TEAM NOTES

PATRIOTS EXTEND STREAK TO 12 STRAIGHT ROAD WINS The Patriots extended their road streak to 12 straight wins, including eight last year and the first four road games of the 2017 season. The 12-game road streak matches the team mark of 12 straight road wins from Dec. 24, 2006, through Oct. 5, 2008. The 12-game streaks are second in NFL history to the 18-road game win streak by the San Francisco 49ers (1988-90).
 
PATRIOTS WIN SECOND STRAIGHT IN DENVER;
MOST CONSECUTIVE WINS AT DENVER SINCE A 3-GAME WIN STREAK (1964-66)
The Patriots have now won two straight games in Denver after a 16-3 win on Dec. 18, 2016, and the win 41-16 tonight. It is the first time the Patriots have had consecutive wins at Denver since winning three games (1964, 1965 and 1966). 
 
PATRIOTS AND BRONCOS MEET FOR SEVENTH STRAIGHT SEASON
The Patriots and Broncos met for the seventh straight regular season, tying the Titans-Steelers (seven straight from 2008-14) for the third longest streak of any non-divisional opponents since division realignment in 2002. It trails the Patriots-Colts (10 straight from 2003-12) and the Bills-Chiefs (eight straight from 2008-15). The Patriots are 6-1 in those seven games. 
 
PATRIOTS SCORE IN FINAL MINUTE OF THE FIRST HALF FOR 7th TIME IN 2017
The Patriots scored in the final minute of the half for the seventh time in in 2017, including the sixth straight game.
 
FINAL MINUTE SCORING IN THE FIRST HALF
13-yard TD pass from Tom Brady with 13 seconds to play at New Orleans (9/17/17)
58-yard field goal with no time remaining vs. Carolina (10/1/17)
23-yard field goal with 40 seconds to play at Tampa Bay (10/5/17)
2-yard TD pass from Tom Brady to Rob Gronkowski with 9 seconds play at NY Jets (10/15/17)
2-yard TD pass from Tom Brady to James White with 21 seconds to play vs. Atl. (10/22/17)
36-yard field goal with 24 seconds to play vs. LA Chargers (10/29/17)
11-yard TD pass from Tom Brady with 25 seconds play at Denver (11/12/17)
 
PATRIOTS HOLD OPPONENT UNDER 20 POINTS FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT GAME
The Patriots defense held Denver to just 16 points, marking the fifth straight game that the Patriots have held their opponent under 20 points. In 2016, the Patriots held their opponent under 20 points in 11 games. The Patriots held Tampa Bay to 14 points, the New York Jets to 17, Atlanta to 7, the Los Angles Chargers to 13, and the Broncos to 16 points. 
 
PATRIOTS ARE THE BEST IN THE SECOND HALF SINCE 2000
Since Robert Kraft purchased the franchise in 1994, the New England Patriots own the NFL's best record in the second half of the season. The Patriots are the only team with a winning percentage over .700 over that span.
 
PATRIOTS BLOCKED A KICK IN THE THIRD STRAIGHT GAME
The Patriots blocked a kick for the third straight game when RB Rex Burkhead blocked a punt in the second quarter. DL Cassius Marsh blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt vs. Atlanta (10/22) and DL Lawrence Guy blocked a 51-yard field goal attempt vs. LA Chargers (10/29). 
 
PATRIOTS SPECIAL TEAMS COME UP BIG
The Patriots special teams had a big night. TE Jacob Hollister recovered a muffed punt inside Denver territory in the first quarter to set up a touchdown. RB Dion Lewis had a 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter, and RB Rex Burkhead blocked a punt in the second quarter to set up a field goal. 

INDIVIDUAL NOTES  

INCHING CLOSER TO PASSING LANDRY
Bill Belichick won his 270th overall game as a head coach to tie Tom Landry for third place all-time, behind George Halas (324) and Don Shula (347). 
 
BRADY HAS THROWN TOUCHDOWN PASSES TO 68 DIFFERENT PLAYERS;
SECOND PLACE FOR TD TARGETS BY A QB
Tom Brady connected with TE Dwayne Allen on an 11-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Brady has thrown a touchdown pass to 68 different players in the regular season, behind Vinny Testaverde who had 70. 
 
BRADY NOW HAS THE MOST ROAD WINS OF ANY QUATERBACK
The win over Denver was Brady's 86th road victory, breaking a tie with Peyton Manning for the most in NFL history. 
 
RB DION LEWIS SCORES ON A 103-YARD KICKOFF RETURN
RB Dion Lewis scored on a 103-yard kickoff return in the first quarter for his first career regular season kickoff return for a touchdown. He had a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the AFC Divisional Playoff win vs. Houston on Jan. 14, 2017. It is the first kickoff return for the Patriots in the regular season since Devin McCourty scored on a 104-yard kickoff return vs. the New York Jets on Oct. 21, 2012. 
 
LEWIS HAS FIRST MULTIPE TD GAME IN THE REGULAR SEASON
Lewis scored on an 8-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and also scored on a 103-yard kickoff return in the first quarter. It is his first multiple touchdown game of his career in the regular season. Lewis became the first player in NFL postseason history to have a rushing touchdown, a receiving touchdown and a kickoff returned for a touchdown in the AFC Divisional Playoff game vs. Houston on Jan. 14, 2017. Lewis now has a career-best three rushing touchdowns in 2017. 
 
TE DWAYNE ALLEN'S FIRST RECEPTION OF 2017 RESULTS IN A TD
TE Dwayne Allen's first reception of the 2017 season was an 11-yard touchdown pass from QB Tom Brady with 25 seconds to play in the first half that gave the Patriots a 27-9 lead. 
 
GRONKOWSKI ON PACE FOR FOURTH 1,000-YARD SEASON
TE Rob Gronkowski now has 583 receiving yards and is on pace to finish the year with 1,036 yards. It would be his fourth 1,000-yard season and he would join Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten as the only NFL tight ends with four 1,000 yard seasons. 
 
NFL TIGHT ENDS MOST 1,000-YARD SEASONS
Tony Gonzalez 4
Jason Witten 4
Rob Gronkowski 3
Kellen Winslow, Sr. 3
Shannon Sharpe 3
Todd Christensen 3
Greg Olsen 3
Antonio Gates 2
Jimmy Graham 2
Ozzie Newsome 2
 
RB JAMES WHITE LEADS NFL RUNNING BACKS WITH 11 TDS SINCE 2015
RB James White scored on a 6-yard touchdown reception from Tom Brady in the fourth quarter. He has 11 touchdown receptions since 2015, the most in the NFL during that time frame by a running back. 
Running Back with the Most Receiving TD since 2015
James White (Patriots) 11 
Theo Riddick (Detroit) 10 
Davod Johnson (Arizona) 8
Danny Woodhead (Charers/Ravens) 7
Chris Thompson (Washington) 7
 
COOKS ON GREAT PACE
WR Brandin Cooks has 637 yards through the first nine weeks of the season and is on pace to finish with 1,132 yards. It would also be his third straight 1,000-yard season. 
 
RB REX BURKHEAD BLOCKS FIRST PUNT
RB Rex Burkhead blocked a punt in the second quarter. It was his first blocked punt for the Patriots since RB Brandon Bolden blocked a punt at San Diego on Dec. 7, 2014. 
 
ROOKIE TE JACOB HOLLISTER RECOVERED A MUFFED PUNT IN FIRST QUARTER
Rookie TE Jacob Hollister recovered a muffed punt at the Denver 24-yard line to help set up the Patriots first touchdown. 

LINEUP NOTES

CB STEPHON GILMORE RETURNS
CB Stephon Gilmore returned to action after missing the last three games due to injury and was in the starting lineup. 
 
DL RICKY JEAN FRANCOIS SEES FIRST ACTION AS A MEMBER OF THE PATRIOTS
DL Ricky Jean Francois played in his first game as a member of the Patriots after being signed earlier in the week. 
 
LAADRIAN WADDLE MAKES SECOND START OF THE SEASON AT RIGHT TACKLE
T LaAdrian Waddle made his second start of the season at right tackle in place of Marcus Cannon, who was out due to an injury. Waddle madehis first start as a member of the Patriots when he started at right tackle in place of Cannon in the win vs. Houston on Sept. 24.
 
TE MARTELLUS BENNETT MAKES HIS 2017 DEBUT WITH THE PATRIOTS
TE Martellus Bennett made his 2017 debut with the Patriots after re-joining the team earlier in the week.
 
LB TREVOR REILLY MADE HIS FIRST NFL START
LB Trevor Reilly made his first NFL start.
 
QB BRIAN HOYER MADE HIS 2017 DEBUT WITH THE PATRIOTS
QB Brian Hoyer entered the game in the fourth quarter and completed all three pass attempts for 37 yards.