was inundated with requests to rejoin the team, and soon ended his thoughts of leaving the game.​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
2010: Patriots 45, Jets 3






​

Patriots take division lead with 45-3 dismantling of Jets on Monday Night Football

Patriots embarrass Jets 45-3 - The Boston Globe

Brady, Patriots Rout Jets 45-3

Patriots Rout Jets 45-3

Tom Brady, Patriots Rout Jets 45-3 in Monday Night Massacre

​

 

[italian pat patriot]

simply great !

 

[jmt57]

simply great !

I'm not sure why - nostalgia, I suppose - I enjoy looking at old programs.

Here are a few other obscure ones:

From 1966; PatFanKen played in the ACFL

A couple from Fenway Park, pre-Patriots:

This one looks as if it was from the 1800's, not 1926

A preseason game in the franchise's first year:

The Patriots first regular season game:

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Pats win 27-26
with 2 TDs in last 61 seconds​

Sun Dec 8, 2013 at 1:00
Week 14, Game 13 at Gillette
Patriots 27, Browns 26
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Rod Chudzinski
QBs: Tom Brady, Jason Campbell
Odds: New England favored by 9½
Pats improve to 10-3; 3-game lead over Miami in AFC East
Cleveland drops to 4-9; 5 games behind Bengals in AFC North

This game was a boring snoozefest until late in the third quarter. Then things got very interesting over the final twenty minutes.

The Patriots were down 12-0 before finally getting on the board with a Stephen Gostkowski 33-yard field goal, with 1:41 left in the third quarter. On first down after the kickoff Josh Gordon caught a short pass to the left and raced 80 yards for a touchdown, giving Cleveland a 19-3 lead.

Brady came out and threw a deep pass to Shane Vereen on first down that went for 50 yards. He connected with the running back again on the next play for 16 yards, and then Vereen capped the three-play drive with a 6-yard TD run up the middle. A second chance on a 2-point conversion was good, making the score 19-11.

After combining for 12 points in the first 43 minutes, the two teams had scored three times for 18 points in a span of 92 seconds.



A sack by Rob Ninkovich forced Cleveland to punt on the next drive, and on the following possession Gostkowski hit on a 50-yard field goal. However Gordon came through again, running for 34 yards on an end around and gaining 19 yards on a 3rd-and-17 reception. The Browns punched it in on a 4-yard run and were up 26-14 with 2:43 left to play.

Starting on their own 18, Brady completed seven of eight passes - all to either Vereen or Julian Edelman - and after spiking the ball had 2nd and goal on the two. Vereen was stuffed on a run up the middle, forcing the Pats to use their third timeout. On the next play Brady hit Edelman, and after the extra point the score was 26-21.

Cleveland's Jordan Poyer was flagged 15 yards for unnecessary roughness on the Edelman touchdown catch, which would prove to be a critical play. That moved the kickoff from the 35 yard line to the 50. With 1:04 to play Kyle Arrington recovered the onside kick, and the Pats had the ball on the Cleveland 40 yard line.

After a 10-yard completion to Danny Amendola, Brady threw to Josh Boyce in the end zone. Boyce and CB Leon McFadden battled for the ball, which fell to the ground - but McFadden was flagged for pass interference. On the next play Brady found Amendola open for a touchdown and the lead.

The Browns still had 31 seconds left, and Campbell completed three passes to move Cleveland to the Patriot 40 yard line. Billy Cundiff - who would become more well known for missing a game tying 32-yard field goal attempt for the Ravens against the Pats in the 2011 AFC Championship Game - missed a 58-yard field goal attempt, and the Patriots held on for the one-point comeback victory.

18 minute Highlight Video:

​

Josh Gordon was unstoppable in this game. He had seven receptions on ten targets for 151 yards and one touchdown, plus the 34 yard run. Gordon set an NFL record for most yards receiving in four consecutive games (774), and scored on a pass play of 70+ yards for the third time in four weeks. In the loss he also set the Browns franchise records for the most receiving yards in a single season, eventually ending the year with 1,646 yards.

The Pats had just as much trouble defending TE Jordan Cameron, who caught all nine passes thrown his way for 121 yards and a touchdown.

Shane Vereen had single game career highs in receptions (12), receiving yards (153) and yards from scrimmage (162). Josh Boyce had a career high with 49 yards receiving - and perhaps the biggest play of his career, drawing the pass interference penalty in the end zone.

This was also the game that TJ Ward hit Rob Gronkowski with what most felt was a cheap shot. Gronk tore his ACL on the hit, sidelining him for the remainder of the season and the playoffs.

Full Game Video:
​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Brady vs Bledsoe II
The John Lennon Game​

Sun Dec 8, 2002 at 1:00
Week 14, Game 13 at Gillette
Patriots 27, Bills 17
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Gregg Williams
QBs: Tom Brady, Drew Bledsoe
Odds: New England favored by 3½
Pats improve to 8-5, tied with Miami for 1st place
Buffalo drops to 6-7, one game behind the Jets

This was Drew Bledsoe's first game in Foxboro since being traded, but Tom Brady threw two touchdowns while Drew ruined his own homecoming by throwing four interceptions.

Brady hit Deion Branch on the first play of the game for 41 yards, and the Pats settled for a field goal after holding on Matt Light nullified a 15-yard TD to Branch. On their second drive a 33 yard completion to Christian Fauria and a 21-yard end around by Troy Brown led to a 10-yard TD reception by David Patten.

On Buffalo's first play after the kickoff Richard Seymour intercepted Bledsoe that had been tipped by Anthony Pleasant, and two plays later Brady threw a 9-yard TD to Donald Hayes. That gave the Pats a 17-0 lead with 3:17 still left to play in the first quarter. Late in the second quarter the Pats had another touchdown called back after Kevin Faulk threw a 23-yard TD to Brady, due to an illegal shift.

Buffalo cut the lead to 20-10 in the second half, but on their first play after a punt Otis Smith hit Peerless Price on a 6-yard reception, forcing and recovering a fumble. The Patriots ran Antowain Smith on six of the next seven plays before the former Bill scored on a 4-yard run.




Sun Dec 8, 1996 at 4:00
Week 15, Game 14 at Foxboro Stadium
Patriots 34, Jets 10
Head Coaches: Bill Parcells, Rich Kotite
QBs: Drew Bledsoe, Glenn Foley
Odds: New England favored by 13
Pats improve to 10-4, 1st place (one game ahead of Buffalo)
Jets drop to 1-13, 5th place (worst record in NFL)

The Patriot defense dominated, limiting the Jets to 42 yards and 244 yards of total offense while racking up four sacks. The Pats held a 27-16 edge in first downs while possessing the ball for nearly ten more minutes (35:22-24:38) and running 16 more offensive plays.

Curtis Martin rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries for the Pats. Keyshawn Johnson's third quarter 4-yard touchdown reception made the score 20-10 to give the Jets a bit of hope. But on the next Jet possession Ty Law stepped in front of a pass intended for Keyshawn and ran it back 38 yards for a pick-six, giving the Pats a 27-10 lead.




Sun Dec 8, 1991 at 1:00
Week 15, Game 14 at Foxboro Stadium
Patriots 23, Colts 17 in OT
Head Coaches: **** MacPherson, Rick Venturi
QBs: Hugh Millen, Jeff George
Odds: New England favored by 8
Pats improve to 5-9, 4th place
Indianapolis drops to 1-13, 5th place

The Patriots overcame a 17-3 4th quarter deficit to force overtime, and then won on a 45-yard Hugh Millen to Michael Timpson pass. Millen went 21-40 for 330 yards with two touchdowns and two picks - while being sacked eight times!!!

Brockton High School's Greg McMurtry had the best day of his football life, with career highs for receptions (8) and receiving yards (118). TE Marv Cook had 90 yards receiving, the second highest in his NFL career.

Patriots 23, Colts 17 | UPI

New England sent the game into overtime by scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter. John Stephens scored from the 1 with 13:30 to go, and with nine seconds left, Millen found Timpson with a 26-yard throw to the 2. He followed that by hitting Ben Coates for the tying score.

'What we're showing now is this amazing comeback ability under the direction of Hugh Millen,' said New England Coach **** MacPherson said, 'and he's even getting better at that.'​

Sun Dec 8, 1985 at 1:00
Week 14, Game 14 at Sullivan Stadium
Patriots 23, Lions 6
Head Coaches: Raymond Berry, Darryl Rogers
QBs: Tony Eason, Eric Hipple
Odds: New England favored by 8
Pats improve to 10-4, T-1st with Miami and Jets
Detroit drops to 7-7, T-2nd in NFC Central

Craig James rushed for 115 yards to lead the Pats to victory on a cool (29 degrees wind chill) game in Foxboro. The Patriot defense forced three turnovers and the Pats held the ball for over 35 minutes; the Patriots held a 352-246 advantage if total yards.

Tony Franklin kicked three field goals, and Tony Eason (14-22) threw a 6-yard TD to Derrick Ramsey, and ran 16 yards for another touchdown.




Mon Dec 8, 1980 at 9:00
Week 14, Game 14 at the Orange Bowl
Dolphins 16, Patriots 13 in OT
Head Coaches: Ron Erhardt, Don Shula
QBs: Matt Cavanaugh, David Woodley
Odds: New England favored by 3
Pats drop to 8-6; 2nd place, 2 games behind Buffalo
Miami improves to 7-7, tied with Baltimore in 3rd place

The John Lennon Game

There were three seconds left in the game, score tied at 13, and million of viewers watching "Monday Night Football" as New England Patriots kicker John Smith trotted onto the Orange Bowl field.

For those who remember the next few moments of that night, Dec. 8, 1980, Smith and the game itself have become historical and cultural markers overshadowed by but forever connected to Howard Cosell's announcement that John Lennon had been shot and killed.

"Remember, this is just a football game, no matter who wins or loses," Cosell told TV viewers. "An unspeakable tragedy, confirmed to us by ABC News in New York City: John Lennon, outside of his apartment building on the West Side of New York City, the most famous, perhaps, of all the Beatles, shot twice in the back, rushed to Roosevelt Hospital, dead on arrival. Hard to go back to the game after that news flash, which in duty bound, we have to take."

As fans watching the game on TV listened to Cosell deliver the stunning news, all they saw was Smith preparing for a field goal attempt. Meanwhile, players and fans inside the stadium were not aware of what Cosell had just announced on national television. There was no public-address announcement or murmur through the crowd, like there would have been today with people scanning social-networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook.

Instead, fans inside the stadium watched as Smith's kick was blocked, disappearing into the aqua and orange of Miami's defensive line. The Dolphins scored on the first possession of overtime to win 16-13, and Smith and his Patriots teammates walked off the field, knowing that another opportunity had slipped away.

"I was upset and mad because we didn't make the kick, and I was also thinking, 'What the heck happened up front with our offensive line?'" recalled Smith, 60. It was not until reporters entered the locker room that the players found out about Lennon.

"The press was talking about two things: the fact that we'd lost the game and we had a lead in the fourth quarter, and then it changed to John Lennon," Smith said. "It put things in perspective."

​

​

Sun Dec 8, 1974 at 1:00
Week 13, Game 13 at Schaefer Stadium
Steelers 21, Patriots 17
Head Coaches: Chuck Fairbanks, Chuck Noll
QBs: Jim Plunkett, Terry Bradshaw
Pats drop to 7-6; 3 games behind Miami, 2 behind Buffalo
Pittsburgh improves to 9-3-1, 1st in AFC Central

Mack Herron had 124 yards from scrimmage, but the Pittsburgh Steel Curtain defense forced three turnovers and added two points on a safety to squeak by the Patriots.

The win that began the Pittsburgh Steeler dynasty | CBS Sports

But another game that should be mentioned with these two is Pittsburgh's victory over the Patriots in New England during Week 13 of the '74 season. After an ugly loss at home to the Houston Oilers, Joe Greene, the team's leader who would win his second Defensive Player of the Year honor that season, was so disgusted that he temporarily quit the team. But after an offensive assistant talked him out of it, Greene returned and was on the field when Pittsburgh faced a talented Patriots team in Foxborough with a division title at stake.

After falling behind early, the Steelers would go onto score 21 of the game's final 31 points while clinching their second AFC Central division crown in three years. Pittsburgh's Steel Curtain defense held the Patriots to under 200 total yards, while Franco Harris gashed New England's defense to the tune of 136 yards and a score on 29 carries.

The win not only gave the Steelers a division title, it gave Pittsburgh the confidence it needed heading into the postseason.

"It felt so wonderful," Harris said of that win during a 2006 interview with NFL Films. "It was like a big load off our shoulders."

"I think what we were happy about was not necessarily winning the division," Greene added, "but beating a good team on the road and looking good doing it."

The game was also significant because of the changes Pittsburgh made to their lineup. After spending the season shuffling quarterback Terry Bradshaw in and out of the lineup, head coach Chuck Noll stuck with Bradshaw -- a future first ballot Hall of Famer -- from that point forward.

"There was just a new spirit," Harris said. "Now we're starting again; a brand new season. Plus we have our people in place. Win or lose, this is who we have."

The Steelers wouldn't lose again, defeating O.J. Simpson's Buffalo Bills, John Madden's Raiders and Bud Grant's Minnesota Vikings en route to winning the franchise's first of six Vince Lombardi Trophies.​

Sun Dec 8, 1968 at 1:00
Week 14, Game 13 at the Orange Bowl
Dolphins 38, Patriots 7
Head Coaches: Mike Holovak, George Wilson
QBs: Tom Sherman, Bob Griese
Pats drop to 4-9, 4th in AFL East
Miami improves to 5-7-1; 3rd place, a half game behind the Oilers

Jim Nance scored on a 30-yard run to tie the score early in the second quarter, but it was all Miami after that. The Patriots turned the ball over four times, with the explanation point being a Dolphin special teams touchdown for the final points. Nance was the lone bright spot for the Pats rushing for 111 yards on 19 carries.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
December 8 Birthdays​

Happy 45th birthday to Tony Simmons
Born Dec 8, 1974 in Chicago
Patriot WR, 1998-2000; uniform #81
Pats 2nd round (52nd overall) selection of the 1998 draft, from Wisconsin

The 1998 draft was not a good one by any means for Bobby Grier and Pete Carroll. With six of the first 83 selections, the Pats should have had a few solid players stick around for a while. The fluke injury to Robert Edwards could not be foreseen. Tebucky Jones was a solid starter. But Simmons, TE Rod Rutledge, RB Chris Floyd and DE Greg Spires were wasted draft picks (though to be fair, Spires did eventually become a solid starter for the Bucs). The four picks from rounds 4-7 contributed virtually nothing.

Simmons played in 38 games with nine starts for the Pats. He had bad hands, catching only 56 of the 118 passes thrown his way, for 998 yards and six touchdowns. In 2001 the team assigned him to Barcelona in NFL Europe, but his days in Foxboro were finished. Simmons then signed with four other NFL teams, but rarely saw the field and caught only two more passes before heading to the CFL.

Since then Tony Simmons has had an interesting journey. After playing with the British Columbia Lions from 2005-07, he was seemingly finished with pro football. In 2010 he signed on as a player-coach for the Triangle Razorbacks in Denmark. Since then he has coached football teams in twelve different countries, including a victory in the 2016 Russian American Football Championship for the Moscow Patriots.

​

Happy 58th birthday to David Howard
Born Dec 8, 1961 in Enterprise, Alabama
Patriot OLB, 1991-92; uniform #99

David Howard was drafted by Minnesota in 1984, and spent six seasons with the Vikings and Cowboys. How he arrived in New England is part of Patriot franchise folklore.

In 1991 the Patriots owned the first overall pick of the draft. The Pats wanted to come to an agreement with Notre Dame WR Raghib 'Rocket' Ismail, who was runner-up for the Heisman Trophy behind QB Ty Detmer. The two sides were far apart, and Ismail elected to sign a record-breaking contract with Toronto in the CFL.

Rather than simply draft and sign the next best player, the Pats traded their number one pick away to Dallas. The Cowboys thought they could entice Ismail to play for them, but were unable to do so and eventually drafted Outland Trophy winner Russell Maryland, from Miami. The defensive tackle would go on to have a ten year career, winning three Super Bowls.

In return Dallas sent the Pats their own number one pick, 11th overall (Pat Harlow); a 2nd round pick (#41, Jerome Henderson); LB Eugene Lockhart, CB Ron Francis, and Howard. Suffice to say, Dallas got the better end of that deal.

Howard played in all 32 games of the **** MacPherson era, with 15 starts. He played in 120 games (plus five playoff games) over eight NFL seasons.

Happy 50th birthday to Victor Green
Born Dec 8, 1969 in Americus, Georgia
Patriot safety, 2002; uniform #27
Signed as an unrestricted veteran free agent on July 13, 2002

Patriots, overlooked Green agree to deal | espn

The Pats signed Victor Green at the age of 33 after he had spent nine seasons with the Jets. He played in all 16 games, with five starts, primarily used in a role as the nickel back. Green recorded 88 tackles and two tackles for a loss with the Pats. He also had three pass deflections, and a memorable week two interception.

Against the team that had cut him Green picked off Vinny Testaverde, and ran the ball back 90 yards for a touchdown. The play was a 14-point swing, giving the Patriots an insurmountable 27-0 third quarter lead. The Pats would go on to defeat the Jets - who were at home and favored to win - by the final score of 44-7.

The expression on the face of Herm Edwards is priceless.​

Patriots rout Jets in convincing road win | Boston Globe

The 78,726 at the Meadowlands headed to the exits en masse after Victor Green's 90-yard interception return for a touchdown extended the Patriots lead to 27-0 late in the third quarter. There was no reason to stay, unless it was to boo Vinny Testaverde and the rest of the Jets.​

Patriots leave Jets High, Dry and Helpless | New York Times

They cannot keep the fans from filing out of the home opener in the third quarter, or booing before halftime. Not when the team's leading rusher was the punter, or the Jets had only nine first downs, or Vinny Testaverde could not complete a pass to a wide receiver until late in the third quarter, only to follow it on the next play with a pass that was intercepted and returned 90 yards for a touchdown -- by a player the Jets had let go, at that.

By the time the former Jet Victor Green completed his long, gleeful romp past their bench, the Jets' fate was obvious today. They were on their way to a 44-7 whipping at the hands of the New England Patriots, the worst loss since 1995, when a Rich Kotite-led team lost, 47-10, to the Raiders.

It was the most lopsided loss in a home opener in Jets history, and the worst loss of Herman Edwards's tenure as head coach.​

Happy 35th birthday to Antonio Johnson
Born Dec 8, 1984 in Greenville, Mississippi
Patriot DT, 2015 offseason; uniform #98

Dec 31, 2014: Patriots sign three, including RB Dion Lewis, to future contracts | NESN

The New England Patriots are planning for 2015.

The Patriots signed running back Dion Lewis, linebacker Rufus Johnson and defensive tackle Anthony Johnson to future/reserve contracts. The Patriots worked out Lewis in November after he was released by the Indianapolis Colts.

Lewis, Johnson and Johnson can spend the offseason with the Patriots under future contracts. The Patriots signed running back Jonas Gray and offensive lineman Jordan Devey, both of whom are on the current 53-man roster, to reserve contracts last year.

Antonio Johnson was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL draft. He also spent four season with the Colts. He has 143 career tackles and 4.5 sacks in six seasons.​

The Colts signed Johnson off the Tennessee practice squad in 2008, and he remained with Indy from 2008-2012. Johnson then re-signed with Tennessee in 2013. He was cut with an injury settlement and the end of training camp with the Titans in 2014 - and had began pursuing a career as a professional video game player when the Pats signed him.


Aug 17, 2015: Antonio Johnson holds nothing in reserve | Boston Herald

It’s not often that a 30-year-old player signs a future/reserve contract, but that’s exactly what Antonio Johnson did last December to stay in the NFL.

Johnson didn’t play a snap in 2014. The Tennessee Titans cut the defensive lineman last September after an arthroscopic knee scope kept him out for the entire preseason, and Johnson didn’t find a home until the Patriots came calling at the end of December.

Since he signed, Johnson has done nothing but impress with his work ethic.

Johnson was a Patriots offseason award winner — generally given to players who have outstanding attendance for team workouts — alongside the likes of wide receiver Julian Edelman and offensive lineman Bryan Stork, and has been present for every practice session of training camp.

Johnson’s actions on and off the field have earned him respect among his peers, and he has caught the eye of coach Bill Belichick.

“Hard-working player,” Belichick said. “Very dedicated, quiet, doesn’t say much, still works hard, does his job and a very experienced player so he’s good instinctively reading blocking schemes, doing things that experienced players would do. He definitely has that, and you can tell this guy has played a lot of football.”

Johnson earned some reps with the starting defense in training camp, as his teammates have tended to injuries and conditioning issues, but he faces an uphill climb to make a crowded defensive line on the 53-man roster. He’s competing against Alan Branch, Sealver Siliga and Chris Jones — who saw significant playing time last season — as well as 2014 first-round pick Dominique Easley and Malcom Brown, a first-rounder this year. However, if the coaching staff is looking for veteran leadership along the line to fill the void left by Vince Wilfork, the offseason-award winner could prove valuable.​

While it looked as though Johnson would make the roster early in the offseason, that was no longer the case towards the end of training camp.

Aug 27, 2015: Jake Bequette, Antonio Johnson waived | MassLive

Early in camp, Johnson, who has made 52 NFL starts, was getting reps with the first team defense. But rookie Malcom Brown and second-year pro Dominique Easley have come on in recent weeks, and Alan Branch is back from the non-football injury list. Johnson also has been beat out by second-year lineman Zach Moore, who has bulked up about 15 pounds. The Pats also signed Casey Walker, who was with the team in 2014. Walker had been getting reps ahead of Johnson.​

Happy 80th birthday to Leroy Jackson
The halfback was a 2nd round (14th overall) selection by the Pats in 1962, but opted to sign with the NFL's Browns instead.

Happy birthday to Bennie McRae (1939-2012)
Chicago Bear CB was also drafted by the Pats in 1962 (8th round, #62 overall).




Some others with a New England connection:

Herb Kempton (1892-1970)
Born in Malden; Malden HS; Phillips Exeter Academy; Yale

Irv Hill (1908-1978)
1933 Boston Redskins




Other notable pro football players born on this date:
Hall of Fame OT Bob Brown, 78
Chargers QB Philip Rivers, 38
LB EJ Junior, 60
QB Jeff George, 52

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Happy Birthday, Ronnie Lippett!

Ronnie Lippett hated the Dolphins ever since an incident when he visited a Dolphins training as a university student. Of his 24 career interceptions, 7 of them were Dan Marino passes.

Ronnie Lippett - Wikipedia

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Patriots crush Miami 41-13
Homecoming for ex-Raiders in Oakland
Tyrone Poole's 2 picks stop Jags in the snow
Walsh, Montana 4th quarter comeback
Patriots D stops Buffalo 24-2
OJ runs over the Patriots again​

Sun Dec 14, 2014 at 1:00
Week 15, Game 14 at Gillette
Patriots 41, Dolphins 13
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Joe Philbin
QBs: Tom Brady, Ryan Tannehill
Odds: New England favored by 7½
Pats improve to 11-3; 3-game lead over Buffalo
Miami drops to 7-7, 2 games behind for a wild card

The Patriots clinched their sixth straight AFC East title, exacting a bit of revenge for a week one 33-20 upset loss in Miami. With that win the Pats became the first team in NFL history to win 11 division titles in a 12-season span.

Ryan Tannehill completed a 50-yard pass to Mike Wallace on the first play from scrimmage; four plays later Jamie Collins blocked a field goal attempt and Kyle Arrington returned the ball 62 yards for a touchdown.

​

Patrick Chung led the Patriot defense with 10 tackles, plus two pass deflections and an interception that led to a 27-yard touchdown pass to Gronk (3 receptions for 96 yards). With that play the Patriots scored ten points in a 13-second span, to go up 31-13. Duron Harmon also had a pass defensed, and a 60 yard interception return to set up a Shane Vereen TD in the second quarter.

Jonas Gray rushed for 62 yards on just 11 carries, Julian Edelman had 88 yards and a TD on seven receptions, and Tom Brady went 21-35 for 287 yards with two touchdowns and one pick. TB12 also had a slow 17 yard scramble in the third quarter to set up a LeGarrette Blount 3-yard TD early in the second half; it was the third longest rush of Brady's career.




Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 4:15
Week 15, Game 14 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Patriots 49, Raiders 26
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Tom Cable
QBs: Matt Cassel, JaMarcus Russell
Odds: New England favored by 7
Pats improve to 9-5; 3-way tie with Dolphins and Jets
Oakland drops to 3-11, 3rd place in AFC West

The Patriots scored on each of their first four possessions, and led 21-0 before Oakland had gained a single first down. Two former Raiders had some fun in the victory. Randy Moss caught two of Matt Cassel's career-high four touchdown passes, and LaMont Jordan ran for a 49-yard touchdown - and averaged over eight yards per carry en route to a 97-yard day.

This game had the rare occurrence of back-to-back kickoff returns for a touchdown, resulting in 21 points being scored in a 26-second span. Wes Welker caught a 13-yard pass with 13:12 to play in the second quarter to give the Patriots a 28-7 lead. Justin Miller returned Stephen Gostkowski's kick 91 yards for a touchdown; then Ellis Hobbs returned the favor by bringing Sebastian Janikowski's kickoff back 95 yards to the end zone to make the score 35-14.




Sun Dec 14, 2003 at 1:00
Week 15, Game 14 at Gillette
Patriots 27, Jaguars 13
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Jack Del Rio
QBs: Tom Brady, Byron Leftwich
Odds: New England favored by 6
Pats improve to 12-2, tied with KC for best record in NFL
Jacksonville drops to 4-10

For the second straight week the Pats defeated a Florida team in the snow, extending their franchise record for consecutive wins to ten.

Patriots tame Jaguars for tenth straight win | Boston Globe

Before teams can think about winning at Gillette, they first must conjure ways to score. Darn that waiver system. When Jaguars receiver Kevin Johnson, on whom the Patriots put a waiver claim when he was cut by the Browns last month, hauled in a 27-yard touchdown pass from Byron Leftwich with 3 minutes 22 seconds remaining, it ended the Patriots’ streak of 62 opponent possessions and 19 quarters at Gillette without allowing a touchdown. Before Johnson’s touchdown, an opponent had not crossed the goal line since Steve McNair did so with 4:40 remaining in the Patriots’ Oct. 5 win over the Titans - five home games ago.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, the Patriots were the first team not to allow a touchdown in four home games since the 1938 New York Giants. Had the streak reached five games, New England would have tied the 1932 Chicago Bears. Both the Giants in ‘38 and the Bears in ‘32 went on to win the NFL championship, by the way.​

Tom Brady went 6-6 on the opening drive, completing a 27-yard TD to Daniel Graham. Surprisingly it was the first time all season the Patriots scored a touchdown on their first possession. TB12 finished 22-34, 228 yards with two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 103.6 passer rating.

On Jacksonville's first play Byron Leftwich hit Jimmy Smith for 67 yards, to the 9-yard line. With that catch Smith became the 18th player in NFL history to surpass 10,000 career yards receiving. The Patriot defense was stout, limiting Jacksonville to a field goal.

The Pats responded with a 15 play, 8:06 drive that stalled when two Antowain Smith runs up the middle from inside the five were stopped short of the goal line. Adam Vinatieri kicked the field goal to give the Pats a 10-3 lead early in the second quarter. In a bit of trivia, that field goal - 22 yards - was the shortest of the 599 field goals he made in his historic NFL career.

Jacksonville came back and had a first down on the New England five yard line, but for the second straight time the red zone defense was tough and held the Jaguars to a field goal. After that the Jaguar offense could do almost nothing against the Patriot defense. The next eight possessions consisted of five punts, a missed field goal and two interceptions.

The Patriot offense wasn't doing much either though, and the score stood at 13-6 after three quarters. On the first play of the fourth quarter Tyrone Poole intercepted a pass intended for Smith and returned it 17 yards to the original line of scrimmage, the Jacksonville 35. That led to a 10-yard TD to Troy Brown, who had just returned from a leg injury for his first game in six weeks.

After a pair of punts Poole picked off Leftwich again, returning the pass 44 yards to the three yard line. Three one yard runs by Antowain Smith later the Patriots were up 27-6, with only 4:18 left to play.

​

Sun Dec 14, 1986 at 1:00
Week 15, Game 15 at Sullivan Stadium
Forty Niners 29, Patriots 24
Head Coaches: Bill Walsh, Raymond Berry
QBs: Tony Eason, Joe Montana
Odds: San Francisco favored by 2½
Pats drop to 10-5, tied with Jets for 1st
49ers improve to 9-5-1, half game behind LA Rams

The Patriots caught San Francisco at just the wrong time. Joe Montana was able to start only eight games that year, which led the 49ers to acquire Steve Young from Tampa Bay the following offseason. The Niners had been unable to win consecutive games since week 5. The previous week SF defeated the Jets, who were in a mid-season meltdown after a good start. Prior to that San Fran had gone 3-4-1 in their previous eight games, were a game and a half back in the NFC West, and simply in the mix for a wild card berth with Dallas and Minnesota.

After a Tony Collins 4-yard TD run, the Pats led 17-16 entering the fourth quarter. The Patriot defense was unable to withstand the San Francisco running attack and wore out late. Two field goals and Joe Cribbs' second touchdown gave the Niners a 12-point lead. The Pats closed the gap with a late TD catch by Stanley Morgan (8 receptions for 121 yards, 1 TD), but were unable to score again.

The 49ers defeated the Rams the following week to win the NFC West, but in the divisional round were blown out 49-3 by the Giants. The Patriots rebounded to win at Miami and won the AFC East, but they too would lose in the divisional round: 22-17 at Denver, who would later lose 39-20 to the Giants in the Super Bowl.




Sun Dec 14, 1980 at 1:00
Week 15, Game 15 at Schaefer Stadium
Patriots 24, Bills 2
Head Coaches: Ron Erhardt, Chuck Knox
QBs: Matt Cavanaugh; Joe Ferguson, David Humm
Odds: New England favored by 3
Pats improve to 9-6, one game behind the Bills
Buffalo drops to 10-5, one of five AFC teams with a 10-5 record

The Patriot defense had their best game of the season, limiting Buffalo to eight first downs while forcing three turnovers and registering eight sacks. Buffalo starting quarterback Joe Ferguson was sidelined early with an ankle injury and backup David Humm was befuddled, going 4-14 for 39 yards and an interception. The Patriots churned out 195 rushing yards and doubled the Bills in total yards, 324-161. Vagas Ferguson ran for 81 yards and a touchdown, while Russ Francis and Andy Johnson both had touchdown receptions from Matt Cavanaugh.

The Patriots would win the following week but miss the playoffs by a game. Buffalo won at San Francisco 18-13 the following week to clinch the AFC East, while the Houston Oilers and eventual Super Bowl champion Oakland both won their final games to secure wild card spots with 11-5 records.




Sun Dec 14, 1975 at 1:00
Week 13, Game 13 at Schaefer Stadium
Bills 34, Patriots 14
Head Coaches: Chuck Fairbanks, Lou Saban
QBs: Steve Grogan, Joe Ferguson
Pats drop to 3-10, T-4th with the Jets
Buffalo improves to 8-5, one game behind the Colts and Dolphins

Don Calhoun scored on a 62 yard pass from Steve Grogan to give the Pats a 7-6 lead in the second quarter, but Buffalo dominated after that. A late 20 yard touchdown by Andy Johnson caused the final score to make the game appear to be much closer than it actually was.

The Bills scored the next 28 points, highlighted by an OJ Simpson 63 yard run in the third quarter. OJ had 185 yards rushing plus two catches for 28 yards, and Jim Braxton rushed for two touchdowns and 101 yards. The Patriot defense was simply overwhelmed as Buffalo ran the ball 53 times for 349 yards and three touchdowns. In the post-merger era it still ranks as the 15th most rushing yards by a team in a single NFL game.

Surprisingly that is not a franchise record for either team. Two years earlier in week one in Foxboro the Bills ran for 360 yards, with Simpson gaining 250 yards en route to becoming the first player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season. Almost a quarter (469 yards) of his 2,003 yards in 1973 came in two games against the Patriots.




Sun Dec 14, 1969 at 1:00
Week 14, Game 14 at the Houston Astrodome
Oilers 27, Patriots 23
Head Coaches: Clive Rush, Wally Lemm
QBs: Mike Taliaferro, Pete Beathard
Pats finish the season 4-10, T-3rd with Buffalo
Houston improves to 6-6-2, 2nd place in AFL East

The Patriots jumped out to a 16-0 lead, but having to settle for three short field goals would come back to haunt them. Houston outscored the Pats 27-7 in the final three quarters, and 13-0 in the fourth quarter.

Ron Sellers had 158 yards on three receptions, Carl Garrett ran for 74 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, and Charley Frazier had a 23-yard touchdown reception for the Patriots.

Houston controlled the ball most of the game, running 20 more offensive plays (71-51) and gaining 25 first downs. The Pats were able to muster just seven first downs the entire game and were outgained in total yardage 449-256. The game would have been a blowout if not for three Oiler turnovers helping to keep the score close.