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New England Patriots 2010 Season Review

The Patriots claimed the 2010 AFC East Division title for the second consecutive season and earned the number one seed in the AFC Playoff field. New England finished the 2010 regular season with a 14-2 record, but were defeated by the New York Jets in the Divisional round of the playoffs.

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PATRIOTS CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH FOR 12th TIME IN KRAFT'S 17 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP
New England has qualified for the playoffs 18 times in its 51-year history. The Patriots have earned 12 playoff berths in the 17 seasons since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994, a dramatic contrast to the six total playoff berths that the team earned in its first 34 years of existence. The Patriots have 10 division crowns in the 12 playoff berths under Kraft, including eight of the last 10 seasons. The 14-2 2010 record earned the Patriots their third top seed in the AFC and it is the seventh time the Patriots have been seeded high enough to earn a first round playoff bye.

PATRIOTS EARN FOURTH 14 WIN SEASON
The Patriots finished 14-2 in 2010. The Patriots have finished with at least 14 wins in four separate seasons. In addition to the 2010 season, the Patriots finished 14-2 in 2003, 14-2 in 2004 and 16-0 in 2007. The Patriots join the San Francisco 49ers as the only teams to have four 14-win seasons.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 2010 AFC EAST CHAMPIONS
The Patriots claimed the AFC East Division title for the second consecutive season and earned the number one seed in the AFC Playoff field. New England has won 13 division crowns and has qualified as a Wild Card team on four occasions (1998, 1994, 1985 and 1976). The Patriots also qualified for the playoffs in 1982 as part of a 16-team tournament following a players' strike. It is the third time that the Patriots have earned home-field advantage (2007 and 2003).

ANNUAL ACHIEVEMENTS - PATRIOTS HAVE MOST 9 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 10 seasons.

MOST SEASONS OF 9 WINS SINCE 2001
New England 10
Indianapolis 9
Philadelphia 8
Pittsburgh 8

PATRIOTS FINISH WITH APERFECT 8-0 REGULAR-SEASON RECORD AT HOME
The Patriots finished with a perfect 8-0 regular-season record at Gillette Stadium for the second consecutive season. New England has now finished perfect at home five times in team history, all in the last seven years (2003, 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2010). The Patriots were the only team in the NFL to finish undefeated at home in 2010. The Patriots own an overall record of 67-14 (.827) at Gillette Stadium. Since their state-of-the-art facility opened at the beginning of the 2002 season, the Patriots own the NFL's best record at home.

LOOKING AHEAD

2011 PATRIOTS/NFL CALENDAR

FEBRUARY, 2011
February 23-March 1 - NFL Scouting Combine, Indianapolis, Ind.

April, 2011
April 28-30 - NFL Draft, New York City

PATRIOTS 2011 DRAFT STATUS
As of January 17, the Patriots possess nine selections in the 2011 NFL Draft, including four picks in the first two rounds. New England owns the 17th and 28th picks in the first round. New England may receive additional selections in this year's draft when the NFL awards compensatory selections in late March. The draft will be held on April 28-30. The Patriots are without a seventh-round pick in 2011 due to a trade with Atlanta in exchange for T Quinn Ojinnaka in 2010.

PATRIOTS 2010 DRAFT SELECTIONS
(Additional Compensatory Selections May Be Awarded)

Round Selection Overall How Acq.
1A 17 17 From Oakland
1 28 28 Assigned selection
2A 1 33 From Carolina
2 28 60 Assigned selection
3A 10 74 From Minnesota
3 28 92 Assigned selection
4 28 Assigned selection
5 28 Assigned selection
6 28 * Assigned selection

-To be determined following assignment of compensatory selections*

NOTES
1A - The Patriots acquired Oakland's 2011 first-round selection during a 2009 trade of DT Richard Seymour.
2A -The Patriots acquired Carolina's 2011 second-round pick during a 2010 draft day trade in exchange for the Patriots 2010 third-round pick (89th pick overall).
3A - The Patriots acquired Minnesota's 2011 third-round pick in exchange for WR Randy Moss.

2011 PATRIOTS OPPONENTS
In 2011, the Patriots will play each of the other AFC East rivals twice and will play one game against each of the AFC West and NFC East teams. As the first-place team in the AFC East, the Patriots will play the first-place teams of the AFC South (Indianapolis) and the AFC North (Pittsburgh).

HOME
Team W L Pct.
New York Jets 11 5 0.688
Indianapolis Colts 10 6 0.625
Kansas City Chiefs 10 6 0.625
New York Giants 10 6 0.625
San Diego Chargers 9 7 0.563
Miami Dolphins 7 9 0.438
Dallas Cowboys 6 10 0.375
Buffalo Bills 4 12 0.25
AWAY
Team W L Pct.
Pittsburgh Steelers 12 4 0.75
New York Jets 11 5 0.688
Philadelphia Eagles 10 6 0.625
Oakland Raiders 8 8 0.5
Miami Dolphins 7 9 0.438
Washington Redskins 6 10 0.375
Denver Broncos 4 12 0.25
Buffalo Bills 4 12 0.25

PATRIOTS HAVE EIGHT PLAYERS SELECTED FOR THE PRO BOWL
QB Tom Brady, T Matt Light, G Logan Mankins, LB Jerod Mayo, CB Devin McCourty, S Brandon Meriweather, WR Wes Welker and NT Vince Wilfork have been selected to represent the New England Patriots and the AFC in the 2011 Pro Bowl on Jan. 30 at Aloha Stadium in Hawaii. Brady, Mankins and Wilfork were selected as starters, while Light, Mayo, McCourty, Meriweather and Welker were selected as reserves. McCourty is the fourth Patriots player to be selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie, joining Mike Haynes (1976), John Stephens (1988) and Curtis Martin (1995).

The eight Pro Bowl selections match the eight by the 1985 and 2007 Patriots teams.

2010 SEASON NEWS & NOTES

**[

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]()PATRIOTS HOME DOMINANCE**
Since the Patriots moved to Gillette Stadium in 2002, they have celebrated more regular season and postseason wins than any other team in the NFL. The Patriots have the highest point differential at home in that time and are among the top three offensive and defensive leaders at home. The Patriots home dominance is especially strong against NFC teams. With the win at home over Green Bay (12/19/10), the Patriots have now defeated all 31 NFL teams at Gillette Stadium since the venue opened in 2002.

PATRIOTS IN THE PLAYOFFS
New England has qualified for the playoffs 18 times in its 51-year history. Twelve of those playoff berths have come in the 17 seasons since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994, a dramatic contrast to the six total playoff berths that the team earned in its first 34 years of existence. New England has won 13 division crowns, including eight in the past nine seasons, and has qualified as a Wild Card team on four occasions (1998, 1994, 1985 and 1976). The Patriots also qualified for the playoffs in 1982 as part of a 16-team tournament following a players' strike.

PATRIOTS TIED FOR MOST PLAYOFF WINS IN A DECADEThe Patriots won 14 playoff games in the decade from 2000-09, tying the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys for the most playoff victories by any NFL team in either the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s or 2000s. Pittsburgh and Dallas both won 14 playoff contests between 1970 and 1979, while New England won 14 postseason games from 2000-09.

TITLE TOWNThe Patriots won the AFC East seven times during the decade of 2000-09. The Patriots had a streak of five straight division titles snapped in 2008 when they finished 11-5, but lost to Miami on a tie breaker to finish in second place. New England's five straight AFC East crowns from 2003-07 top the four straight division titles by the Buffalo Bills from 1988-91 and by the Miami Dolphins on two occasions. The Patriots have won eight of the last nine division crowns. The Patriots have won ten division titles in the 17 seasons since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994.

BRADY MOVES UP THE POSTSEASON LISTS
Tom Brady's two touchdown passes vs. the NY Jets (01/16/11) raised his career playoff total to 30 touchdown passes, moving him into a tie with Terry Bradshaw for fifth on the NFL's all-time playoff touchdown pass list. Brady ranks sixth on the NFL's all-time postseason passing yardage list with 4,407 career passing yards.

PATRIOTS AGAINST TOP 10 SCORING DEFENSES
Patriots played an opponent with a top 10 scoring defense (fewest points allowed per game) seven times in 2010 and were 6-1 in those games. The Patriots averaged 30.1 points per game when playing a defense ranked among the top 10 stingiest in terms of allowing points. While the Patriots averaged 30.1 points per game against those teams, the rest of the NFL averaged 16.4 points per game.

The Patriots finished first in the NFL with 518 points in 2010, second in team history to the NFL record 589 points scored in 2007. The 518 points ranks seventh in NFL history.

MOST POINTS SCORED IN A SEASON BY THE PATRIOTS
589 in 2007
518 in 2010
441 in 1980

PATRIOTS SET TEAM RECORD WITH TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL OF 28
The Patriots set a franchise record by finishing the 2010 season with a turnover differential of 28, forcing 38 turnovers while allowing just 10 turnovers. The previous Patriots' team record for best turnover differential in a season was 17, a record which was set in 2003. The Patriots finished 13-0 in 2010 when recording a positive turnover differential. The Patriots' turnover differential of 28 is the second-best since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, trailing only the 43 posted by the 1983 Washington Redskins.

PATRIOTS SET NFL RECORD WITH SEVEN STRAIGHT GAMES WITHOUT A TURNOVERA Patriots turnover against Miami (1/2/11) ended an NFL-record streak of seven straight games without a turnover. No other NFL team had gone longer than four straight games without a turnover. The Patriots lost a fumble early in the first quarter against Miami. It was the Patriots' first turnover since an interception at Cleveland (11/7/10) by Brian Hoyer.

PATRIOTS SET NFL RECORD FOR FEWEST TURNOVERS IN A 16-GAME SEASON
The Patriots had just 10 turnovers in 2010 (5 interceptions and 5 fumbles), setting an NFL record for fewest turnovers in a season. The previous NFL record for fewest turnovers in a season was 12 by Kansas City in the strike-shortened 1982 season. The previous record for fewest turnovers in a 16-game season was 13 by the Giants and Dolphins in 2008. The former Patriots record for fewest turnovers in a season was 15 in 2007 (9 interceptions and 6 fumbles).

PATRIOTS TIE NFL RECORD FOR FEWEST INTERCEPTIONS IN A SEASON
The Patriots had just five passes intercepted in 2010, tying the NFL mark for fewest interceptions in a single season. New England attempted 507 passes in 2010, with just five resulting in interceptions. The other teams to have only five interceptions in a season were the 1960 Cleveland Browns, the 1966 Green Bay Packers, the 1990 Kansas City Chiefs and the 1990 New York Giants. The Patriots are the only team of that group to have only five interceptions with over 500 pass attempts.

**[

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]()PATRIOTS HAD NINE NON-OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS IN 2010**
The Patriots scored nine touchdowns that were not offensive touchdowns in 2010, tying a team record set in 1961 for most non-offensive touchdowns in a season. The Patriots returned four interceptions for touchdowns, returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, scored on one fumble return, blocked one field goal that was returned for a touchdown and returned a punt for a touchdown. The nine non-offensive touchdowns were second in the NFL to Arizona, who has scored on 12 non-offensive touchdowns. The NFL record for most non-offensive touchdowns is 13 by Seattle in 1998.

PATRIOTS DEFENSE PRODUCES FIFTH TOUCHDOWN OF THE SEASON
Kyle Arrington's interception return against Green Bay (12/19) was the Patriots' fifth defensive touchdown of the season (4 interception returns and 1 fumble return). The team record for most defensive touchdowns is six by the 2007 team (3 interception returns and 3 fumble returns). The Patriots also had five defensive touchdowns in 2003 (5 interception returns), 2001 (5 interception returns), 1992 (3 interception returns and 3 fumble returns) and 1961 (2 interception returns and 3 fumble returns).

PATRIOTS HAD FOUR INTERCEPTIONS RETURNED FOR A SCORE IN 2010Arrington's 36-yard interception return is the Patriots fourth interception returned for a touchdown in 2010. The four interceptions returned for a touchdown in 2010 is tied for third in team history, trailing the five the team had in 2003 and 2001. The Patriots also returned four interceptions for touchdowns in 1997.

PATRIOTS FINISH 2010 WITH NFL-LEADING 25 INTERCEPTIONS
The Patriots led the NFL with 25 interceptions in 2010. The 25 interceptions in 2010 by the Patriots is tied for the fourth-highest single-season total in team history. The only times the Patriots have had more interceptions in a season were in 1964 (31 interceptions), 1963 (29 interceptions) and 2003 (29 interceptions).

PATRIOTS BECOME FIRST TEAM IN NFL HISTORY TO SCORE A TD FIVE DIFFERENT WAYS IN THE SAME GAME
The Patriots became the first team in NFL history to score a touchdown five different ways in the same game at Miami (10/04). The Patriots scored a rushing touchdown, a receiving touchdown, had a kickoff returned for a touchdown, blocked a field goal that was returned for a touchdown and returned an interception for a touchdown.

THREE WITH TWO TDS, QB WITH 4 TDS AND A PERFECT RATING
For the second time in team history the Patriots had three players finish with two touchdowns and a four-touchdown effort by the quarterback with a perfect rating. Wes Welker, Deion Branch and BenJarvus Green-Ellis each had two touchdowns and Tom Brady had four touchdowns with a perfect rating at Detroit (11/25). On Oct. 29, 1978 the Patriots defeated the Jets 55-21. Harold Jackson, Horace Ivory and James McAlister each had two touchdowns in the win. Steve Grogan threw four touchdowns in the game and finished with a perfect rating.

**[

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]()PATRIOTS RUSH FOR 200 YARDS IN BOTH GAMES AGAINST BUFFALO**
The Patriots rushed for over 200 yards in both games against AFC East rival Buffalo. In the first meeting on Sept. 26, the Patriots gained exactly 200 yards rushing, and then in the rematch at Buffalo (12/26), the Patriots rushed for a season-high 217 yards. In 2008, the Patriots had two games with 200 or more rushing yards with 257 vs. Denver (10/20/08) and 277 at Oakland (12/14/08). New England has rushed for 200 or more yards in a game twice or more in a single season 14 times in team history.

THE PATRIOTS FORCE SEVEN TURNOVERS
The Patriots forced seven turnovers in the win at Buffalo (12/26). The seven takeaways are tied for the third most in a game by the Patriots. The Patriots record for most takeaways in a game is 10 at the New York Jets (11/21/76). The Patriots had eight forced turnovers vs. Houston (11/1/63) and vs. Buffalo (11/7/76) and also had seven vs. NY Jets (9/27/64), vs. Denver (11/6/66) and at LA Rams (12/11/83).

PATRIOTS RECOVER FOUR FUMBLES FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE 2001
The Patriots recovered four fumbles in the win at Buffalo (12/26) the second time since 2001. The last time the Patriots recovered four fumbles was on Sept. 14, 2003 against Philadelphia.

PATRIOTS ROOKIES PRODUCE 9 INTERCEPTIONS
The Patriots 2010 rookies produced 9 interceptions in 2010, the most of any team's rookie class. CB Devin McCourty recorded 7, LB Brandon Spikes 1 and LB Dane Fletcher 1.

PATRIOTS ROOKIES RECORD 7 SACKS
The Patriots 2010 rookie class produced 7 sacks in 2010, third in the NFL to Cincinnati (12.5) and Detroit with 10.

PATRIOTS ENTERED POSTSEASON ON A ROLL
The Patriots finished the 2010 season with a 21.8 average margin of victory, the best ever compared to the four previous Patriots' teams that reached the Super Bowl.

2010 HONORS AND AWARDS
QB Tom Brady

  • FC Offensive Player of the Week (Wk. 12 at Detroit)
  • FC Offensive Player of the Week (Wk. 13 vs. NY Jets)
  • FedEx Air Player of the Week (Wk. 14 at Chicago)
  • FC Offensive Player of the Month (December/January)
  • Sporting News Offensive Player of the Year
  • Sporting News All-Pro
  • Pro Football Weekly MVP
  • Pro Football All-NFL
  • Peter King from Si.Com MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and All-Pro Quarterback

S James Sanders

  • FC Defensive Player of the Week (Wk. 10 at Pittsburgh)

OL Dan Connolly

  • FC Special Teams Player of the Week (Wk. 15 vs. Green Bay)

TE Rob Gronkowski

  • Pepsi Rookie Player of the Week (Wk. 14 at Chicago)
  • Pepsi Rookie Player of the Week (Wk. 17 vs. Miami)
  • Sporting News All-Rookie
  • Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie

TE Aaron Hernandez

  • Pepsi NFL rookie Player of the Week (Wk. 15 vs. Green Bay)

LB Jerod Mayo

  • Pro Football Weekly All-NFL

CB Devin McCourty

  • Pepsi NFL rookie Player of the Week (Wk. 15 vs. Green Bay)
  • Sporting News All-Pro and All-Rookie
  • Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie
  • Peter King from SI.com All-Pro

P Zoltan Mesko

  • Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie

NT Vince Wilfork

  • Peter King from SI.com All-Pro

PATRIOTS HAVE TOP TELEVISION RATINGS
The Patriots set a regular-season record for household rating in the Boston market with an average of 34.86HH rating during the 2010 season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

BY THE NUMBERS

2The number of kickoff returns that WR Brandon Tate returned for a touchdown in 2010 after he returned a 97-yard kickoff for a touchdown vs. Cincinnati (9/12) and a 103-yard kickoff for a touchdown at Miami (10/4). Tate is the first Patriots' player to return two kicks for a touchdown in a season since Kevin Faulk returned two for a touchdown in 2002. The Patriots' record for most returns in a single season is three by Raymond Clayborn in 1977.

2
The number of blocked kicks recorded by S Patrick Chung in 2010 after he blocked a punt and a field goal in the Patriots win at Miami (10/4). He is the first NFL player to block a field goal and a punt in the same game since CB Ramon Walker of Houston blocked a field goal and a punt vs. New England on Nov. 23, 2003.

4The number of interceptions that the Patriots returned for a touchdown in 2010 after LB Gary Guyton returned an interception 59 yards for a score vs. Cincinnati (9/12), S Patrick Chung returned an interception 51 yards for a score at Miami (10/4), S James Sanders returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown at Pittsburgh (11/14), and CB Kyle Arrington returned an interception 36 yards for score vs. Green Bay (12/19).

5.64The average yards per carry by Danny Woodhead in 2010 after he finished with 97 rushes for 547 yards. His average set a Patriots team record, topping Don Clahoun's previous team record of 5.59 yards per carry in 1976.

7The number of interceptions by CB Devin McCourty in 2010. It is the second most interceptions by a rookie in Patriots history to Mike Haynes (8) in 1976.

10The number of touchdown receptions by rookie TE Rob Gronkowski in 2010, a record for most touchdown catches by a tight end in Patriots history. The only other rookie tight end in NFL history to have more touchdowns was Mike Ditka (12).

13The number of rushing touchdowns in 2010 by BenJarvus Green- Ellis, establishing a career high. His previous best was the five he had as a rookie in 2008. He is the first Patriots player with 10-plus rushing touchdowns since Corey Dillon had 13 in 2006.

65The number of touchdowns by the 2010 Patriots, a total that ranks as the eighth-highest total in NFL history. New England set the NFL record with 75 touchdowns in 2007.

71The number of yards Dan Connolly gained on a second quarter kickoff return vs. Green Bay (12/19). It is the longest kickoff return by an offensive lineman in NFL history.

193The number of total tackles by LB Jerod Mayo. That number is the third-highest in team history and led the NFL in 2010.

1,008The number of yards that BenJarvus Green-Ellis had rushing in 2010, becoming the first Patriots player to top the 1,000-yard rushing mark since Corey Dillon had a team-record 1,635 yards in 2004.

TOM BRADY BY THE NUMBERS

6The number of times that Brady has finished a season with 25 or more touchdowns. He is the sixth QB in NFL history to have 25 or more touchdown passes in at least six different seasons.

8The number of times Tom Brady has passed for 3,000 or more yards in a season, a franchise record for most 3,000-yard seasons. He finished the season with 3,900 yards.

17The number of times Tom Brady has earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. He earned the award in back-to-back weeks in 2010: at Detroit (11/25) and vs. NY Jets (12/6).

28The number of consecutive regular-season starts that Tom Brady has won at Gillette Stadium, setting an NFL record for most consecutive home wins by a starting quarterback in the regular season.

36The number of touchdown passes thrown by Brady in 2010 to lead the NFL. He is one of just 13 players since the 1970 merger to have at least two 30 touchdown seasons. He set an NFL record with 50 in 2007.

34The number of regular-season 300-yard passing games by Tom Brady, a team record.

82The number of times that Brady has thrown two or more touchdowns in a game. The Patriots are 70-12 when he throws for two or more touchdowns.

111The number of wins that Brady has as a starting quarterback. He reached the 100-win milestone in the fewest number of starts (131) among all quarterbacks in the modern era.

THE KRAFT ERA

3The number of Super Bowl championships the Patriots have won since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994. That mark is the highest total in the NFL over that span. Only Denver (2; 1997 and 1998) and Pittsburgh (2; 2005 and 2008) have won multiple Super Bowl titles since 1994.

5The number of conference championships the Patriots have won since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994. That mark is the highest total in the NFL over that span. Pittsburgh is second with three conference titles since 1994.

10The number of division championships won by the Patriots since Kraft purchased the team in 1994.

12The number of playoff seasons earned by the Patriots in the 17 seasons since Robert Kraft purchased the team.

17The number of playoff games the Patriots have won since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994. That mark is the highest total in the NFL over that span. Pittsburgh ranks second with 15 playoff wins over that span.

26The number of playoff games the Patriots have appeared in since 1994. The mark is the highest in the NFL, ahead of the 24 games played by Pittsburgh.

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