TEAM NOTES
· Patriots off to 4-0 record for ninth time in team history and fifth time under Belichick
· Patriots have 26th undefeated month since 2000
· Patriots have now gone 19 straight seasons without being swept in AFC East play
· Patriots return blocked punt for a TD for second time under Belichick
· D. McCourty ties a team record with a pick in fourth straight game
· J.C. Jackson has first NFL game with two interceptions
PATRIOTS START 4-0 FOR NINTH TIME IN TEAM HISTORY; FIFTH TIME UNDER BELICHICK
The Patriots are off to a 4-0 start for the ninth time in team history (1964, 1974, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 and 2019) and the fifth time under Bill Belichick.
PATRIOTS HAVE NOW WON 18 STRAIGHT AGAINST A FIRST OR SECOND-YEAR QB
The Patriots have now won 18 straight games against a first or second-year quarterback, the longest streak in NFL history. The New York Giants (1988-90) and the Los Angeles Rams (1973-79) have the second longest streak at 17 straight wins.
PATRIOTS FINISH THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER UNDEFEATED;
26TH UNDEFEATED MONTH INCE 2000 – TOPS IN NFL
The Patriots finished the month of September with a 4-0 record and now have 26 undefeated months since 2000. It is the most undefeated months in the NFL over that span. Indianapolis is second with 16 undefeated months during that time.
PATRIOTS UNDEFEATED MONTHS
SINCE THE 2000 SEASON (Excluding January)
2001.................................................. December
2003............... October, November, December
2004............................. September, November
2005.................................................. December
2006..................................................... October
2007............................... Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.
2008.................................................. December
2010.................................. October, December
2011.................................................. December
2012................................................. November
2013................................................ September
2014..................................................... October
2015................................. September, October
2016.............................. September, December
2017................................................. November
2018..................................................... October
2019................................................ September
PATRIOTS HAVE ALLOWED JUST 27 POINTS IN 2019
The Patriots have allowed 27 points through four games and are on pace to allow just 108 points all season. The 1977 Patriots allowed just 217 points in a 14-game season. The Patriots fewest amount of points allowed in a 16-game season was 237 in 2006. The NFL record for least amount of points in a 16-game season was the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, who allowed 165 total points.
Fewest Points Allowed in a 16-game Season
Team Year Points
Baltimore 2000 165
Chicago 1986 187
Tennessee 2000 191
Pittsburgh 1978 195
PATRIOTS EXTEND STREAK TO 19 SEASONS WITHOUT BEING SWEPT IN DIVISION PLAY
The Patriots now have victories against all of their division opponents in 2019 and will avoid a series sweep by a division opponent for the 19th straight season to extend their NFL record. It is the longest such streak since the 1970 merger.
PATRIOTS DEFENSE NETS THIRD-STRAIGHT HIGH-SACK TOTAL
ON PACE TO FINISH WITH 72 SACKS
The Patriots defense netted its third straight game with at least five sacks. They had seven sacks at Miami and sacks vs. NY Jets. The Patriots now have 18 sacks in the first four games of the season and are on pace to finish with 72 sacks. That mark would tie the 1984 Chicago Bears for the most sacks in a season. The franchise record for most sacks in a season was 66 in 1963 (14 games). The team record for most sacks in a 16-game season is 57 in 1979. The most sacks for the Patriots under Bill Belichick is 49 in 2015.
Most Sacks in a Season in NFL History
Team Year Sacks
Chicago 1984 72
Minnesota 1989 71
Chicago 1987 70
NY Giants 1985 68
PATRIOTS DEFENSE HOLDS ON THIRD DOWN
A week after holding the Jets to zero first downs and after holding Miami to two third downs in Week 2, the Patriots defense held Buffalo to 2-of-13 on third down. Overall, the Patriots have held teams to just 7-for-52 on third down so far in 2019. The fewest third downs allowed in a 16-game season is 49 by 1991 Saints.
PATRIOTS ON PACE TO FINISH WITH MOST INTERCEPTIONS IN TEAM AND NFL HISTORY
The Patriots had four interceptions against Buffalo and now have 10 interceptions for the season, on pace 40 interceptions, which would be the most in team history and the most in NFL history. The most interceptions in the modern era was the 1986 San Francisco 49ers with 39.
Most Interceptions in a Season for the Patriots
INTs Year
31 1964
29 1963
29 2003
PATRIOTS RETURN BLOCKED PUNT FOR A TD
J.C. Jackson blocked a first-quarter punt that was returned 11 yards for a touchdown by Matthew Slater. It marked the 11th time in team history and second time under Bill Belichick that the Patriots have returned a block punt for a touchdown. Last season, LB Dont'a Hghtower blocked a punt at Chicago (10/21) that was returned 29 yards for a touchdown by LB Kyle Van Noy. Last season, The Patriots had two blocked punts on the season. In addition to the Chicago game, LB Albert McCellan blocked a punt at Miami on Dec. 9, 2018.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
BRADY HAS THE MOST WINS AT NEW ERA FIELD SINCE HE BECAME A STARTER IN 2001
Since Tom Brady became a starter in 2001, no quarterback has more wins at Buffalo than he does with 16.
Most QB Wins at Buffalo Since 2001
Player Wins
Tom Brady 16
Drew Bledsoe 15
Tyrod Taylor 13
Ryan Fitzpatrick 13
BRADY EARNS 31ST VICTORY AGAINST BUFFALO
Tom Brady now owns a 31-3 record against the Buffalo Bills. Brady's 31 wins against Buffalo are the most wins by a quarterback against a single opponent in NFL history.
MOST WINS BY A QB AGAINST AN OPPONENT
Player Opponent Wins
Tom Brady Buffalo 31
Tom Brady N.Y. Jets 28
Brett Favre Detroit 26
Tom Brady Miami 23
Brett Favre Chicago 23
Ben Roethlisberger Cincinnati 23
Ben Roethlisberger Cleveland 22
Dan Marino Indianapolis 22
DEVIN MCCOURTY HAS PICK IN FOURTH STRAIGHT GAME TO TIE A TEAM RECORD
DB Devin McCourty picked off Buffalo QB Josh Allen in the first quarter and now has one interception in all four games of the 2019 season, tying a team record for most consecutive games with at least one interception. Mike Haynes set the original mark with a pick in four straight games in 1976. McCourty is the first player to record an interception in each of his team's first four games of the season since Minnesota's Brian Russell in 2003. McCourty is the first Patriots player to achieve that feat.
LB JAMIE COLLINS SR. SETS SINGLE-SEASON HIGH FOR INTERCEPTIONS
LB Jamie Collins Sr. picked off his third pass of the season for a new single-season career high. He had recorded two interceptions twice in his career (2014 and 2016).
RB BRANDON BOLDEN SCORES FIRST RUSHING TD WITH PATRIOTS SINCE 2014
RB Brandon Bolden scored on a 4-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. It was his first rushing touchdown with the Patriots since he scored 6-yard touchdown run at Green Bay on Nov. 30, 2014.
J.C. JACKSON BLOCKS FIRST PUNT AND MATTHEW SLATER RETURNED IT FOR FIRST CAREER TD
CB J.C. Jackson blocked his first career punt and Matthew Slater returned the blocked punt 11 yards for his first career touchdown.
J.C. JACKSON HAS FIRST NFL TW-PICK GAME;
SECOND TIME IN 2019 THAT A PATS PLAYER HAS TWO PICKS
J.C. Jackson intercepted a pass in the first quarter and in the third quarter for his first career two-interception game. It marked the second time in 2019 that a Patriots player has intercepted two passes in a game. LB Jamie Collins Sr. picked off two passes in the win at Miami on Sept. 15.
WHITE MOVES INTO SECOND PLACE FOR RECEPTIONS BY A PATS RUNNING BACK
RB James White moved past Tony Collins (261) into second place on the Patriots all-time reception list for a running back after catching eight passes. He now has 264 career receptions. White entered the game with 256 receptions and needed five to pass Collins. He passed Collins on a 4-yard reception in the third quarter.
RB RECEPTIONS IN PATRIOTS HISTORY
Player Seasons Receptions
Kevin Faulk.................. 1999-2011.................... 431
James White............. 2014-present.................. 264
Tony Collins.................. 1981-87...................... 261
Sam Cunningham.......... 1973-82...................... 210
KYLE VAN NOY HAS TWO SACKS
LB Kyle Van Noy had his third-career two-sack game. It was his second straight two sack game at Buffalo. He had two sacks at Buffalo on Oct. 29, 2018.
LINEUP NOTES
LB JA'WHAUN BENTLEY MAKES FIRST START OF 2019
LB Ja'Whaun Bentley made his first start of the 2019 season when he lined up at linebacker in place of Dont'a Hightower, who was inactive injury. Bentley started in two of the three games he played in as a rookie in 2018.
DB NATE EBNER RETURNED TO ACTION
DB Nate Ebner returned to action after missing a game due to injury.
FB JAKOB JOHNSON MADE HIS FIRST NFL START
FB Jakob Johnson made his first NFL start.
