1996 New England Patriots season
Encyclopedia
The New England Patriots
participated in the National Football League
's 1996 season
, the team's 37th in football. The Patriots finished with a record of eleven wins and five losses, and finished first in the AFC
East
division. The team lost Super Bowl XXXI
to the Green Bay Packers
.
and coach Bill Parcells
collapsed during the NFL draft, when Parcells wanted to draft a defensive lineman but Kraft overruled him, giving head scout Bobby Grier the choice of a player, and receiver Terry Glenn
was selected. Parcells stormed out of the Patriots draft war room after the choice was made and vowed to reporter Will McDonough
that he was done with New England after 1996. Despite this, the Patriots rallied from a 0–2 start to finish 11–5, then defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers
and the upstart Jacksonville Jaguars
to advance to Super Bowl XXXI
. The season saw the arrival of former Cleveland Browns
coach Bill Belichick
as he took over coaching New England's defensive backs.
Despite being intercepted three times, Jim Kelly
burned the Patriots as his Bills won 17–10. The game was tied at 10 in the fourth quarter when a blitz was picked up and Kelly found Quinn Early
for a 63-yard touchdown; the Patriots drove to the Bills 5 in the final seconds but were stopped on a draw play to Dave Meggett
. The Buffalo win put the Patriots at 0–2.
Former New York Jet Boomer Esiason
faced the Patriots in New England's home opener of 1996, and after the Patriots defense limited Boomer to four completions for 22 yards and two INTs he was benched and Kent Graham
took over, throwing one pick and nineteen passes (for just nine completions) and 111 yards. Drew Bledsoe
threw three touchdowns, two to Curtis Martin
, who also rushed in an additional score in a 31–0 shutout. The only aspect of the Patriots' game that struggled was rookie PK Adam Vinatieri
, who booted a 31-yard field goal in the fourth but missed a PAT and missed another field goal try, earning a mild rebuke from coach Bill Parcells
in the postgame press conference.
The Patriots behind three field goals by rookie Adam Vinatieri
, and touchdowns by Ben Coates
and Curtis Martin
led 22–0 in the final seconds of the first half, but from his 49 Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell
escaped a sack and threw a desperation heave to the endzone; in the endzone scramble the ball was kicked in the air by Willie Clay
of the Patriots and caught by the Jaguars' Jimmy Smith for a touchdown. The Jags blocked a Vinatieri kick and Brunell completed long-bomb touchdown throws to Andre Rison
. The game was tied at 25 when Brunell uncorked another desperation heave to the endzone on the final play of regulation; it was caught with one hand by Jags receiver Willie Jackson
off the chest of Willie McGinest
, but Jackson was ruled down at the one-foot line. The Patriots finally won on a 40-yard Vinatieri field goal in OT, the first game-winning FG in Vinatieri's career.
The Patriots made their first trip to Baltimore
since losing to the Colts in October 1983; this time their foe was the former Cleveland Browns
that had been coached by New England's assistant head coach and defensive backs coach Bill Belichick
the year before. Now known as the Baltimore Ravens
, they proved to be an offensive challenge (ironic as the Ravens would evolve into one of the league's strongest defenses) as Earnest Byner
and Carwell Gardner
rushed for 133 yards while future Patriot Vinny Testaverde
threw for 353 yards and three touchdowns. Drew Bledsoe
outdid Vinny with four scores, but New England leads of 35–14 and 46–22 weren't exceptionally secure as the Ravens scored 24 points in the fourth quarter. It wasn't enough to stop a 46–38 Patriots win.
The Bills rallied from a 13–0 halftime Patriots lead. An intentional-grounding penalty on Jim Kelly
in the endzone was ruled a Patriots safety, but the Bills took an 18–15 lead on a Thurman Thomas run and a Darick Holmes
two-point conversion. With 1:25 to go Curtis Martin
stormed through for a ten-yard touchdown, but Adam Vinatieri
's extra point was missed. Willie McGinest
then ran back an interception for a 46-yard touchdown, but Kelly launched a desperation heave with 33 seconds to go and it was batted off the fingers of Patriot defenders and caught for the touchdown by Andre Reed
. The Bills' onside kick attempt was then caught by Keith Byars
, ending a 28–25 Patriots win.
Miami's playoff hopes in their first year under Jimmy Johnson
had taken a blow the week before in a loss to Dallas
and they suffered even more at Foxboro. Karim Abdul-Jabbar and Curtis Martin
exchanged rushing scores for a 14–14 tie at the half, then after the Patriots took a 21–17 lead in the fourth Drew Bledsoe
finished off the Dolphins, first on a short pass that Ben Coates
carried 84 yards for a touchdown, then on a subsequent drive ending in a five-yard Sam Gash
touchdown catch, finally on another drive ending in Martin's third rushing score of the day. Dan Marino
was benched and backup Craig Erickson
completed a 29-yard touchdown to O.J. McDuffie, but it could not stop a 42–23 Patriots win.
The Jets held Drew Bledsoe
of the Patriots without a completion in the first quarter. Behind quarterback Frank Reich
and running back Adrian Murrell
the Jets stormed to a 21–0 lead before the Patriots began clawing back. Trailing 27–24 late in the fourth Bledsoe (24 of 30 for 297 yards after being shut out in the first) completed a first-down throw to Ben Coates
on 4th and 2 to the Jets 49-yard line; the Jets disputed the ball spot by line judge Charles Stewart but the call stood. Bledsoe then completed a four-yard touchdown to Keith Byars
, but the Jets roared downfield on a long throw from Reich to Jeff Graham
to the Patriots 11-yard line. On the next play Reich was picked off by Lawyer Milloy
for a 31–27 Patriots win. "They're the best 1–9 football team in history, I guess," Bledsoe said afterward.
The Patriots suffered their ninth straight loss to the Broncos as Terrell Davis
ran roughshod over them to the tune of 152 rushing yards, two rushing touhdowns, and a 15-yard touchdown catch from John Elway
, who ran in another touchdown himself in a 34–8 runaway win. Shannon Sharpe
was held in check by the Patriots with just 37 receiving yards, but the rout inspired him to taunt booing Patriot fans by simulating a phone call to President Bill Clinton
requesting the National Guard "because we are killing the Patriots!", which the Broncos found hilarious and Patriot fans less so. The clip by NFL Films
is among the most replayed in retrospectives on Sharpe's career.
The 7–4 Patriots hosted the 6–5 Colts as the AFC East looked to be another Buffalo Bills
runaway with the Bills a game ahead of New England and two ahead of both Indianapolis and Miami
. The Patriots took over the game from the opening quarter as Drew Bledsoe
tossed touchdowns to Shawn Jefferson
and Terry Glenn
for a 17–0 halftime lead. A pair of Cary Blanchard
field goals were answered by New England as Adam Vinatieri
booted a second field goal and Curtis Martin
's 141 rushing yards included a twelve-yard rushing score in the fourth. With the outcome decided backup quarterback Paul Justin
drove the Colts downfield and threw a five-yard score to Marvin Harrison
for a 27–13 Patriots final.
Offense was smothered for the most part by both sides as the Patriots and Cowboys entered the game within reach of clinching their divisions and amid burgeoning rumors that Bill Parcells
was going to leave New England. Drew Bledsoe
and Troy Aikman
were repeatedly stymied in the red zone (one Aikman incompletion went between the goalposts, prompting Chris Berman to joke afterward, "The kick is up....good!") and they combined for five interceptions and just 346 passing yards; Ty Law
accounted for both Aikman picks while Bledsoe was picked off twice by Darren Woodson
. Adam Vinatieri
booted two field goals and also ran down Herschel Walker
on a long kick return; this led Parcells after the game to say to Vinatieri, "You're not a kicker, you're a football player." Chris Boniol
booted four field goals, but the game wasn't decided until Parcells went for it on two fourth downs in the fourth quarter and failed on both. The win clinched the NFC East for the Cowboys.
The Patriots visited Giants Stadium for the final game of the season and fell behind 22–0; Drew Bledsoe
was called for intentional grounding in the endzone, making for a Giants safety; he was then picked off by Jason Sehorn
for a 23-yard touchdown. Bledsoe stormed back with touchdown throws to Terry Glenn
and Ben Coates
(Coates needed to bull past two defenders to reach the endzone) to go with a Vinatieri 40-yard FG and a Dave Meggett
60-yard punt return touchdown. The Patriots won 23–22. Parcells specifically praised Glenn after the game for playing hurt and coming up with big plays in crunch time, showing that their relationship had improved immeasurably after a rocky start.
The Patriots hosted a playoff game for only the second time in their history, the first coming in 1978
; ironically, like the 1978 game against the Houston Oilers
, this 1996 game was against an AFC Central team. The game was shrouded in fog and was nicknamed by some "Fog Bowl II." The Steelers running game flamed out after their first possession, while the Patriots erupted; a 52-yard screen pass from Drew Bledsoe
to Terry Glenn
set up a two-yard Curtis Martin
touchdown. Keith Byars
ran in a 34-yard screen pass for a touchdown and Martin torched past eight defenders at his 22 and raced to a 78-yard touchdown and a 21–0 Patiots halftime lead; Martin would add a 23-yard score in the fourth to cap a 166-yard rushing day. Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart
did not have a single completion in ten attempts and was periodically rotated in and out with Mike Tomczak
, neither of whom could stop a 28–3 Patriots rout.
The first-ever AFC title game in Foxborough was a low-scoring affair marked by major mistakes on both sides, frigid weather, and an embarrassing 4 and 1/2 minute delay caused by a 2nd quarter power outage at the archaic stadium. The Patriots took advantage of a muffed punt attempt by Jacksonville and scored an early TD. The teams traded field goals after that before two key Jacksonville turnovers—a Mark Brunell
endzone interception and a fumble that Otis Smith returned 47 yards for the clinching TD—gave the Patriots a 20–6 win and sent the franchise to its 2nd-ever Super Bowl.
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...
participated in 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 1996 season
1996 NFL season
The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end...
, the team's 37th in football. The Patriots finished with a record of eleven wins and five losses, and finished 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 lost Super Bowl XXXI
Super Bowl XXXI
Super Bowl XXXI was an American football game played on January 26, 1997, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1996 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Green Bay Packers defeated the American...
to the 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...
.
Season summary
The relationship between team owner Robert KraftRobert 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...
and coach 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...
collapsed during the NFL draft, when Parcells wanted to draft a defensive lineman but Kraft overruled him, giving head scout Bobby Grier the choice of a player, and receiver Terry Glenn
Terry Glenn
Terry Tyree Glenn is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the New England Patriots seventh overall in the 1996 NFL Draft...
was selected. Parcells stormed out of the Patriots draft war room after the choice was made and vowed to reporter Will McDonough
Will McDonough
William "Will" McDonough was an American sportswriter for the Boston Globe.-Biography:McDonough attended the English High School of Boston, where he starred in baseball as a pitcher and in football as a quarterback...
that he was done with New England after 1996. Despite this, the Patriots rallied from a 0–2 start to finish 11–5, then defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
and the upstart Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
to advance to Super Bowl XXXI
Super Bowl XXXI
Super Bowl XXXI was an American football game played on January 26, 1997, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1996 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Green Bay Packers defeated the American...
. The season saw the arrival of former 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...
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...
as he took over coaching New England's defensive backs.
1996 NFL Draft
| Round | Overall | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | Terry Glenn Terry Glenn Terry Tyree Glenn is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the New England Patriots seventh overall in the 1996 NFL Draft... |
Wide receiver Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... |
Ohio State Ohio State University The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States... |
| 2 | 36 | Lawyer Milloy Lawyer Milloy Lawyer Marzell Milloy is an American football safety. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Washington.... |
Safety | Washington University of Washington University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University... |
| 3 | 86 | Tedy Bruschi Tedy Bruschi Tedy Lacap Bruschi is a former professional American football linebacker. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft... |
Linebacker Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... |
Arizona University of Arizona The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885... |
| 4 | 101 | Heath Irwin Heath Irwin Heath Spencer Irwin is a former American football guard in the National Football League . He played for the New England Patriots, the Miami Dolphins, and the St. Louis Rams... |
Offensive guard Guard (American football) In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team.... |
Colorado University of Colorado at Boulder The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado... |
| 4 | 119 | Chris Sullivan Chris Sullivan (American football) Christopher Patrick Sullivan is a former professional American football defensive lineman for the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League... |
Defensive tackle | Boston College Boston College Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early... |
| 4 | 124 | Kantroy Barber Kantroy Barber Kantroy Barber is a former running back in the NFL for the New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers, and Miami Dolphins. He was drafted in the 4th round with the 124th overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft out of West Virginia.-External... |
Fullback Fullback (American football) A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback... |
West Virginia West Virginia University West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;... |
| 5 | 139 | John Elmore | Offensive guard Guard (American football) In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team.... |
Texas University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin... |
| 5 | 149 | Christian Peter Christian Peter Christian Peter is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League. Peter's younger brother, Jason, also played in the NFL.... |
Defensive tackle | Nebraska University of Nebraska–Lincoln The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a public research university located in the city of Lincoln in the U.S. state of Nebraska... |
| 6 | 173 | Chris Griffin | Tight end Tight end The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be... |
New Mexico University of New Mexico The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution... |
| 6 | 195 | Marrio Grier | Fullback Fullback (American football) A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback... |
Tennessee-Chattanooga University of Tennessee at Chattanooga The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a public university located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The University, often referred to as UTC or simply "Chattanooga" , is one of three universities and two other affiliated institutions in the University of Tennessee System; the others being in... |
| 6 | 206 | Devin Wyman Devin Wyman Devin Edward Wyman is an American football player with the Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League.-Personal:... |
Defensive tackle | Kentucky State Kentucky State University Kentucky State University is a four-year institution of higher learning, located in Frankfort, Kentucky, United States, the Commonwealth's capital. The school is an historically black university, which desegregated in 1954... |
| 7 | 216 | Lovett Purnell Lovett Purnell Lovett Shaizer Purnell is a former American football tight end in the National Football League. Purnell attended Seaford High but graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy and College in Wayne, Pennsylvania before attending West Virginia University... |
Tight end Tight end The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be... |
West Virginia West Virginia University West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;... |
| 7 | 247 | J. R. Conrad | Offensive guard Guard (American football) In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team.... |
Oklahoma University of Oklahoma The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its... |
| compensatory selection NFL Draft The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order... |
Schedule
| Game | Opponent | Score | Stadium | Record | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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... |
L 10–24 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 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... |
L 10–17 | Rich Stadium Ralph Wilson Stadium Ralph Wilson Stadium is a football stadium, located in the town of Orchard Park, a suburb of Buffalo, New York. It is the home for the Buffalo Bills, of the NFL... |
0–2 | |
| 3 | Arizona Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 31–0 | Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
1–2 | |
| 4 | Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 28–25 | Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
2–2 | |
| 5 | Baltimore Ravens Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his... |
W 46–38 | Memorial Stadium Memorial Stadium (Baltimore) Memorial Stadium was a sports stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, that formerly stood on 33rd Street on an over-sized block also bounded by Ellerslie Avenue , 36th Street , and Ednor Road... |
3–2 | |
| 6 | Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... |
L 22–27 | Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
3–3 | |
| 7 | 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 .... |
W 27–9 | RCA Dome RCA Dome RCA Dome was a domed stadium, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL franchise for 24 seasons .... |
4–3 | |
| 8 | 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... |
W 28–25 | Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
5–3 | |
| 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... |
W 42–23 | Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
6–3 | |
| 10 | 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... |
W 31–27 | The Meadowlands Giants Stadium Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to... |
7–3 | |
| 11 | Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 8–34 | Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
7–4 | |
| 12 | 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 .... |
W 27–13 | Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
8–4 | |
| 13 | 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... |
W 45–7 | Jack Murphy Stadium Qualcomm Stadium Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area.... |
9–4 | |
| 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... |
W 34–10 | Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
10–4 | |
| 15 | Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... |
L 6–12 | Texas Stadium Texas Stadium Texas Stadium was a football stadium in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The stadium opened on September 17, 1971.Built to replace the aging Cotton Bowl, it was the home field of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and had a seating capacity of 65,675... |
10–5 | |
| 16 | New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 23–22 | Giants Stadium Giants Stadium Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to... |
11–5 | |
| PLAYOFFS | |||||
| Divisional | Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
W 28–3 | Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
1–0 | |
| Conference | Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 20–6 | Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
2–0 | |
| Super Bowl XXXI Super Bowl XXXI Super Bowl XXXI was an American football game played on January 26, 1997, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1996 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Green Bay Packers defeated the American... |
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... |
L 21–35 | Louisiana Superdome | 2–1 | |
Notable games
- September 8 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...
:
Despite being intercepted three times, Jim Kelly
Jim Kelly
James Edward Kelly is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills and the USFL's Houston Gamblers....
burned the Patriots as his Bills won 17–10. The game was tied at 10 in the fourth quarter when a blitz was picked up and Kelly found Quinn Early
Quinn Early
Quinn Remar Early is a former professional American football player who was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the 1988 NFL Draft. A 6'0", . wide receiver from the University of Iowa, Early played in 12 NFL seasons from 1988 to 1999...
for a 63-yard touchdown; the Patriots drove to the Bills 5 in the final seconds but were stopped on a draw play to Dave Meggett
Dave Meggett
David Lee Meggett is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League for the New York Giants , New England Patriots , and the New York Jets . He played college football at Morgan State University and Towson University...
. The Buffalo win put the Patriots at 0–2.
- September 15 vs. Arizona Cardinals1996 Arizona Cardinals seasonThe 1996 Arizona Cardinals season was the 77th season the team was in the league and 9th in Arizona. The team improved upon their previous output of 4-12, winning seven games. Despite the improvement, the Cardinals failed to qualify to the playoffs for the fourteenth consecutive...
:
Former New York Jet 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...
faced the Patriots in New England's home opener of 1996, and after the Patriots defense limited Boomer to four completions for 22 yards and two INTs he was benched and Kent Graham
Kent Graham
Kent Douglas Graham is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League. Graham played quarterback at the University of Notre Dame before transferring to Ohio State University...
took over, throwing one pick and nineteen passes (for just nine completions) and 111 yards. 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 three touchdowns, two to Curtis Martin
Curtis Martin
Curtis James Martin, Jr. is a former American football running back. He is an alumnus of Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh...
, who also rushed in an additional score in a 31–0 shutout. The only aspect of the Patriots' game that struggled was rookie PK Adam Vinatieri
Adam Vinatieri
Adam Matthew Vinatieri is an American football placekicker currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts. He has played in six Super Bowls, four with the New England Patriots and two with the Colts, winning four. Vinatieri won a Super Bowl in 2006 with Indianapolis and won Super Bowls in 2001,...
, who booted a 31-yard field goal in the fourth but missed a PAT and missed another field goal try, earning a mild rebuke from coach 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...
in the postgame press conference.
- September 22 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars1996 Jacksonville Jaguars seasonThe 1996 Jacksonville Jaguars season was the team's second year in the National Football League, and saw the Jaguars trying to improve on their 4-12 record from their inaugural season. The Jaguars marked success as they won six of their last seven games of the season and finished with a record of 9–7...
:
The Patriots behind three field goals by rookie Adam Vinatieri
Adam Vinatieri
Adam Matthew Vinatieri is an American football placekicker currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts. He has played in six Super Bowls, four with the New England Patriots and two with the Colts, winning four. Vinatieri won a Super Bowl in 2006 with Indianapolis and won Super Bowls in 2001,...
, and touchdowns 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,...
and Curtis Martin
Curtis Martin
Curtis James Martin, Jr. is a former American football running back. He is an alumnus of Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh...
led 22–0 in the final seconds of the first half, but from his 49 Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell
Mark Brunell
Mark Allen Brunell is an American football quarterback who currently plays for the New York Jets. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Washington....
escaped a sack and threw a desperation heave to the endzone; in the endzone scramble the ball was kicked in the air by Willie Clay
Willie Clay
Willie James Clay , is a former American football Defensive back in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, and New Orleans Saints....
of the Patriots and caught by the Jaguars' Jimmy Smith for a touchdown. The Jags blocked a Vinatieri kick and Brunell completed long-bomb touchdown throws to Andre Rison
Andre Rison
Andre Previn Rison is a retired American football wide receiver who played professionally for the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and the Canadian Football League's...
. The game was tied at 25 when Brunell uncorked another desperation heave to the endzone on the final play of regulation; it was caught with one hand by Jags receiver Willie Jackson
Willie Jackson (American football)
Willie Bernard Jackson, Jr. is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League for eight seasons in the 1990s and 2000s...
off the chest of Willie McGinest
Willie McGinest
William Lee "Willie" McGinest, Jr. is a retired American football linebacker in the National Football League.-Early life and career:...
, but Jackson was ruled down at the one-foot line. The Patriots finally won on a 40-yard Vinatieri field goal in OT, the first game-winning FG in Vinatieri's career.
- October 6 at Baltimore RavensBaltimore RavensThe Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
:
The Patriots made their first trip to Baltimore
Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)
Memorial Stadium was a sports stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, that formerly stood on 33rd Street on an over-sized block also bounded by Ellerslie Avenue , 36th Street , and Ednor Road...
since losing to the Colts in October 1983; this time their foe was the former 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...
that had been coached by New England's assistant head coach and defensive backs 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...
the year before. Now known as the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
, they proved to be an offensive challenge (ironic as the Ravens would evolve into one of the league's strongest defenses) as 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...
and Carwell Gardner
Carwell Gardner
Carwell Ernest Gardner is a former professional American football fullback in the National Football League. He played eight seasons for the Buffalo Bills , the Baltimore Ravens , and the San Diego Chargers...
rushed for 133 yards while future Patriot Vinny Testaverde
Vinny Testaverde
Vincent Frank Testaverde is a former NFL quarterback. Testaverde last played for the Carolina Panthers and had previously played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots. Testaverde holds the NFL record for having...
threw for 353 yards and three touchdowns. 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...
outdid Vinny with four scores, but New England leads of 35–14 and 46–22 weren't exceptionally secure as the Ravens scored 24 points in the fourth quarter. It wasn't enough to stop a 46–38 Patriots win.
- October 27 vs. Buffalo Bills1996 Buffalo Bills seasonThe 1996 Buffalo Bills season was their 37th in the league. The team matched their previous season's output of 10–6. They qualified for the playoffs for the second consecutive season.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Playoffs:-References:...
:
The Bills rallied from a 13–0 halftime Patriots lead. An intentional-grounding penalty on Jim Kelly
Jim Kelly
James Edward Kelly is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills and the USFL's Houston Gamblers....
in the endzone was ruled a Patriots safety, but the Bills took an 18–15 lead on a Thurman Thomas run and a Darick Holmes
Darick Holmes
Darick Holmes is a former American football running back in the NFL who played for the Buffalo Bills from 1995–1998, for the Green Bay Packers in 1998 and for the Indianapolis Colts in 1999....
two-point conversion. With 1:25 to go Curtis Martin
Curtis Martin
Curtis James Martin, Jr. is a former American football running back. He is an alumnus of Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh...
stormed through for a ten-yard touchdown, but Adam Vinatieri
Adam Vinatieri
Adam Matthew Vinatieri is an American football placekicker currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts. He has played in six Super Bowls, four with the New England Patriots and two with the Colts, winning four. Vinatieri won a Super Bowl in 2006 with Indianapolis and won Super Bowls in 2001,...
's extra point was missed. Willie McGinest
Willie McGinest
William Lee "Willie" McGinest, Jr. is a retired American football linebacker in the National Football League.-Early life and career:...
then ran back an interception for a 46-yard touchdown, but Kelly launched a desperation heave with 33 seconds to go and it was batted off the fingers of Patriot defenders and caught for the touchdown by Andre Reed
Andre Reed
Andre Darnell Reed is a former professional American football player. He played wide receiver in the National Football League for 16 seasons, 15 with the Buffalo Bills and one with the Washington Redskins .Reed ranks tenth in NFL history in total career receptions with 951.-Football career:Reed...
. The Bills' onside kick attempt was then caught by Keith Byars
Keith Byars
Keith Alan Byars is an American sports broadcaster and former American football player in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets.-Early life:...
, ending a 28–25 Patriots win.
- November 3 vs. Miami Dolphins1996 Miami Dolphins seasonThe 1996 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 31st as a member of the National Football League. The Dolphins failed to improve upon their previous season's output of 9–7, winning only eight games...
:
Miami's playoff hopes in their first year under Jimmy Johnson
Jimmy Johnson (American football coach)
James William "Jimmy" Johnson is an American former NCAA and National Football League head coach. As of 2010, he is currently an analyst for Fox NFL Sunday, the Fox network's NFL pregame show. He was the first football coach whose teams won both an NCAA Division 1A National Championship and a...
had taken a blow the week before in a loss to Dallas
1996 Dallas Cowboys season
-Regular season:Against the Chicago Bears in week one, running back Emmitt Smith would leave the game late with an injury that left him temporary paralyzed. Though not career-threatening, Smith's injury would hamper his effectiveness for the duration of the season...
and they suffered even more at Foxboro. Karim Abdul-Jabbar and Curtis Martin
Curtis Martin
Curtis James Martin, Jr. is a former American football running back. He is an alumnus of Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh...
exchanged rushing scores for a 14–14 tie at the half, then after the Patriots took a 21–17 lead in the fourth 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...
finished off the Dolphins, first on a short pass that 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,...
carried 84 yards for a touchdown, then on a subsequent drive ending in a five-yard Sam Gash
Sam Gash
Samuel Lee Gash Jr. is a former American football fullback and current running backs coach for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League.-Professional career:...
touchdown catch, finally on another drive ending in Martin's third rushing score of the day. 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...
was benched and backup Craig Erickson
Craig Erickson
Craig Neil Erickson is a former professional quarterback who was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 5th round of the 1991 NFL Draft and also by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 4th round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He is one of the few NFL players to be drafted twice, most famously Bo...
completed a 29-yard touchdown to O.J. McDuffie, but it could not stop a 42–23 Patriots win.
- November 10 at New York Jets1996 New York Jets seasonThe 1996 New York Jets season began with the team trying to improve upon its league-worst 3–13 record from 1995. However, this season proved even more calamitous as they finished 1–15, which is the worst record in franchise history...
:
The Jets held 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...
of the Patriots without a completion in the first quarter. Behind quarterback Frank Reich
Frank Reich
Frank Michael Reich, Jr. is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, and the Detroit Lions. For a time, he had the distinction of having led his team to the biggest comeback victory ever in both the collegiate...
and running back Adrian Murrell
Adrian Murrell
Adrian Byran Murrell is a former professional American football running back who was drafted by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 1993 NFL Draft after playing collegiately for the West Virginia Mountaineers...
the Jets stormed to a 21–0 lead before the Patriots began clawing back. Trailing 27–24 late in the fourth Bledsoe (24 of 30 for 297 yards after being shut out in the first) completed a first-down throw to 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,...
on 4th and 2 to the Jets 49-yard line; the Jets disputed the ball spot by line judge Charles Stewart but the call stood. Bledsoe then completed a four-yard touchdown to Keith Byars
Keith Byars
Keith Alan Byars is an American sports broadcaster and former American football player in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets.-Early life:...
, but the Jets roared downfield on a long throw from Reich to Jeff Graham
Jeff Graham
Jeffery Todd Graham is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft. A 6'2", 206-lb...
to the Patriots 11-yard line. On the next play Reich was picked off by Lawyer Milloy
Lawyer Milloy
Lawyer Marzell Milloy is an American football safety. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Washington....
for a 31–27 Patriots win. "They're the best 1–9 football team in history, I guess," Bledsoe said afterward.
- November 17 vs. Denver BroncosDenver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
:
The Patriots suffered their ninth straight loss to the Broncos as Terrell Davis
Terrell Davis
Terrell Lamar Davis is a former American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League from 1995 to 2001. Davis was drafted by the Broncos in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL Draft. Davis is the Denver Broncos all-time leading rusher, with 7,607 rushing...
ran roughshod over them to the tune of 152 rushing yards, two rushing touhdowns, and a 15-yard touchdown catch from John Elway
John Elway
John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...
, who ran in another touchdown himself in a 34–8 runaway win. Shannon Sharpe
Shannon Sharpe
Shannon Sharpe is a former American Football tight end who played for the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. Sharpe is known for his creative commentary and trash talking. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and inducted on August 6, 2011...
was held in check by the Patriots with just 37 receiving yards, but the rout inspired him to taunt booing Patriot fans by simulating a phone call to President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
requesting the National Guard "because we are killing the Patriots!", which the Broncos found hilarious and Patriot fans less so. The clip by NFL Films
NFL Films
NFL Films is a Mount Laurel, New Jersey-based company devoted to producing commercials, television programs, feature films, and documentaries on the National Football League, as well as other unrelated major events and awards shows...
is among the most replayed in retrospectives on Sharpe's career.
- November 24 vs. Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis ColtsThe 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 ....
:
The 7–4 Patriots hosted the 6–5 Colts as the AFC East looked to be another Buffalo Bills
1996 Buffalo Bills season
The 1996 Buffalo Bills season was their 37th in the league. The team matched their previous season's output of 10–6. They qualified for the playoffs for the second consecutive season.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Playoffs:-References:...
runaway with the Bills a game ahead of New England and two ahead of both Indianapolis and Miami
1996 Miami Dolphins season
The 1996 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 31st as a member of the National Football League. The Dolphins failed to improve upon their previous season's output of 9–7, winning only eight games...
. The Patriots took over the game from the opening quarter as 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...
tossed touchdowns to Shawn Jefferson
Shawn Jefferson
Shawn Jefferson , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 9th round of the 1991 NFL Draft...
and Terry Glenn
Terry Glenn
Terry Tyree Glenn is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the New England Patriots seventh overall in the 1996 NFL Draft...
for a 17–0 halftime lead. A pair of Cary Blanchard
Cary Blanchard
Robert Cary Blanchard is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League. He played eight years for five teams, the New York Jets for his first two years, the Indianapolis Colts after taking 1994 off, the Washington Redskins in 1998, the New York Giants in 1999, and he...
field goals were answered by New England as Adam Vinatieri
Adam Vinatieri
Adam Matthew Vinatieri is an American football placekicker currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts. He has played in six Super Bowls, four with the New England Patriots and two with the Colts, winning four. Vinatieri won a Super Bowl in 2006 with Indianapolis and won Super Bowls in 2001,...
booted a second field goal and Curtis Martin
Curtis Martin
Curtis James Martin, Jr. is a former American football running back. He is an alumnus of Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh...
's 141 rushing yards included a twelve-yard rushing score in the fourth. With the outcome decided backup quarterback Paul Justin
Paul Justin
Paul Donald Justin is a retired National Football League quarterback.Justin, a graduate and football standout at Arizona State University, played with three different teams in his NFL career: the Indianapolis Colts , the Cincinnati Bengals , and the St. Louis Rams...
drove the Colts downfield and threw a five-yard score to Marvin Harrison
Marvin Harrison
Marvin Daniel Harrison is a former American football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at Syracuse...
for a 27–13 Patriots final.
- December 14 at Dallas Cowboys1996 Dallas Cowboys season-Regular season:Against the Chicago Bears in week one, running back Emmitt Smith would leave the game late with an injury that left him temporary paralyzed. Though not career-threatening, Smith's injury would hamper his effectiveness for the duration of the season...
:
Offense was smothered for the most part by both sides as the Patriots and Cowboys entered the game within reach of clinching their divisions and amid burgeoning rumors that 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...
was going to leave New England. 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 Troy Aikman
Troy Aikman
Troy Kenneth Aikman is a former American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League. The number one overall draft pick in 1989, Aikman played twelve consecutive seasons as quarterback with the Cowboys...
were repeatedly stymied in the red zone (one Aikman incompletion went between the goalposts, prompting Chris Berman to joke afterward, "The kick is up....good!") and they combined for five interceptions and just 346 passing yards; Ty Law
Ty Law
Tajuan "Ty" Law is a retired football cornerback of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots 23rd overall in the 1995 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan....
accounted for both Aikman picks while Bledsoe was picked off twice by Darren Woodson
Darren Woodson
Darren Ray Woodson is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He played his entire career for the Dallas Cowboys from 1992 to 2004...
. Adam Vinatieri
Adam Vinatieri
Adam Matthew Vinatieri is an American football placekicker currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts. He has played in six Super Bowls, four with the New England Patriots and two with the Colts, winning four. Vinatieri won a Super Bowl in 2006 with Indianapolis and won Super Bowls in 2001,...
booted two field goals and also ran down Herschel Walker
Herschel Walker
Herschel Junior Walker is an American mixed martial artist and a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs and earned the 1982 Heisman Trophy. He began his professional career with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League...
on a long kick return; this led Parcells after the game to say to Vinatieri, "You're not a kicker, you're a football player." Chris Boniol
Chris Boniol
Christopher Donald Boniol is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League. He played first at Alexandria Senior High School and then college football at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana...
booted four field goals, but the game wasn't decided until Parcells went for it on two fourth downs in the fourth quarter and failed on both. The win clinched the NFC East for the Cowboys.
- December 21 at New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
:
The Patriots visited Giants Stadium for the final game of the season and fell behind 22–0; 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 called for intentional grounding in the endzone, making for a Giants safety; he was then picked off by Jason Sehorn
Jason Sehorn
Jason Heath Sehorn is a former professional American football defensive back in the National Football League.-Early years:Sehorn was born in Sacramento, California...
for a 23-yard touchdown. Bledsoe stormed back with touchdown throws to Terry Glenn
Terry Glenn
Terry Tyree Glenn is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the New England Patriots seventh overall in the 1996 NFL Draft...
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,...
(Coates needed to bull past two defenders to reach the endzone) to go with a Vinatieri 40-yard FG and a Dave Meggett
Dave Meggett
David Lee Meggett is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League for the New York Giants , New England Patriots , and the New York Jets . He played college football at Morgan State University and Towson University...
60-yard punt return touchdown. The Patriots won 23–22. Parcells specifically praised Glenn after the game for playing hurt and coming up with big plays in crunch time, showing that their relationship had improved immeasurably after a rocky start.
- AFCAmerican Football ConferenceThe 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....
Divisional Playoff vs. Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
:
The Patriots hosted a playoff game for only the second time in their history, the first coming in 1978
1978 New England Patriots season
The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's 1978 season with a record of eleven wins and five losses, and finished tied for first in the AFC East division.-Staff:-Regular season:...
; ironically, like the 1978 game against the Houston Oilers
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
, this 1996 game was against an AFC Central team. The game was shrouded in fog and was nicknamed by some "Fog Bowl II." The Steelers running game flamed out after their first possession, while the Patriots erupted; a 52-yard screen pass 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...
to Terry Glenn
Terry Glenn
Terry Tyree Glenn is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the New England Patriots seventh overall in the 1996 NFL Draft...
set up a two-yard Curtis Martin
Curtis Martin
Curtis James Martin, Jr. is a former American football running back. He is an alumnus of Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh...
touchdown. Keith Byars
Keith Byars
Keith Alan Byars is an American sports broadcaster and former American football player in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets.-Early life:...
ran in a 34-yard screen pass for a touchdown and Martin torched past eight defenders at his 22 and raced to a 78-yard touchdown and a 21–0 Patiots halftime lead; Martin would add a 23-yard score in the fourth to cap a 166-yard rushing day. Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart
Kordell Stewart
Kordell Stewart, nicknamed "Slash" , is a former American NFL quarterback. Stewart attended the University of Colorado and was drafted 60th in the 1995 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers...
did not have a single completion in ten attempts and was periodically rotated in and out with Mike Tomczak
Mike Tomczak
Michael John "Mike" Tomczak is a former American football player. Tomczak played quarterback for several NFL teams including the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers....
, neither of whom could stop a 28–3 Patriots rout.
- AFCAmerican Football ConferenceThe 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....
Championship Game vs. Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville JaguarsThe Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
:
The first-ever AFC title game in Foxborough was a low-scoring affair marked by major mistakes on both sides, frigid weather, and an embarrassing 4 and 1/2 minute delay caused by a 2nd quarter power outage at the archaic stadium. The Patriots took advantage of a muffed punt attempt by Jacksonville and scored an early TD. The teams traded field goals after that before two key Jacksonville turnovers—a Mark Brunell
Mark Brunell
Mark Allen Brunell is an American football quarterback who currently plays for the New York Jets. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Washington....
endzone interception and a fumble that Otis Smith returned 47 yards for the clinching TD—gave the Patriots a 20–6 win and sent the franchise to its 2nd-ever Super Bowl.
Final roster
| New England Patriots 1996 final roster | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Bruce Armstrong Bruce Charles Armstrong is a former offensive tackle in the National Football League from 1987 to 2000, playing all fourteen seasons with the New England Patriots... T Mike Gisler Michael Gisler is a former American football offensive lineman. Gisler was selected in the eleven round by the New Orleans Saints out of the University of Houston in the 1992 NFL Draft and played seven seasons in the National Football League for the New England Patriots and the New York Jets.... C/G Heath Irwin Heath Spencer Irwin is a former American football guard in the National Football League . He played for the New England Patriots, the Miami Dolphins, and the St. Louis Rams... G R Bob Kratch Robert "Bob" Kratch is a former American football guard in the NFL for the New York Giants and New England Patriots. He played college football at the University of Iowa for the Hawkeyes.... G Max Lane Max Lane is a former NFL offensive tackle who played seven seasons in the NFL from 1994-2000. He started in Super Bowl XXXI for the New England Patriots.... T David Richards (American football) David Richards is a former professional American football guard who played nine seasons in the National Football League.... T/G William Roberts (American football) William Harold Roberts is a former American football guard who played fourteen seasons in the National Football League. He played in three Super Bowls, winning two of them, each with the New York Giants . He went to the Pro Bowl after the 1990 season... G Todd Rucci Todd Rucci is a former professional American football player who played guard for seven seasons in the National Football League from 1993 to 1999. He was a starter in Super Bowl XXXI for the New England Patriots... G Dave Wohlabaugh David Vincent Wohlabaugh is a former American football center who played 9 seasons for three National Football League teams. He started in Super Bowl XXXI for the New England Patriots.... C Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Tedy Bruschi Tedy Lacap Bruschi is a former professional American football linebacker. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft... OLB R Todd Collins (linebacker) Todd Collins is a former National Football League linebacker. He started for the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI, and Super Bowl XXXIV for the Rams.... OLB Ted Johnson Ted Curtis Johnson is a former American football player in the National Football League. He grew up in Carlsbad, California where he graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1991. From there he attended the University of Colorado and was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 1995 NFL... ILB Marty Moore Marty Moore and raised in Fort Thomas, Kentucky is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for eight seasons for the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns. Moore also holds the distinction of being the first Mr. Irrelevant ever to play in a Super Bowl... ILB Dwayne Sabb Dwayne Irving Sabb is a former American football linebacker and fullback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League.-Early life:Sabb was born October 9, 1969 in Union City, New Jersey... OLB Chris Slade (American football) Christopher Carroll Slade was an American football linebacker who plays in the National Football League. He played most of his career with the New England Patriots. Slade was named to his 1st Pro Bowl after the 1997 season. He played college football at the University of Virginia.-Personal... OLB Defensive Backs
Special Teams
|
Reserve Lists
Practice Squad
Notations
|
|||||
Staff
| New England Patriots 1996 staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
Strength and Conditioning
|
|||||