The Stats:
Regular Season Record: 12-4
Last Six Games: 5-1
All-Time Playoff Record: 19-12
Previous Playoff Results: Click Here
The Team:
Team Colors: Nautical Blue, New Century Silver, Red, and White
Head Coach: Bill Belichick
Owner: Robert Kraft
Mascot: Pat Patriot
Location: Foxboro, Massachusetts
Offensive Rankings:
Run: 12th (123.1 ypg)
Pass: 12th (212.5 ypg)
Overall: 11th (335.6 ypg)
Points Per Game: 7th (24.1 ppg)
Key Player: Tom Brady
What more can you say about Tom Brady that hasn't already been said? He's probably already solidified his spot in the Hall of Fame with three Super Bowl victories in a four-season span. He keeps his poise under pressure, and makes the big plays when he has too. The Pats offensive line needs to tighten up the pass blocking for the playoffs, though.
Defensive Rankings:
Run: 5th (94.2 ypg)
Pass: 12th (200.2 ypg)
Overall: 6th (294.4 ypg)
Points Per Game: 2nd (14.8 ppg)
Key Player: Vince Wilfork
Wilfork has missed the past three games due to an ankle injury, but should be in the starting lineup when the playoffs begin. His ability to hold the point of attack and occupy blockers allows ILBs Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel to flow to the ball and make plays in the running game.
Special Teams:
Key Player: Stephen Gostkowski
Gostkowski is replacing one of the best clutch kickers in playoff history in Adam Vinatieri, and it will be interesting to see how the rookie responds to playoff pressure.
Turnovers:
Give Aways: 16th (27)
Take Aways: 4th (35)
Outlook:
The Patriots have three huge keys that will make them very dangerous in the playoffs; great coaching, a quarterback named Tom Brady, and a stingy defense. When it comes to playoff experience, there isn't a team richer in it than New England. The combination of Bill Belichick and Brady has produced three Super Bowls already, and the simply know how to win this time of year.
This team probably isn't quite on the same level as the championship teams --and there have been some issues with the offensive line that have cropped up recently-- but they will most likely be a big factor in who represents the AFC this year.
Patriots Roster:
Offense
12 - Tom Brady QB
16 - Matt Cassel QB
14 - Vinny Testaverde QB
28 - Corey Dillon RB
44 - Heath Evans RB
33 - Kevin Faulk RB
39 - Laurence Maroney RB
45 - Garrett Mills RB
35 - Patrick Pass RB
80 - Troy Brown WR
87 - Reche Caldwell WR
13 - Bam Childress WR
10 - Jabar Gaffney WR
17 - Chad Jackson WR
19 - Kelvin Kight WR
82 - Daniel Graham TE
88 - O.J. Santiago TE
86 - David Thomas TE
84 - Benjamin Watson TE
67 - Dan Koppen C
66 - Lonie Paxton C
65 - Wesley Britt OT
77 - Nick Kaczur OT
72 - Matt Light OT
68 - Ryan O'Callaghan OT
71 - Russ Hochstein OG
70 - Logan Mankins OG
64 - Gene Mruczkowski OG
61 - Stephen Neal OG
74 - Billy Yates OG
Defense
97 - Jarvis Green DE
91 - Marquise Hill DE
93 - Richard Seymour DT
90 - Le Kevin Smith DT
94 - Ty Warren DT
75 - Vince Wilfork DT
99 - Mike Wright DT
52 - Eric Alexander LB
95 - Tully Banta-Cain LB
54 - Tedy Bruschi LB
59 - Rosevelt Colvin LB
51 - Don Davis LB
47 - Barry Gardner LB
53 - Larry Izzo LB
46 - Corey Mays LB
55 - Junior Seau LB
50 - Mike Vrabel LB
58 - Pierre Woods LB
23 - Willie Andrews CB
21 - Randall Gay CB
25 - Artrell Hawkins CB
27 - Ellis Hobbs CB
38 - Ray Mickens CB
22 - Asante Samuel CB
30 - Chad Scott CB
31 - Antwain Spann CB
32 - Rashad Baker S
37 - Rodney Harrison S
34 - Tebucky Jones S
24 - Mel Mitchell S
36 - James Sanders S
26 - Eugene Wilson S
Kicker/Punter
3 - Stephen Gostkowski K
8 - Josh Miller P
18 - Todd Sauerbrun P
15 - Ken Walter P
