1994 New England Patriots season
Encyclopedia
The New England Patriots
finished the National Football League
's 1994 season
with a record of ten wins and six losses, and finished tied for first in the AFC
East
division.
The team's 35th season in football, 1994 marked the debut of Robert Kraft
as team owner. A long-time season-ticket holder, Kraft has steadily built up a business empire to where in the late 1980s he was able to purchase the land around Sullivan Stadium
and then the stadium itself – which he renamed "Foxboro Stadium" – and thus got control of the lease the team held with the stadium. This gave him a level of control over the team that new owners Victor Kiam
and James Orthwein
underestimated, to where in January of 1994 Orthwein sold the team to Kraft, for nearly $200 million.
The selling of the team to Kraft led to an explosion of ticket sales, to where all home games were sold out well before the season began, a string of home sellouts that continued into 2010.
The team responded to new ownership by rallying from a 3–6 record to finish 10–6 and make the playoffs for the first time since 1986 and only the seventh time in the team's history. The game that started the run was a 26–20 overtime win over the Minnesota Vikings
.
As part of the NFL's 75th anniversary celebration the Patriots wore throwback
uniforms in games against the Cincinnati Bengals
, Green Bay Packers
, and New York Jets
; the uniforms dated to the team's AFL
days and marked the return of the Pat Patriot
logo in the second season the team sported the more streamlined "Flying Elvis" look.
The debut game of Robert Kraft
as team owner. Drew Bledsoe
and Dan Marino
put on a passing clinic, combining for 894 passing yards and nine touchdowns (two caught by Ben Coates
of the Patriots and three snared by Irving Fryar
of the Dolphins). The game was Marino's first game back from a ruptured Achilles tendon. The Dolphins won 39–35 after the Patriots failed to convert a touchdown in the Dolphins red zone in the final minute; Ben Coates
nearly fumbled the ball to the Dolphins on the drive.
The debut home game under Kraft's ownership, the Patriots rallied from down 35–21 in the fourth quarter as a Michael Timpson
touchdown catch and Marion Butts
rushing score tied the game, but Steve Christie
's 32-yard field goal won the game for Buffalo 38–35.
The Patriots debuted their throwback
uniforms and helmets, returning the Pat Patriot
logo after it was retired following the 1992 season. David Klingler
of the Bengals threw two touchdowns to Carl Pickens
and Steve Broussard
ran in two scores for the Bengals, but Klingler was sacked seven times and the Patriots behind Drew Bledsoe
's 365 passing yards to Michael Timpson
(233 yards with a 34-yard touchdown catch) and Ben Coates
, two Marion Butts
touchdown runs, and four Matt Bahr
field goals overcame the Bengals for a 31–28 win, the Patriots' first under Robert Kraft ownership.
Both teams sported throwback uniforms, with the Packers in yellow and brown and the Patriots wearing the white road version of their AFL
-era uniforms with Pat Patriot
logo. The Packers stormed to a 10–0 halftime lead but two Vincent Brisby
touchdown catches and a last-minute Matt Bahr
field goal rallied the Patriots to a 17–16 win.
Drew Bledsoe
threw two touchdowns in the second quarter for a 17–7 Patriots lead but the Raiders rallied behind three Bledsoe INTs (the first run back for a score by Terry McDaniel
) and two Jeff Hostetler
touchdowns (one on the ground) to win 21–17.
In what tuned out to be a playoff preview, Bill Parcells
faced his former defensive assistant Bill Belichick
and the 6–2 Browns. Belichick's defense harassed Drew Bledsoe
all game, forcing four interceptions and limiting the Patriots to just two Matt Bahr
field goals while Leroy Hoard
rushed for 123 yards and caught a one-yard Mark Rypien
touchdown pass. The 13–6 loss dropped the Patriots to 3–6.
Former Oilers quarterback Warren Moon
led the Vikings to a 20–3 halftime lead, but in the third Bill Parcells
abandoned his gameplan and went to a no-huddle attack. Drew Bledsoe
threw touchdowns to Ray Crittenden
and Leroy Thompson
, the Patriots defense shut down the Vikings, and Matt Bahr
kicked the tying field goal with 14 seconds left in regulation. On the coin toss for overtime Patriots captain Vincent Brown protested the Vikings team captain's call because he called after the coin landed on the ground. The Patriots won the re-toss and Bledsoe led the Patriots down field and lobbed a 32-yard touchdown toss to Kevin Turner
. The 26–20 win ended a four-game losing streak. Moon threw for 349 yards while Bledsoe (426 yards) set NFL single-game records with 70 throws and 45 completions.
The rejuvenated Patriots raced to a 13–3 second-quarter lead as Leroy Thompson
caught a 27-yard touchdown from Drew Bledsoe
in the first quarter to go with two Matt Bahr
field goals, but the Chargers scored after Bahr's second field goal as Andre Coleman
ran back the ensuing kick 80 yards for a touchdown. The Patriots finally put the game away in the fourth on a one-yard Marion Butts
score and another Bahr field goal, offsetting a Tony Martin touchdown catch from Stan Humphries
.
One week after the epic "Fake Spike" meltdown
against the Miami Dolphins
the Jets' season-ending losing streak continued while the Patriots ended a three-game losing streak to the Jets with a 24–13 win in Foxboro Stadium
. The Jets led 13–10 in the third quarter but the Patriots pinned Boomer Esiason
at his own goalline, then Ricky Reynolds
ran back an interception for a touchdown. A Leroy Thompson
touchdown in the fourth quarter finished off the Jets as Esiason ended with just 16 completions for 40 throws. The loss was Jets coach Pete Carroll
's last trip to Foxboro until he became Patriots head coach in 1997.
The Patriots fell behind 17–3 in the second quarter, then scored 38 unanswered points for a 41–17 rout. The win knocked the Bills out of the playoffs after four straight Super Bowl trips.
Needing a win to make the playoffs, the Patriots overtook the Bears 13–3, for their seventh consecutive win and ending their regular season at 10–6. It was their first playoff appearance since 1986 and first double-digit win season since that year as well.
After seven dramatic victories in a row, the Patriots fell flat in a 20–13 loss in their first playoff game since 1986. Drew Bledsoe
was picked off three times despite a game-tying rally in the second quarter; he threw the ball 50 times but completed just 22 passes. Leroy Hoard
and Earnest Byner
totalled 96 rushing yards, outrushing the entire Patriots offensive backfield (57 yards). The win was the first in a playoff game for Browns head coach Bill Belichick
.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
finished the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's 1994 season
1994 NFL season
The 1994 NFL season was the 75th regular season of the National Football League. To honor the NFL's 75th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season...
with a record of ten wins and six losses, and finished tied for first in the AFC
American Football Conference
The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
East
AFC East
The American Football Conference – Eastern Division or AFC East is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. There are four members: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots , and New York Jets...
division.
The team's 35th season in football, 1994 marked the debut of Robert Kraft
Robert Kraft
Robert K. Kraft is an American business magnate. He is the Chairman and was the Chief Executive Officer of The Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, real estate development and a private equity portfolio...
as team owner. A long-time season-ticket holder, Kraft has steadily built up a business empire to where in the late 1980s he was able to purchase the land around Sullivan Stadium
Foxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts...
and then the stadium itself – which he renamed "Foxboro Stadium" – and thus got control of the lease the team held with the stadium. This gave him a level of control over the team that new owners Victor Kiam
Victor Kiam
Victor K. Kiam was an American entrepreneur and the owner of the New England Patriots football team from 1988-1991....
and James Orthwein
James Orthwein
James Busch Orthwein was an American advertising executive and great-grandson of Anheuser-Busch founder Adolphus Busch. Orthwein owned the New England Patriots from 1992-1993.-Life and career:...
underestimated, to where in January of 1994 Orthwein sold the team to Kraft, for nearly $200 million.
The selling of the team to Kraft led to an explosion of ticket sales, to where all home games were sold out well before the season began, a string of home sellouts that continued into 2010.
The team responded to new ownership by rallying from a 3–6 record to finish 10–6 and make the playoffs for the first time since 1986 and only the seventh time in the team's history. The game that started the run was a 26–20 overtime win over the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
.
As part of the NFL's 75th anniversary celebration the Patriots wore throwback
Throwback
The Throwback, a 1978 satirical novel written by Tom SharpeChicago Throwbacks, a member of the basketball teamThrowback may also refer to:* Evolutionary throwback, a reversion to ancestral type* Throwback, Vol...
uniforms in games against the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, and New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
; the uniforms dated to the team's AFL
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
days and marked the return of the Pat Patriot
Pat Patriot
Pat Patriot is the mascot of the New England Patriots, a National Football League franchise. He appears to be a revolutionary minuteman. The logo version of Pat wears a tricorner hat and a Continental Army uniform. This was the Patriots' official insignia until 1993, when it was replaced by the...
logo in the second season the team sported the more streamlined "Flying Elvis" look.
Staff
| New England Patriots 1994 staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
Strength and Conditioning
|
|||||
Schedule
| Week | Opponent | Score | Result | Record | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | at Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
35–39 | Loss | 0–1 | |
| 2 | Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
35–38 | Loss | 0–2 | |
| 3 | at Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL... |
31–28 | Win | 1–2 | |
| 4 | at Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
23–17 | Win | 2–2 | |
| 5 | Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
17–16 | Win | 3–2 | |
| 6 | Los Angeles Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
17–21 | Loss | 3–3 | |
| 7 | at New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
17–24 | Loss | 3–4 | |
| 8 | bye | ||||
| 9 | Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
3–23 | Loss | 3–5 | |
| 10 | at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
6–13 | Loss | 3–6 | |
| 11 | Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
26–20 | Win | 4–6 | |
| 12 | San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
23–17 | Win | 5–6 | |
| 13 | at Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... |
12–10 | Win | 6–6 | |
| 14 | New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
24–13 | Win | 7–6 | |
| 15 | Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... |
28–13 | Win | 8–6 | |
| 16 | at Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
41–17 | Win | 9–6 | |
| 17 | at Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
13–3 | Win | 10–6 | |
| Playoffs | |||||
| Wildcard | at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
13-20 | Loss | 10-7 | |
Notable games
- September 4 at Miami DolphinsMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
:
The debut game of Robert Kraft
Robert Kraft
Robert K. Kraft is an American business magnate. He is the Chairman and was the Chief Executive Officer of The Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, real estate development and a private equity portfolio...
as team owner. Drew Bledsoe
Drew Bledsoe
Drew McQueen Bledsoe is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, best known as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots from 1993-2001. During the 1990s, he was considered the face of the Patriots franchise...
and Dan Marino
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
put on a passing clinic, combining for 894 passing yards and nine touchdowns (two caught by Ben Coates
Ben Coates
Ben Terrence Coates is a former American football tight end in the National Football League and former CIAA football coach and former NFL tight ends coach. Coates didn't play football until his senior year of high school, and was a multi-sport player at Livingstone College located in Salisbury,...
of the Patriots and three snared by Irving Fryar
Irving Fryar
Irving Dale Fryar is a former American football wide receiver of the National Football League.Fryar grew up in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey and played high school football at Rancocas Valley Regional High School...
of the Dolphins). The game was Marino's first game back from a ruptured Achilles tendon. The Dolphins won 39–35 after the Patriots failed to convert a touchdown in the Dolphins red zone in the final minute; Ben Coates
Ben Coates
Ben Terrence Coates is a former American football tight end in the National Football League and former CIAA football coach and former NFL tight ends coach. Coates didn't play football until his senior year of high school, and was a multi-sport player at Livingstone College located in Salisbury,...
nearly fumbled the ball to the Dolphins on the drive.
- September 11 vs. Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
:
The debut home game under Kraft's ownership, the Patriots rallied from down 35–21 in the fourth quarter as a Michael Timpson
Michael Timpson
Michael Dwain Timpson is a former American football player and sprinter.-Early life:Timpson was a track star and multi-sport athlete at Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School in Hialeah, Florida from 1981 to 1985.-NFL:...
touchdown catch and Marion Butts
Marion Butts
Marion Stevenson Butts, Jr. is a retired professional American football running back who played 7 seasons in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers, the New England Patriots and the Houston Oilers from 1989 to 1995....
rushing score tied the game, but Steve Christie
Steve Christie
Geoffrey Stephen Christie is a former Canadian American football placekicker in the National Football League, who, as a member of the Buffalo Bills, became known for his ability to kick clutch field goals, even in poor weather.-Early career:Christie, who grew up in nearby Oakville, Ontario,...
's 32-yard field goal won the game for Buffalo 38–35.
- September 18 at Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati BengalsThe Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
:
The Patriots debuted their throwback
Throwback
The Throwback, a 1978 satirical novel written by Tom SharpeChicago Throwbacks, a member of the basketball teamThrowback may also refer to:* Evolutionary throwback, a reversion to ancestral type* Throwback, Vol...
uniforms and helmets, returning the Pat Patriot
Pat Patriot
Pat Patriot is the mascot of the New England Patriots, a National Football League franchise. He appears to be a revolutionary minuteman. The logo version of Pat wears a tricorner hat and a Continental Army uniform. This was the Patriots' official insignia until 1993, when it was replaced by the...
logo after it was retired following the 1992 season. David Klingler
David Klingler
David Ryan Klingler , is a former American football player. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals after a record setting quarterback career at the University of Houston...
of the Bengals threw two touchdowns to Carl Pickens
Carl Pickens
Carl McNally Pickens is a former American football wide receiver in the NFL who played for the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans....
and Steve Broussard
Steve Broussard
Steve Nelson Broussard is currently an assistant football coach for the Arizona State Sun Devils. He is a former NFL player, having played running back for Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Seattle.-College career:...
ran in two scores for the Bengals, but Klingler was sacked seven times and the Patriots behind Drew Bledsoe
Drew Bledsoe
Drew McQueen Bledsoe is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, best known as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots from 1993-2001. During the 1990s, he was considered the face of the Patriots franchise...
's 365 passing yards to Michael Timpson
Michael Timpson
Michael Dwain Timpson is a former American football player and sprinter.-Early life:Timpson was a track star and multi-sport athlete at Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School in Hialeah, Florida from 1981 to 1985.-NFL:...
(233 yards with a 34-yard touchdown catch) and Ben Coates
Ben Coates
Ben Terrence Coates is a former American football tight end in the National Football League and former CIAA football coach and former NFL tight ends coach. Coates didn't play football until his senior year of high school, and was a multi-sport player at Livingstone College located in Salisbury,...
, two Marion Butts
Marion Butts
Marion Stevenson Butts, Jr. is a retired professional American football running back who played 7 seasons in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers, the New England Patriots and the Houston Oilers from 1989 to 1995....
touchdown runs, and four Matt Bahr
Matt Bahr
Matthew David Bahr is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League. He attended Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pennsylvania where he excelled in both football and soccer...
field goals overcame the Bengals for a 31–28 win, the Patriots' first under Robert Kraft ownership.
- October 2 vs. Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
:
Both teams sported throwback uniforms, with the Packers in yellow and brown and the Patriots wearing the white road version of their AFL
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
-era uniforms with Pat Patriot
Pat Patriot
Pat Patriot is the mascot of the New England Patriots, a National Football League franchise. He appears to be a revolutionary minuteman. The logo version of Pat wears a tricorner hat and a Continental Army uniform. This was the Patriots' official insignia until 1993, when it was replaced by the...
logo. The Packers stormed to a 10–0 halftime lead but two Vincent Brisby
Vincent Brisby
Vincent Cole Brisby , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft. A 6'3", 193 lb...
touchdown catches and a last-minute Matt Bahr
Matt Bahr
Matthew David Bahr is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League. He attended Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pennsylvania where he excelled in both football and soccer...
field goal rallied the Patriots to a 17–16 win.
- October 9 vs. Los Angeles Raiders:
Drew Bledsoe
Drew Bledsoe
Drew McQueen Bledsoe is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, best known as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots from 1993-2001. During the 1990s, he was considered the face of the Patriots franchise...
threw two touchdowns in the second quarter for a 17–7 Patriots lead but the Raiders rallied behind three Bledsoe INTs (the first run back for a score by Terry McDaniel
Terry McDaniel
Terence Lee McDaniel , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Los Angeles Raiders in the 1st round of the 1988 NFL Draft. A 5'10", 177-lb. cornerback from the University of Tennessee, McDaniel played in 11 NFL seasons from 1988 to 1998...
) and two Jeff Hostetler
Jeff Hostetler
William Jeffrey Hostetler is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the New York Giants, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins. His nickname is "Hoss".-Penn State:...
touchdowns (one on the ground) to win 21–17.
- November 6 @ Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
:
In what tuned out to be a playoff preview, Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
faced his former defensive assistant Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick
William Stephen "Bill" Belichick is an American football head coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. After spending his first 15 seasons in the league as an assistant coach, Belichick got his first head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns in 1991...
and the 6–2 Browns. Belichick's defense harassed Drew Bledsoe
Drew Bledsoe
Drew McQueen Bledsoe is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, best known as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots from 1993-2001. During the 1990s, he was considered the face of the Patriots franchise...
all game, forcing four interceptions and limiting the Patriots to just two Matt Bahr
Matt Bahr
Matthew David Bahr is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League. He attended Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pennsylvania where he excelled in both football and soccer...
field goals while Leroy Hoard
Leroy Hoard
Leroy Hoard is a retired American football running back who played for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, and Minnesota Vikings of the NFL...
rushed for 123 yards and caught a one-yard Mark Rypien
Mark Rypien
Mark Robert Rypien is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He is the first Canadian-born quarterback to start in the NFL.-Biography:...
touchdown pass. The 13–6 loss dropped the Patriots to 3–6.
- November 13 vs. Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
:
Former Oilers quarterback Warren Moon
Warren Moon
Harold Warren Moon is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback who played for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos and the National Football League's Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs...
led the Vikings to a 20–3 halftime lead, but in the third Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
abandoned his gameplan and went to a no-huddle attack. Drew Bledsoe
Drew Bledsoe
Drew McQueen Bledsoe is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, best known as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots from 1993-2001. During the 1990s, he was considered the face of the Patriots franchise...
threw touchdowns to Ray Crittenden
Ray Crittenden
Raymond C. Crittenden IV is a former American football wide receiver. Born in Washington, D.C. in 1970 and a graduate of Annandale High School in Annandale, Virginia, Crittenden attended Virginia Tech. He was undrafted in the 1993 NFL Draft, but was signed by the New England Patriots following the...
and Leroy Thompson
Leroy Thompson (running back)
Leroy Thompson is a former professional American football player who played running back for six seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New England Patriots, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has 3 kids named Tionna, Brooke, and Dezmond.-References:*...
, the Patriots defense shut down the Vikings, and Matt Bahr
Matt Bahr
Matthew David Bahr is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League. He attended Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pennsylvania where he excelled in both football and soccer...
kicked the tying field goal with 14 seconds left in regulation. On the coin toss for overtime Patriots captain Vincent Brown protested the Vikings team captain's call because he called after the coin landed on the ground. The Patriots won the re-toss and Bledsoe led the Patriots down field and lobbed a 32-yard touchdown toss to Kevin Turner
Kevin Turner (running back)
Paul Kevin Turner is a former professional American football fullback in the National Football League for eight seasons for the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles....
. The 26–20 win ended a four-game losing streak. Moon threw for 349 yards while Bledsoe (426 yards) set NFL single-game records with 70 throws and 45 completions.
- November 20 vs. San Diego ChargersSan Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
:
The rejuvenated Patriots raced to a 13–3 second-quarter lead as Leroy Thompson
Leroy Thompson (running back)
Leroy Thompson is a former professional American football player who played running back for six seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New England Patriots, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has 3 kids named Tionna, Brooke, and Dezmond.-References:*...
caught a 27-yard touchdown from Drew Bledsoe
Drew Bledsoe
Drew McQueen Bledsoe is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, best known as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots from 1993-2001. During the 1990s, he was considered the face of the Patriots franchise...
in the first quarter to go with two Matt Bahr
Matt Bahr
Matthew David Bahr is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League. He attended Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pennsylvania where he excelled in both football and soccer...
field goals, but the Chargers scored after Bahr's second field goal as Andre Coleman
Andre Coleman
Andre Clintonian Coleman is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He attended Hickory High School in Hermitage, Pennsylvania playing on the AAA state championship team. He played collegiately at Kansas State University...
ran back the ensuing kick 80 yards for a touchdown. The Patriots finally put the game away in the fourth on a one-yard Marion Butts
Marion Butts
Marion Stevenson Butts, Jr. is a retired professional American football running back who played 7 seasons in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers, the New England Patriots and the Houston Oilers from 1989 to 1995....
score and another Bahr field goal, offsetting a Tony Martin touchdown catch from Stan Humphries
Stan Humphries
William Stanley "Stan" Humphries is a former professional American football quarterback. He played for the Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He played college football at Northeast Louisiana...
.
- December 4 vs. New York JetsNew York JetsThe New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
:
One week after the epic "Fake Spike" meltdown
The Clock Play
The Clock Play aka The Fake Spike Game refers to a National Football League game that took place on November 27, between the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets that featured one of the most audacious finishes in league history...
against the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
the Jets' season-ending losing streak continued while the Patriots ended a three-game losing streak to the Jets with a 24–13 win in Foxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts...
. The Jets led 13–10 in the third quarter but the Patriots pinned Boomer Esiason
Boomer Esiason
Norman Julius "Boomer" Esiason is a former American football quarterback and current network color commentator. He played for the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals before working as an analyst for ABC and HBO...
at his own goalline, then Ricky Reynolds
Ricky Reynolds
Derrick "Ricky" Scott Reynolds , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 1987 NFL Draft. A 6' 0", 195-lb...
ran back an interception for a touchdown. A Leroy Thompson
Leroy Thompson (running back)
Leroy Thompson is a former professional American football player who played running back for six seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New England Patriots, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has 3 kids named Tionna, Brooke, and Dezmond.-References:*...
touchdown in the fourth quarter finished off the Jets as Esiason ended with just 16 completions for 40 throws. The loss was Jets coach Pete Carroll
Pete Carroll
Peter Clay Carroll is the head coach and executive Vice-President of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He is a former head coach of the New York Jets, New England Patriots and the University of Southern California Trojans football team.-Early life:Carroll attended Redwood High...
's last trip to Foxboro until he became Patriots head coach in 1997.
- December 18 at Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
:
The Patriots fell behind 17–3 in the second quarter, then scored 38 unanswered points for a 41–17 rout. The win knocked the Bills out of the playoffs after four straight Super Bowl trips.
- December 24 at Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
:
Needing a win to make the playoffs, the Patriots overtook the Bears 13–3, for their seventh consecutive win and ending their regular season at 10–6. It was their first playoff appearance since 1986 and first double-digit win season since that year as well.
- AFC Wildcard Playoffs, January 1 at Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
:
After seven dramatic victories in a row, the Patriots fell flat in a 20–13 loss in their first playoff game since 1986. Drew Bledsoe
Drew Bledsoe
Drew McQueen Bledsoe is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, best known as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots from 1993-2001. During the 1990s, he was considered the face of the Patriots franchise...
was picked off three times despite a game-tying rally in the second quarter; he threw the ball 50 times but completed just 22 passes. Leroy Hoard
Leroy Hoard
Leroy Hoard is a retired American football running back who played for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, and Minnesota Vikings of the NFL...
and Earnest Byner
Earnest Byner
Earnest Alexander Byner is a former American football running back in the National Football League and is currently a running backs coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars...
totalled 96 rushing yards, outrushing the entire Patriots offensive backfield (57 yards). The win was the first in a playoff game for Browns head coach Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick
William Stephen "Bill" Belichick is an American football head coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. After spending his first 15 seasons in the league as an assistant coach, Belichick got his first head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns in 1991...
.