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Replay: Patriots Unfiltered Tue Nov 05 - 02:00 PM | Wed Nov 06 - 11:55 AM

Game Notes: Patriots win by 21+ points for fourth straight game

The following are game notes from the Patriots Week 12 game against the Detroit Lions.

TEAM NOTES

PATRIOTS EARN 14th STRAIGHT WINNING RECORD
The Patriots won more than half of their games for the 14th straight year after reaching the nine-win mark with the win vs. Detroit. They are the first team to win more than half of their games in 14 straight seasons since free agency began in 1993. The Patriots are the third team to win more than half of their games in 14 straight seasons since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, joining the 49ers (16 straight from 1983-1998) and the Cowboys (16 straight from 1970-85).

PATRIOTS HAVE THE MOST 9 OR MORE WIN SEASONS SINCE 2001
The Patriots are the only team in the NFL to have recorded nine or more wins in each of the last 14 seasons.

MOST SEASONS OF 9 WINS SINCE 2001
New England 14
Indianapolis 11
Baltimore 9
Green Bay 9
Pittsburgh 9
Philadelphia 9

**

The New England Patriots take on the Detroit Lions at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, November 23, 2014.

PATRIOTS NEAR THE TOP WITH 29 WINNING SEASONS SINCE THE MERGER**
The Patriots now have 29 winning seasons since the 1970 merger.

MOST WINNING SEASONS SINCE 1970 MERGER
Pittsburgh 31
New England 29
Dallas 29
Miami 29
Minnesota 27
Denver 26
San Francisco 26

PATRIOTS WIN 15th STRAIGHT HOME GAME
The Patriots won their 15th consecutive home game, .including a 6-0 record in 2014. The Patriots have not lost a regular-season home game since December 16, 2012, when San Francisco left Foxborough with a 41-34 win. The NFL record for most consecutive home victories is 27, achieved by Miami from 1971-74.

MOST CONSECUTIVE HOME VICTORIES (Current Streaks)
New England 15
Philadelphia 10

SECOND HALF SURGE
Since 2010, the Patriots are 32-3 in the second half of the regular season, In both 2010 and 2011, the Patriots were 8-0 in the second half of the year. New England was 7-1 in 2012 and 6-2 in 2013. The Patriots are off to a 3-0 start in the second half in 2014. Since Bill Belichick became the Patriots coach in 2000, New England is 92-23 in the second half of the season, and has gone 8-0 in the second half four times (2003, 2007, 2010 and 2011) and 7-1 three times (2001, 2004 and 2012).

Best Record in the NFL in the Second Half since 2010
Patriots 32-3
49ers 23-10-1*
Packers 24-10-1
Saints 23-11*
*-Not including this week's game

PATRIOTS WIN SEVENTH STRAIGHT GAME
The Patriots won their seventh consecutive game, which is the longest winning streak in the NFL. The Patriots have not lost since a 41-14 defeat at Kansas City on Sept. 29. Over their seven-game winning streak, the Patriots have averaged 39.6 points per game.

PATRIOTS CONQUER NFL'S TOP-RANKED DEFENSE
The Patriots scored 34 points against a Lions defense which entered the game allowing an NFL-low 15.6 points per game. Prior to the Patriots-Lions game, the highest point total allowed by the Lions was 24 points to the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 14. Entering the game, Detroit also allowed an NFL-low 290.3 yards per game, and New England totaled 439 yards in today's victory.

**

PATRIOTS HOT AT HOME AGAINST TOUGH DEFENSES**
Since 2009, The Patriots are 8-1 at home against teams that finished the season in the top-five in points allowed, averaging 31.6 points in those contests. The Patriots have scored 30 or more points in each of their last 5 home games against top-5 defenses. Their only home loss came on Dec. 16, 2012 vs. San Francisco, losing 41-34.

PATRIOTS KEEP LIONS OUT OF END ZONE
The Patriots held Detroit without a touchdown, marking the second time this season that the Patriots have kept an opponent out of the end zone at Gillette Stadium. New England also held Oakland without a touchdown in a 16-9 win on Sept. 21. Today's game marked the 20th time in the 102-game history of Gillette Stadium that the Patriots have not allowed a touchdown.

PATRIOTS WIN BY 21 POINTS FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT GAME
The Patriots beat the Lions by 25 points, marking New England's fourth straight win by 21 points or more, matching a team record set in 2007.

PATS WIN BIG AGAINST A DIVISION LEADER FOR THIRD STRAIGHT WEEK
The Patriots beat a division leader for the third straight week after the 34-9 win vs. Detroit followed a 43-21 win vs. Denver on Nov. 2 and a 42-20 win at Indianapolis on Nov. 16.

PATRIOTS OFFENSE ON PACE TO FINISH WITH 500 POINTS
The Patriots 34 points in the win vs. Detroit improved the team to 357 points (32.5 points per game), and is on pace to finish the season with 519 points. It would be the fifth season in team history with more than 500 points. The Patriots are the only team in NFL history to score 500 or more points in four seasons (2007-589, 2010-518, 2011-513 and 2012-557).

MOST 500-POINT SEASONS
New England 4
St. Louis 3
Denver 2
New Orleans 2

INTRA-CONFERENCE RECORD; PATS HAVE NFC SUCCESS
Since realignment in 2002, the Patriots have are now 42-9 against NFC clubs following today's win, the best inter-conference record in the NFL during that time.

PATRIOTS CONTINUE WINNING STREAK AGAINST THE NFC NORTH
The Patriots extended their winning streak to 14 straight wins against NFC North teams with the win over Detroit. The Patriots are now 3-0 against the NFC North in 2014 after wins earlier in the season over Minnesota and Chicago. Since realignment in 2002, their only loss against the current NFC North was on Oct. 13, 2002 when the Patriots dropped a 28-10 decision at home against the Green Bay Packers in their very first game against the reconfigured division. The Patriots streak is the longest current streak aby NFL team has against another division.

PATS HAVE WON 73 STRAIGHT HOME GAMES WHEN LEADING AT THE HALF
The Patriots have now won 73 straight home games when leading at halftime, adding to their NFL record. The last time the Patriots lost at home after leading at halftime was on Dec. 24, 2000 (vs. Miami) when they Patriots lost 27-24 after leading 21-17 at halftime. Today, the Patriots were leading 24-6 at halftime and won the game 34-9.

PATRIOTS NOW HAVE NFL-BEST 4 PLAYERS WHO HAVE RECORDED MULTIPLE RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS
With Tim Wright catching two touchdown passes against Detroit, the Patriots now have an NFL-best four players who have record multiple receiving touchdowns in a game in 2014.
2 - WR Brandon LaFell at Buffalo on Oct. 12
2 – Shane Vereen vs. NY Jets on Oct. 16
3 - TE Rob Gronkowski vs. Chicago on Oct. 26
2 - TE Tim Wright vs. Detroit on Nov. 23

HALFTIME HELP
The Patriots have been very successful in the final two minutes of the first half in 2014. In nine of the first 11 games this season, New England has scored in the final two minutes of the first half, including four field goals as time has expired. Against Detroit, the Patriots got the ball back with 35 seconds remaining and moved into position for a 35-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. The Patriots have scored 59 points in the final two minutes of the first half in 2014, the most in the NFL.

PATRIOTS START 9-2 OR BETTER FOR THE FIFTH TIME IN TEAM HISTORY
The Patriots have started the season with at least nine wins in their first 11 games for the fifth time in franchise history. New England also was 9-2 or better in 2003, 2004, 2007, and 2010. New England has started 9-2 or better five times in the last 12 years after not achieving the feat in any of its first 43 seasons.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

**

BRADY STARTS AGAINST DETROIT 14 YEARS TO THE DAY THAT HE PLAYED IN HIS FIRST NFL GAME AGAINST DETROIT ON THANKSGIVING DAY**
Today marked 14 years ago to the day that Tom Brady made his NFL debut against Detroit in a Thanksgiving Day game. In that game, Detroit won 34-9, while today, the Patriots won 34-9. Those two games are two of only six games in NFL history that have ended in a 34-9 score. On November 23, 2000, Brady made his NFL debut when he came in the game late in the 4th quarter in relief of Drew Bledsoe with the Patriots down 34-9 to the Lions. Brady was 1-for-3, completing a 6-yard pass to Rod Rutledge.

BELICHICK EXTENDS STREAK TO 14TH STRAIGHT WINNING RECORD
Bill Belichick has now led the Patriots to 14 straight winning seasons (2001-14). The only other NFL coach to have at least 10 consecutive winning seasons with one team since the 1970 merger was Tom Landry, who led the Dallas Cowboys to 16 consecutive winning seasons (1970-85). Belichick's 14 straight winning seasons are tied with Curly Lambeau for second in NFL history, behind 20 by Landry (1966-85).

GRONKOWSKI EXTENDS HIS STREAK TO 61 STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A RECEPTION
Rob Gronkowski caught a 15-yard pass in the second quarter and has caught at least one pass in all 61 regular season games that he has played.

TIES DAN MARINO FOR THIRD-MOST IN NFL HISTORY
Brady had his 63rd career 300-yard game and the fourth of the season after finishing with 349 passing yards. His 63 career 300-yard games tie Dan Marino for third in NFL history, behind Peyton Manning (90) and Drew Brees (83).

ALLEN HAS BIG PUNT
Ryan Allen had a 66-yard punt in the first quarter. It was his second longest punt of the season (trailing only his career-long 67 yarder vs. Denver) and his third punt of 60 or more yards in 2014. Allen now has seven punts of 60 yards or longer since entering the NFL in 2013. Allen's punt against Detroit came at a key time in the game, with the Patriots trailing 3-0 and backed up to their own 14-yard line. Allen's punt flipped the field and gave the ball to the Lions at their own 21-yard line. After a three-and-out by the Patriots defense, New England drove for its first touchdown of the game and a 7-3 lead.

GOSTKOWSKI SHARP AT THE RAZOR
Gostkowski had two field goals against Detroit and has made 36 consecutive field goals at Gillette Stadium. His last miss was a 43-yard field goal that sailed wide left vs. the New York Jets on Sept. 12, 2013.

GOSTKOWSKI ON A GOOD PACE IN 2014
Stephen Gostkowski has 26 field goals so far in 2014, putting him on pace to finish with 38 field goals, which would tie his career high and rank high on the NFL's all-time list.

GOSTKOWSKI IS OFF TO A 26-for-27 START IN 2014
Stephen Gostkowski was a perfect 2-for-2 against the Lions, and has made 26 of 27 field goals (96.3 percent) this season. He has made 13 consecutive field goals.

GOSTKOWSKI ON PACE TO SET NFL RECORD FOR MOST POINTS BY A KICKER
Stephen Gostkowski has 117 points through 11 games this season and is on pace to score 170 points in 2014. The NFL record for most points by a kicker in a season is 166.

NFL RECORD FOR MOST POINTS BY A KICKER
166 David Akers (SF) in 2011
164 Gary Anderson (MIN) in 1998
163 Jeff Wilkins (STL) in 2003
161 Mark Mosley (WAS) in 1983
158 Stephen Gostkowski (NE) in 2013
157 Mike Vanderjagt (IND) in 2003
153 Stephen Gostkowski (NE) in 2012

GOSTKOWSKI PASSES GINO CAPPELLETTI FOR SECOND IN PATS POINTS
Gostkowski's first quarter extra point moved him past Gino Cappelletti into sole possession of second place on the Patriots all-time scoring list. He entered the Detroit game tied with Cappelletti for second place in team history. He needs 19 points to become the Patriots all-time leader.

**

TIM WRIGHT SET CAREER-HIGH WITH HIS SIXTH TOUCHDON OF 2014;* * FIRST NFL 2-TOUCHDOWN GAME**
Patriots TE Trim Wright had his first two-touchdown game with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the first quarter and an 8-yard touchdown pass from Brady in the second quarter. Wright now has six touchdowns in 2014, a new career-high. He had five touchdowns as a rookie in 2013 with Tampa Bay.

EDELMAN HAS FIFTH REGULAR SEASON GAME WITH 10 CATCHES
Julian Edelman had his fifth regular season game with 10 or more catches and the second game of 2014 with 10 or more catches. He finished the game with 11 receptions for 89 yards. Edelman caught 10 passes for 84 yards vs. Oakland (9/21). He had 13 receptions at Miami (12/15/13) and vs. New York Jets (9/12/13) and 10 receptions at Houston (1/3/10). He also had 10 receptions in the AFC Championship game at Denver (1/19/14).

DANNY AMENDOLA HAS 81-YARD KICKOFF RETURN IN SECOND QUARTER
Danny Amendola had an 84-yard kickoff return in the second quarter, the second longest of his career. He had an 84-yard return vs. San Francisco on Dec. 26, 1010 when he played for St. Louis. It was the longest for the Patriots since RB Legarrette Blount had an 83-yard kickoff return on Dec. 29, 2013 vs. Buffalo. The run helped get the Patriots in position for LeGarrette Blount's 3-yard touchdown run.

SWAT TEAM
The Patriots defense batted down eight passes and Logan Ryan added an interception, as New England finished the game with nine passes defensed. Darrelle Revis led the charge with four passes defensed, the highest single-game total for a Patriots player this season. Brandon Browner added two passes defensed. - Revis swatted away a Matthew Stafford pass intended for Golden Tate on third down in the first quarter, forcing the Lions to settle for a field goal on the first offensive possession of the game.
- Revis also broke up a Matthew Stafford pass intended for Calvin Johnson in the end zone on second down in the second quarter. On the next play, Patrick Chung broke up a Stafford pass intended for Joseph Fauria in the end zone, forcing the Lions to settle for a field goal after gaining a first-and-goal from the Patriots 2-yard line.
- Revis reached in and broke up a deep pass intended for Eric Ebron in the third quarter.
- Revis broke up a pass intended for Golden Tate in the third quarter.
- Brandon Browner knocked away a Matthew Stafford pass intended for Calvin Johnson on third down on the fourth quarter, Detroit to settle for a field goal on the next play.
- On the Lions' next drive, Browner also batted down a Stafford pass intended for Johnson on third down.
- Branch batted down a Matthew Stafford pass in the fourth quarter.
- Patrick Chung defended a Stafford pass intended for Joseph Fauria in the second quarter.

AYERS TALLIES THIRD SACK IN FOUR GAMES
Akeem Ayers sacked Matthew Stafford for an 11-yard loss on third down in the first quarter, completing a three-and-out for the Patriots defense. The sack was Ayers's third sack in four games as a Patriot.

NINKOVICH TALLIES SIXTH SACK
Rob Ninkovich sacked Matthew Stafford for a 9-yard loss in the first quarter. The sack gave Ninkovich a team-high six sacks on the season.

LINEUP NOTES

LEGARRETTE BLOUNT MAKES RETURN
Newly acquired RB LeGarrette Blount made his 2014 debut with the Patriots. He has scored ten rushing touchdowns in his last five games with the Patriots, including the playoffs.

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