Also 8 straight years with a bye in the first round, which is unbelievable if you think about it. For 8 years in a row the worst they have ever been is 2nd in the AFC.
I've long contended that when you calculate Brady's playoff record (or anyone's for that matter), byes should somehow be factored in. I mean, having a bye is essentially earning a free playoff win to the next round. If you give a W for every bye you have earned, they've earned byes 12 times in Brady's career. That would be 12 more playoff wins for him.
I know that's not how it works when calculating win-loss records, but in effect, a bye is equivalent to a playoff win.
I know that's not how it works when calculating win-loss records, but in effect, a bye is equivalent to a playoff win.
This is a good point.
Of course you need to subtract the advantage they get from that bye toward the divisional win
In addition to the 12 win season for 8 straight years (passing Manning’s Colts with 7), some other Patriots notes:
Patriots extend NFL record with 11th straight 400-point season.
BELICHICK WINS 12 FOR 12TH TIME
Bill Belichick owns the NFL record among head coaches with 12 seasons of 12 or more wins. He owns the record with eight consecutive 12 win seasons (2010-17). Tony Dungy (2003-08) and Tom Landry (1976-81) are second with six straight 12-win seasons.
BRADY WINS 12 FOR 12TH TIME
Since entering the NFL in 2000, Tom Brady’s teams have reached 12 regular-season wins in 12 different seasons, the most by a starting quarterback in NFL history.
STARTING QBS WITH THE MOST 12-WIN REGULAR SEASONS IN NFL HISTORY
PLAYER SEASONS
Tom Brady 12
Peyton Manning 11
Brett Favre 6
John Elway 4
Jim Kelly 4
Patriots extend NFL record with 11th straight 400-point season.
BELICHICK WINS 12 FOR 12TH TIME
Bill Belichick owns the NFL record among head coaches with 12 seasons of 12 or more wins. He owns the record with eight consecutive 12 win seasons (2010-17). Tony Dungy (2003-08) and Tom Landry (1976-81) are second with six straight 12-win seasons.
BRADY WINS 12 FOR 12TH TIME
Since entering the NFL in 2000, Tom Brady’s teams have reached 12 regular-season wins in 12 different seasons, the most by a starting quarterback in NFL history.
STARTING QBS WITH THE MOST 12-WIN REGULAR SEASONS IN NFL HISTORY
PLAYER SEASONS
Tom Brady 12
Peyton Manning 11
Brett Favre 6
John Elway 4
Jim Kelly 4
When the day comes when this is no longer the case, us Pats fans will not know what to do.
That game will feel very weird.
I wonder if Brady will ever experience it. If he's playing poorly enough that they're not in contention, I wonder if he'll just bow out.
Unless they have their hopes dashed in a 10-win season, and get shut out of the wildcard in week 16, I imagine he'd power through the final week just to prove he wasn't 'done'.
Not to derail the thread, but I remember reading somewhere that Derek Jeter played a total of 2 regular season games with his team eliminated from the playoff consideration. Perhaps Jon Abbey can correct me if I'm wrong.
It’s certainly impressive and there has only been one season Brady was the regular starter where they didn’t make the playoffs. And even when he finished that game, the Patriots were still in contention for a playoff berth. This run has been so unbelievable.
Might be a bit higher, but not much--without checking game logs, they were 6 back of WC in 2008 and 5 back of WC in 2014.
When Brady throws his next interception, he will join Jake Plummer and Richard Todd in a tie for 50th on the alltime career list with 161. He has thrown 325 more TDs than Plummer, and 362 more than Todd.
Potential player milestones (or round numbers) in Week 17:
- Brady needs 113 yards to reach 4500, which would be the 5th most he's ever thrown for.
- Brady has completed 67.5% of his passes, which is the 2nd highest completion percentage in his career. However, last season was 67.4%, so he could slip a tiny bit. His 104.2 rating is his 5th best ever.
- Lewis is at 803 yards, so 1000 is out of the question, but he only had 46 yards in his first 4 games, so the last 11 games he's run the ball at about an 1100 yard pace.
- Gillislee needs 17 yards for 400.
- White needs 4 catches to get to 60, which would tie his career high.
- Gronkowski needs 1 catch to reach 70, and 16 yards to hit 1100.
- Cooks just broke through 1000 yards last week.
- Gostkowski needs 9 points to set the Patriots single-season scoring record.
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Bah, I knew that. Fixed.
He has an outside shot (namely if he kicks like 5 FGs or something) of breaking into the top 5 all-time single season point total--he'd need 165.
If looking at PK'ers only (excluding Hornung in 1960 who kicked and scored TDs, and Alexander and LDT) the most ever for a kicker in one season is 166.
He has an outside shot (namely if he kicks like 5 FGs or something) of breaking into the top 5 all-time single season point total--he'd need 165.
If looking at PK'ers only (excluding Hornung in 1960 who kicked and scored TDs, and Alexander and LDT) the most ever for a kicker in one season is 166.
That really drives home what a crazy season Zuerlein was having. He would have smashed that if he'd stayed healthy -- he ended up with 158 points in 14 games (a pace for 180.5).
Keep an eye. Last off-season, he was paired with Louis Riddick for the two open gigs in SF. Josh allegedly Riddick’s guy. Riddick has interviewed for Giants’ GM opening.
Off topic, but DC sports radio this afternoon basically has John Gruden all but in again in Tampa. Reportedly, he has been calling his guys to determine their availability for his staff.
And the ability to draft a QB in the top 3. I suspect he’s a goner if they want him.
"Sure Josh, you can interview...when you get that job though you need to ship that oft-injured WR Beckham back this way for a 4th rounder though."
Wasn't McDaniels a finalist for Giants job last time around? I thought he was, and then the Giants picked McAdoo instead, bringing into question whether the current management team has any idea what it is doing. I guess Reese is now gone so perhaps one has faith again?
Word is that Eli went to bat for McAdoo after they parted with Coughlin.
I think the Giants will handle the GM/HC tandem the right way. The GM should come first.
If they think they might want Josh, they’d better settle on the GM quickly and move during WC week.
I think the Giants will handle the GM/HC tandem the right way. The GM should come first.
If they think they might want Josh, they’d better settle on the GM quickly and move during WC week.
My nephew is 14, huge Patriots fan. In his final 2017 Instagram post he detailed his year but then finished it with:
"But, we're onto 2018."
That just cracked me up for some reason. Belichick, changing the language and teaching people to look forward, not live in regret.
"But, we're onto 2018."
That just cracked me up for some reason. Belichick, changing the language and teaching people to look forward, not live in regret.
This entire post
http://www.espn.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4810052/bill-belichick-to-set-nfl-record-by-coaching-in-his-37th-career-playoff-game
Here are 10 things to watch for with the Patriots in the playoffs:
1. When the Patriots host a divisional playoff game, Bill Belichick will set an NFL record for a head coach by coaching in his 37th playoff game, passing Tom Landry and Don Shula for most playoff games by a head coach in NFL history.
2. Belichick will coach in his 15th divisional playoff game next weekend, passing Shula for most in NFL history.
3. Tom Brady will play in his 14th divisional playoff game, passing Jerry Rice for most divisional-round appearances in NFL history.
4. The franchise has totaled 32 postseason wins, which is fourth most in NFL history. The Steelers have the most (36), followed by the Cowboys (34) and Packers (34). So they have a chance to move into second place if they win the Super Bowl.
5. The Patriots are tied with the Cowboys (1991-1996) for the most consecutive seasons with at least one playoff win (2011-2016, with 11 total wins). If they win in the divisional round, they will set the NFL record.
6. If the Patriots advance to the AFC Championship Game, it will mark their 14th appearance in the game. That would tie Dallas for the third most in NFL history, behind the Steelers (16) and 49ers (15).
7. If the Patriots advance to the AFC Championship Game, it will mark their seventh straight appearance in the game. That would extend their own record, further distancing them from the Raiders, who appeared in five straight conference championship games from 1973 to 1977.
8. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski currently sits in fourth place in playoff field goals with 31, behind Adam Vinatieri (56), David Akers (39) and Gary Anderson (32). He potentially could move into second place. Gostkowski also enters the postseason with 160 playoff points in his career, third-most behind Adam Vinatieri (234) and David Akers (175).
9. Rob Gronkowski’s three career 100-yard receiving games in the playoffs are tied for third all-time for a tight end behind Vernon Davis (4) and Keith Jackson (4). Gronkowski’s 52 career playoff receptions are fifth all-time by a tight end, behind Dallas Clark (64), Jay Novacek (62), Shannon Sharpe (62) and Brent Jones (60), meaning he could ultimately hold the top spot by the end of the playoffs.
10. With a win, the Patriots will earn their 15th divisional playoff game victory, tying San Francisco (15) for second place behind Pittsburgh (16).
http://www.espn.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4810052/bill-belichick-to-set-nfl-record-by-coaching-in-his-37th-career-playoff-game
Here are 10 things to watch for with the Patriots in the playoffs:
1. When the Patriots host a divisional playoff game, Bill Belichick will set an NFL record for a head coach by coaching in his 37th playoff game, passing Tom Landry and Don Shula for most playoff games by a head coach in NFL history.
2. Belichick will coach in his 15th divisional playoff game next weekend, passing Shula for most in NFL history.
3. Tom Brady will play in his 14th divisional playoff game, passing Jerry Rice for most divisional-round appearances in NFL history.
4. The franchise has totaled 32 postseason wins, which is fourth most in NFL history. The Steelers have the most (36), followed by the Cowboys (34) and Packers (34). So they have a chance to move into second place if they win the Super Bowl.
5. The Patriots are tied with the Cowboys (1991-1996) for the most consecutive seasons with at least one playoff win (2011-2016, with 11 total wins). If they win in the divisional round, they will set the NFL record.
6. If the Patriots advance to the AFC Championship Game, it will mark their 14th appearance in the game. That would tie Dallas for the third most in NFL history, behind the Steelers (16) and 49ers (15).
7. If the Patriots advance to the AFC Championship Game, it will mark their seventh straight appearance in the game. That would extend their own record, further distancing them from the Raiders, who appeared in five straight conference championship games from 1973 to 1977.
8. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski currently sits in fourth place in playoff field goals with 31, behind Adam Vinatieri (56), David Akers (39) and Gary Anderson (32). He potentially could move into second place. Gostkowski also enters the postseason with 160 playoff points in his career, third-most behind Adam Vinatieri (234) and David Akers (175).
9. Rob Gronkowski’s three career 100-yard receiving games in the playoffs are tied for third all-time for a tight end behind Vernon Davis (4) and Keith Jackson (4). Gronkowski’s 52 career playoff receptions are fifth all-time by a tight end, behind Dallas Clark (64), Jay Novacek (62), Shannon Sharpe (62) and Brent Jones (60), meaning he could ultimately hold the top spot by the end of the playoffs.
10. With a win, the Patriots will earn their 15th divisional playoff game victory, tying San Francisco (15) for second place behind Pittsburgh (16).
Not to nitpick, but they'll move into second place just by making the Super Bowl.
True, but alone in second. It would be truly, unbelievably remarkable if they can get even with or even pass the Steelers by the time TB12 retires. They've condensed an entire franchise history's worth of postseason winning into this 17 year run
Agree with your larger point about how lucky we've been this century with all the winning, but is this point really true?
Let's say the Pats win the Super Bowl this year, Steelers are one and done by the Jaguars, which isn't terribly unrealistic, if somewhat unlikely to have both outcomes. This would narrow the gap to 36-35. Being one round above Pittsburgh in 2018, such as making (not even winning) the Super Bowl would then tie them. Of course, this is absolutely no sure thing is a certainty given Brady's age, not to mention the parity that exists within this league that could change at any given year, injuries, luck, and of course just how damn hard it is to win a Super Bowl in a given year. But I think it's slightly more possible then you're giving credit for, probably in the 10-15:1 odds by my best, unscientific estimate.
@DJJ - kind of depends on Ben. If Brady plays 2-3 more years and Ben retires, the Pats have a real shot to pass them
A) redundant
B) what was the time they won the divisional playoff and didn't appear in the AFCCG?
At some point (pre-merger) I believe that there was no divisional round, just Conference Championship games (east and west conferences) and then the NFL title game, just like there used to be fewer rounds in the MLB playoffs. Doesn't affect the Pats or other AFL legacy teams (or post-merger expansion teams) but it's possible teams like the Packers or Cowboys have a number of conference championship appearances that's is greater than their divisional round victories.
If the whole thing is qualified by "since the merger" then kindly disregard.
Ah, I was focusing on his point A about it being redundant, you're right about his point B about it being seemingly wrong.
What about 1963 as possible proof? Pats played and won a tiebreaker against the Bills to determine the Eastern Division winner, which is considered by this stat a divisional playoff. This is taken too literally by the writer, given the AFL did not have any pre-planned rounds besides its Championship Game until 1969, the final season. As further evidence to this point beyond the league's history of CGs, 1968 had the Chiefs and Raiders tied in the AFL West. Kind of stupid, but have to imagine this is how the basis for interpretation came about. PFRef notably counts both of these games as divisional playoff games, but personally, I disagree with this specific a labeling given they were tiebreakers, and not typical of the AFL at that point. Perhaps divisional tiebreaker? Not just divisional given the current second round name.
From there, New England played the San Diego Chargers in the American Football League Championship Game. Given this was a pre-Super Bowl era, it would be the team's final game of the season, win or lose, which renders it of slight distinction of both function and name from an AFCCG.
From there, New England played the San Diego Chargers in the American Football League Championship Game. Given this was a pre-Super Bowl era, it would be the team's final game of the season, win or lose, which renders it of slight distinction of both function and name from an AFCCG.
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http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21952990/new-england-patriots-coach-bill-belichick-tells-players-practice-go-significant-snowstorm
Why the big things take care of themselves. If somebody is late tomorrow, it’s going to be hilarious.
Why the big things take care of themselves. If somebody is late tomorrow, it’s going to be hilarious.
I appreciated the link that article offered to the comments from Adalius Thomas when he was one of the four sent home in 2009 (as was Randy Moss, it's worth noting).
What an unbelievable turd that guy was.
What an unbelievable turd that guy was.
It makes me happy to remember that Adalius never did get his career back on track. What a colossal disappointment he was. And what a douche.
One side note: As the parent of a six year old in the first grade I have to wonder, IS motivation really "for kindergarteners?" Probably just make it through the day, listen to your teacher and get on the right bus at 2:15, no?
He definitely showed up in the 2007 Super Bowl. If more of the D had played with the same sense of urgency the outcome of that game might have been different.
Adalius also showed up the following season. Before he got hurt in 2008 he was absolutely beasting. His body slam of Favre for a 20 yard loss(!) remains on of my sneaky favorite Pats plays during this era.
Happy "I resign as HC of the NYJ" Day!
http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/66196/that-day-when-bill-belichick-scribbled-a-goodbye-to-jets-and-changed-history
http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/66196/that-day-when-bill-belichick-scribbled-a-goodbye-to-jets-and-changed-history
That was funny but certainly some revisionist history from Chrebet, Greenberg and the other fan. Belichick was a renowned coordinator and failed head coach in 2000. I don't recall any sense from Jets fans or media at the time that they let one of the future GOAT coaches get away.
I looked through the playoff logs for each team in the NFL and realized that only the Raiders, Bills, Browns, and Bears, in the entire NFL, have played fewer Wild Card games than the Patriots since 2000.
Spoilered for size:
Or, to put it another way, here are the number of first-round byes for each team since 2000:
12: Patriots
5: Steelers, Broncos
4: Eagles, Falcons, Bears
3: Colts, Packers, Seahawks, Panthers, Vikings, Titans
2: Ravens, Giants, Chiefs, Saints, Chargers, Cowboys, 49ers, Rams, Raiders
1: Bucs, Cardinals
0: Bengals, Jets, Dolphins, Jaguars, Redskins, Texans, Lions, Bills, Browns
As a side note, the Bears go big or go home. 4 trips to the playoffs this century and 4 first-round byes. They haven't played on wild card weekend since 1994.
Spoilered for size:
Number of times team has played Wild Card game since 2000 (total number of playoff appearances since 2000)
Colts - 10 (13)
Packers - 10 (13)
Seahawks - 8 (11)
Ravens - 8 (10)
Steelers - 7 (12)
Eagles - 7 (11)
Bengals - 7 (7)
Giants - 6 (8)
Jets - 6 (6)
Chiefs - 5 (7)
Saints - 5 (7)
Broncos - 4 (9)
Falcons - 4 (8)
Panthers - 4 (7)
Vikings - 4 (7)
Chargers - 4 (6)
Cowboys - 4 (6)
Bucs - 4 (5)
Dolphins - 4 (4)
Jaguars - 4 (4)
Redskins - 4 (4)
Texans - 4 (4)
Patriots - 3 (15)
Titans - 3 (6)
49ers - 3 (5)
Rams - 3 (5)
Cardinals - 3 (4)
Lions - 3 (3)
Raiders - 2 (4)
Bills - 1 (1)
Browns - 1 (1)
Bears - 0 (4)
Colts - 10 (13)
Packers - 10 (13)
Seahawks - 8 (11)
Ravens - 8 (10)
Steelers - 7 (12)
Eagles - 7 (11)
Bengals - 7 (7)
Giants - 6 (8)
Jets - 6 (6)
Chiefs - 5 (7)
Saints - 5 (7)
Broncos - 4 (9)
Falcons - 4 (8)
Panthers - 4 (7)
Vikings - 4 (7)
Chargers - 4 (6)
Cowboys - 4 (6)
Bucs - 4 (5)
Dolphins - 4 (4)
Jaguars - 4 (4)
Redskins - 4 (4)
Texans - 4 (4)
Patriots - 3 (15)
Titans - 3 (6)
49ers - 3 (5)
Rams - 3 (5)
Cardinals - 3 (4)
Lions - 3 (3)
Raiders - 2 (4)
Bills - 1 (1)
Browns - 1 (1)
Bears - 0 (4)
Or, to put it another way, here are the number of first-round byes for each team since 2000:
12: Patriots
5: Steelers, Broncos
4: Eagles, Falcons, Bears
3: Colts, Packers, Seahawks, Panthers, Vikings, Titans
2: Ravens, Giants, Chiefs, Saints, Chargers, Cowboys, 49ers, Rams, Raiders
1: Bucs, Cardinals
0: Bengals, Jets, Dolphins, Jaguars, Redskins, Texans, Lions, Bills, Browns
As a side note, the Bears go big or go home. 4 trips to the playoffs this century and 4 first-round byes. They haven't played on wild card weekend since 1994.