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Today In Patriots History
Pats Advance to AFCCG - x3
- Letterman Jacket Game Rematch
- Pats hold Derrick Henry to 28 yards
- Patriots stun Chargers with five 1st half TDs
Pats Advance to AFCCG - x3
- Letterman Jacket Game Rematch
- Pats hold Derrick Henry to 28 yards
- Patriots stun Chargers with five 1st half TDs
Sunday January 13, 2013 at 4:30
2012 AFC Divisional Round Playoff Game at Gillette
New England Patriots 41, Houston Texans 28
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Gary Kubiak
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Matt Schaub
Odds: Patriots favored by 9½
Pats improve to 14-4; next up is AFCCG vs Baltimore
Texans finish 13-5
This was a rematch of the Letterman Jacket Game from six weeks earlier. The Pats held a slim 17-13 halftime lead, then broke the game open in the third quarter. New England went 69 yards on seven plays on the opening drive of the second half, upping the lead to 24-13 on an 8-yard Stevan Ridley run.
Two possessions later the Texans once again drove to the Patriot 37, but Schaub was intercepted by Rob Ninkovich at the 31. Less than three minutes later the Patriots scored on Brandon Lloyd's 5-yard touchdown catch, making the score 31-13. This was Brady's 40th career playoff touchdown pass, making him only the third player with that many in the postseason.
On their next drive, very early in the 4th quarter, Houston went for it on 4th-and-1 from their own 33 - but Schaub's long pass fell incomplete. On the very next play Brady hit Shane Vereen on a 33-yard touchdown pass. It was Vereen's third touchdown of the day, putting the game away with a 38-13 lead.
Houston did come back to trim the lead to 38-28 with 5:11 remaining, but Ninkovich recovered the ensuing onside kick after multiple bounces. The Pats held the ball for nearly four minutes before Stephen Gostkowski connected on a 38 yard field goal for the final score.
Ridley finished 82 yards rushing, averaging 5.5 yards per carry with one touchdown. Brady spread the ball effectively between Wes Welker (eight catches for 131 yards), Aaron Hernandez (six for 85 yards) and Vereen (five for 83 yards and two touchdowns).
With the victory Tom Brady became the winningest quarterback in NFL playoff history with his 17th postseason win, breaking a tie with Joe Montana. The game was also the 450th win (regular season and playoffs) in Pats franchise history. The victory put the Patriots into the AFCCG for the ninth time in franchise history, and a rematch of the 2011 title game (as well as a rematch of Week 3) with the Baltimore Ravens.
Tom Brady wins QB-record 17th playoff game as Pats advance | ESPN
Patriots 41, Texans 28 | Chicago Tribune
NFL.com Highlight Video
Full Game Video:
Saturday January 13, 2018 at 8:15
2017 AFC Divisional Round Playoff Game at Gillette
New England Patriots 35, Tennessee Titans 14
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Mike Mularkey
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Marcus Mariota
Odds: Patriots favored by 13½
Pats improve to 14-4; face Jacksonville next in AFCCG
Titans finish 10-8
The Patriot defense led the way, sacking Mariota eight times to set a franchise playoff record. Tennessee RB Derrick Henry had rushed for 156 yards the previous week against KC, but the Pats limited him to just 28 yards on 12 carries.
The defense forced three straight 3-and-outs (all for negative yardage) to open the second half, with the Patriots then going on two long scoring drives that chewed up over 11 minutes off the clock to put the game away.
Tom Brady passed for 337 yards and three touchdowns; it was his 10th career postseason game with at least three TD passes, moving him past Joe Montana for the most in NFL history. Danny Amendola led the Patriots with 11 catches for 112 yards.
15 minute Highlight Video
Patriots beat Titans 35-14 to head back to AFC title game | ESPN
New England wins in rout to advance to 7th straight AFC title game | weei.com
Patriots beat Titans 35-14 to head back to AFC championship game | LA Times
Patriots 35, Titans 14: Tom Brady dices Tennessee defense | tennesseean.com
Sunday January 13, 2019 at 1:00
2018 AFC Divisional Round Playoff Game at Gillette
New England Patriots 41, Los Angeles Chargers 28
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Anthony Lynn
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Philip Rivers
Odds: Patriots favored by 4½
Pats improve to 12-5; next game at Kansas City
Chargers finish 13-5
Sony Michel ran for 129 yards and three touchdowns as the Pats jumped out to a 35-7 halftime lead, cruising to their eighth straight AFC championship game.
Tom Brady went 34-444 for 343 yards, James White tied an NFL playoff record with 15 receptions, and Julian Edelman had 151 yards on nine catches.
The Patriots scored touchdowns on their first four possessions before the Chargers forced a three-and-out. But the punt was muffed and after a challenge it was New England's ball on the 35. Four plays later the Pats scored again, making the score 35-7.
Condensed (41 minutes) Video
5 Takeaways from the Patriots' eye-opening obliteration of the Chargers | Boston.com
Patriots Dominate Chargers to Reach A.F.C. Championship Game | New York Times
The biggest takeaways from the Patriots’ 41-28 win over Chargers | Washington Post