TEAM NOTES
• Patriots reach 11 wins in a season for 22nd time.
• Patriots win 10th straight game.
• Patriots finish with a 5-0 record against NFC opponents.
• Mike Vrabel became the third head coach since 1970 to record a winning streak of 10 or more.
• CB Marcus Jones ties the team record with a 94-yard punt return.
• Jones now qualifies for the highest punt return average in NFL history.
• LB Christian Elliss sets career-high with 4 special teams tackles.
PATRIOTS WIN 11TH GAME OF THE SEASON
The Patriots earned their 11th win of the season and their 22nd 11-win season since 1970 to extend their mark for the most 11-win seasons during that time span.
Most 11-Win Seasons Since the 1970 Merger
| Team | Seasons |
|---|---|
| New England | 22 |
| Dallas | 20 |
| Pittsburgh | 18 |
| San Francisco | 18 |
| Denver | 15 |
| Green Bay | 15 |
| Kansas City | 15 |
PATRIOTS WIN 10TH STRAIGHT GAME
The Patriots have won 10 straight games, their sixth 10-game winning streak overall in regular season games.
Longest Winning Streaks Overall/Patriots History (Regular Season Only)
| Streak | First Win | Last Win |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Dec. 17, 2006 | Sept. 14, 2008 |
| 18 | Oct. 5, 2003 | Oct. 14, 2004 |
| 10 | Sept. 28, 2025 | Present |
| 10 | Dec. 23, 2018 | Oct. 27, 2019 |
| 10 | Sept. 10, 2015 | Nov. 23, 2015 |
| 10 | Nov. 14, 2010 | Sept. 18, 2011 |
PATRIOTS EXTEND THEIR WINNING STREAK TO 10 GAMES
The 33-15 win over the Giants is the Patriots 10th straight win of the season. The Patriots have had streaks of at least 10 straight wins in a single season three previous times in team history with a 12-game streak in 2003, a 16-game streak in 2007 and a 10-game streak in 2015.
FIRST TEAM WITH 10 STRAIGHT AND 23 SCORED AND 23-OR LESS ALLOWED
New England became the first team in NFL history to win 10 consecutive games with at least 23 points scored and 23-or-less points allowed in each game. The 1961 Houston Oilers had a streak of 9 such games.
PATRIOTS FINISH WITH A 5-0 RECORD AGAINST THE NFC
The Patriots finished the season with a 5-0 record against the NFC after the win against the Giants. Since moving to a 17-game schedule in 2021, it is the first time the team has finished with a 5-0 record against the NFC. Overall, the Patriots have finished undefeated against NFC opponents in a season 11 times - (1972, 1974, 1977, 1994, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2019 and 2025).
PATRIOTS RECORD THIRD LONGEST WIN STREAK FOR A TEAM REBOUNDING FROM A 4-WIN SEASON
The 2025 Patriots have now won 10 straight games, the third longest single-season streak in NFL history by a team that won 4 games or less in the prior year - (1998 Indianapolis Colts finished 3-13 and in 1999 had an 11-game winning streak) and (2015 Dallas Cowboys finished 4-12 and in 2016 had an 11-game winning streak).
PATRIOTS TIE TEAM MARK WITH THREE TOTAL KICK RETURNS FOR A TOUCHDOWN
CB Marcus Jones has now returned two punts for a touchdown and RB Antonio Gibson has a kickoff returned for a touchdown in 2025. The three total returns tie the 1977 and 2010 Patriots teams with three total kick returns in a season. The 1977 team returned three kicks for a touchdown and the 2010 team returned two kicks for a touchdown and one punt for a touchdown.
PATRIOTS TOOK A 17-0 FIRST QUARTER LEAD FOR FIRST TIME SINCE THE 2019 SEASON
The Patriots started fast and jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter. The last time the Patriots held an opponent scoreless while scoring at least 17 points in the first quarter was on Oct. 27, 2019 vs. Cleveland. They went on to win the game 27-13.
PATRIOTS SCORED 30 FIRST HALF POINTS
The Patriots were in front 30-7 at halftime. It marks the 13th time in team history that the team has scored at least 30 points in the first half. It is the first time the Patriots have scored at least 30 first half points since Oct. 24, 2021, vs. the New York Jets when the Patriots had a 31-7 lead in a 54-13 victory.
PATRIOTS NOW HAVE FOUR PLAYERS WITH DOUBLE-DIGITS SPECIAL TEAMS TACKLES
LB Marte Mapu finished with one assisted special teams tackle to push his 2025 total to 10 special teams tackles. He joins S Brenden Schooler (12), LB Jack Gibbens (10) and LB Christian Elliss (14) with double-digit special teams tackles. The Patriots have had at least four players finish with 10 or more tackles 15 times now, with the last time coming in 2011 with Matthew Slater (14), Tracy White (12), Kyle Arrington (11) and Sergio Brown (11). The team record since 1995 is from 2003, when eight players finished with at least 10 special teams tackles.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
VRABEL IS THIRD COACH WITH A 10-GAME WINNING STREAK IN FIRST SEASON WITH A TEAM
Mike Vrabel became the third head coach since 1970 to record a winning streak of 10 or more games in his first season with a team, joining Jim Caldwell (14 consecutive wins with Indianapolis in 2009) and Steve Mariucci (11 with San Francisco in 1997).
VRABEL HAS THIRD 11-WIN SEASON AS A HEAD COACH
Vrabel earned his third 11-win season as a head coach. He led the Tennessee Titans to an 11-5 record in 2020 and a 12-5 record in 2021.
MARCUS JONES NOW QUALIFIES FOR THE HIGHEST PUNT RETURN AVERAGE IN NFL HISTORY
CB Marcus Jones now qualifies for the highest punt return average in NFL history with a 14.6-yard average. He entered the Giants game with 74 career returns and needed 75 returns to qualify. Jones qualified for the NFL record with his 94-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter.
Highest Punt Return Average in the NFL (75 Returns)
| Player | Punt Return Avg. | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Marcus Jones | 14.6 (77-1,127) | 2022-present |
| George McAfee (CHI) | 12.8 (112-1,431) | 1940-41, 1945-50 |
| Jack Christiansen (DET) | 12.7 (85-1,084) | 1951-58 |
| Claude Gibson (SD, OAK) | 12.5 (110-1,381) | 1961-65 |
| Bill Dudley (PIT, DEN, WAS) | 12.2 (124-1,515) | 1942-53 |
| Rick Upchurch (DEN) | 12.1 (248-3,008) | 1975-83 |
JONES TIES TEAM RECORD WITH 94-YARD PUNT RETURN FOR A TD
Jones returned a first quarter punt 94 yards for a touchdown to tie the record for the longest punt return in team history. WR Julian Edelman had a 94-yard return for a touchdown vs. Miami on Jan. 2, 2011. Jones previous best was his 87-yard punt return vs. Carolina on Sept. 28.
Longest Punt Return in Team History
| Player | Yards |
|---|---|
| Marcus Jones | 94-yard touchdown return vs. Ny Giants, Dec 1, 2025 |
| Julian Edelman | 94-yard touchdown return vs. Miami on Jan. 2, 1011 |
| Mike Haynes | 89-yard touchdown return vs. Buffalo on Nov. 7, 1976 |
| Marcus Jones | 87-yard touchdown return vs. Carolina on Sept. 28, 2025 |
JONES HAS THIRD HIGHEST PUNT RETURN AVERAGE IN A GAME
Jones returned 3 punts for 124 yards for a 41.3-yard punt return average, the third-highest single game average in team history.
Highest Punt Return Average in Game in Team History
| Player | Punt Return Avg. |
|---|---|
| Marcus Jones | 55.7 vs. Carolina (9/28/25) |
| Gunner Olszewski | 48.3 at LA Chargers (12/6/20) |
| Marcus Jones | 41.3 vs. NY Giants (12/01/25) |
| Mike Haynes | 39.0 vs. Buffalo (11/7/76) |
JONES IS FOURTH PATRIOTS PLAYER WITH TWO PUNTS RETURNED FOR A TOUCHDOWN IN A SEASON
Jones has now returned two punts for a touchdown in 2025 after his 94-yard return against the Giants. He returned a first quarter punt 87 yards for a touchdown vs. Carolina (9/28). Jones joins Troy Brown (2001), Irving Fryar (1985) and Mike Haynes (1976) as the only Patriots players to return two punts for a touchdown in a season.
JONES HAS FIFTH PUNT RETURN OF OVER 60 YARDS
Jones now has five punt returns of at least 60 yards after his 94-yard touchdown return in the first quarter, the most 60-yard punt returns in team history.
Most 60-yard Punt Returns (Patriots since 1980)
| Player | 60-Yard Punt Returns |
|---|---|
| Marcus Jones | 5 |
| Julian Edelman | 4 |
| Troy Brown | 3 |
| Irving Fryar | 2 |
| Gunner Olszewski | 2 |
JONES NOW HAS TWO 85-PLUS PUNT RETURNS IN 2025
Jones now has an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 94-yard punt return for touchdown. Jones has tied Patrick Peterson (2011), Johnnie Lee Higgins (2008), Dante Hall (2002) and Rex Bumgardner (1948) for the most 85+ yard PR TDs in a single season in NFL history.
JONES IS NOW TIED FOR SECOND WITH THREE PUNTS RETURNED FOR A TOUCHDOWN
Jones' 94-yard punt return for a touchdown was his third of his career, tied with Troy Brown and Irving Fryar for second behind the four punts returned for a touchdown by WR Julian Edelman.
JONES HAS SCORED A TOUCHDOWN IN BACK-TO-BACK WEEKS
Jones has now scored a touchdown in back-to-back weeks with his 94-yard punt returned for a touchdown against the Giants. He returned an interception 33 yards for a touchdown at Cincinnati (11/23).
JONES NOW HAS THREE GAMES WITH AT LEAST 100 PUNT RETURN YARDS
Jones now has three games with at least 100 punt return yards after finishing with 124 punt return yards against the Giants. He had 167 yards vs. Carolina (9/28/25) and 109 yards vs. the New York Jets in 11/20/22). He joins Troy Brown as the only other Patriots with three 100-yard punt return games.
ELLISS HAS A CAREER-HIGH 4 SPECIAL TEAMS TACKLES
LB Christian Elliss finished with a career-high 4 total special teams tackles. It is the most special teams tackles in a game for a Patriots player since DB Cody Davis had 4 special teams tackles vs. the New York Jets on Oct. 24, 2021. Elliss now has three games in 2025 with at least three special teams tackles. He had 3 at Miami (9/14) and 3 vs. Atlanta (11/2). Elliss has a career-high with 14 special teams tackles. His previous high was 8 special teams tackles in 2024. Elliss finished tied with S Craig Woodson with 6 total tackles on defense.
MAYE HAS NINTH GAME IN 2025 WITH AT LEAST TWO TOUCHDOWN PASSES
QB Drake Maye had his ninth game in 2025 with at least 2 touchdown passes after throwing 2 first half touchdown passes. The Patriots record for most games with at least 2 touchdown passes in a single season is 14 by Tom Brady in 2011 and 2007. The NFL record is 15 by Peyton Manning (2013) and Dan Marino (1984).
MAYE HAS 10TH GAME WITH 200 OR MORE YARDS AND A 100-PLUS QB RATING
Maye is the third quarterback under the age of 24 with at least 10 games of 200-or-more passing yards and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in NFL history after finishing with 282 yards and a passer rating of 126.0, joining Patrick Mahomes (13 games in 2018) and Matthew Stafford (10 games in 2011).
BORREGALES SETS PATRIOTS ROOKIE RECORD
Rookie K Andy Borregales added 15 points against the Giants and now has scored the most points among all New England rookies with 105 total points.
| Player | Year | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Andy Borregales | 2025 | 105 |
| Stephen Gostkowski | 2006 | 103 |
| Curtis Martin | 1995 | 92 |
| Chad Ryland | 2023 | 72 |
| Robert Edwards | 1998 | 72 |
| Jeff White | 1973 | 63 |
LINEUP NOTES
• T Vederian Lowe started at left tackle in place of Will Campbell. Lowe made 13 starts at left tackle in 2024 and four of his eight starts for the Patriots in 2023 were at left tackle. • OL Ben Brown made his second start at left guard in place of Jared Wilson. Brown made his first career start at left guard vs. Carolina on Sept. 28.
• LB Jahlani Tavai returned to action after missing one game due to personal reasons.
• T Thayer Munford Jr. played in his first game with the Patriots after being signed to the 53-man roster. He also saw action as a tackle-eligible tight end.
• T Caedan Wallace was active for the first time in 2025 and saw action on field goal and extra point plays.
• DT Cory Durden made his first NFL start.
• DT Joshua Farmer returned to action after missing two games.
