The 2002 season was the New England Patriots' 33rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 43rd overall and their third under head coach Bill Belichick. They finished with a 9–7 record, good enough for second in the division but not a playoff berth. It was their first season at their new home field, Gillette Stadium, which replaced the adjacent Foxboro Stadium.
2002 New England Patriots season | |
---|---|
Owner | Robert Kraft |
Head coach | Bill Belichick |
Home field | Gillette Stadium[1] |
Results | |
Record | 9–7 |
Division place | 2nd AFC East |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | ST Larry Izzo CB Ty Law SS Lawyer Milloy DT Richard Seymour K Adam Vinatieri C Damien Woody |
AP All-Pros | K Adam Vinatieri (1st team) |
Uniform | |
This was the first season since 1992 that Drew Bledsoe was not on the opening day roster, as he was traded to the Buffalo Bills during the offseason.
Following their victory in Super Bowl XXXVI seven months earlier, the Patriots played their first game in the new Gillette Stadium in the NFL's primetime Monday Night Football opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a win for the Patriots. After an additional two wins to begin the season, including a 44–7 road win against the division rival New York Jets, the team lost five of its next seven games, allowing an average of 137 rushing yards a game during that span. In the final week of the season, the Patriots defeated the Miami Dolphins on an overtime Adam Vinatieri field goal to give both teams a 9–7 record. A few hours later, the Jets, who defeated the Patriots the week prior, also finished with a 9–7 record with a win over the Green Bay Packers. Due to their record against common opponents, after the Jets won the tiebreaker for the division title, both the Patriots and Dolphins were eliminated from the playoff contention.[2] The 2002 season was the only time the Patriots failed to win at least 10 games during the regular season in the Brady–Belichick era. It also marked the only season with Tom Brady as the primary starter that the team failed to make the playoffs, and until 2022 the only time that Brady lost three consecutive games. [3]
Offseason
editAdditions | Subtractions |
---|---|
TE Cam Cleeland (Saints) | QB Drew Bledsoe (Bills) |
TE Christian Fauria (Seahawks) | WR Terry Glenn (Packers) |
WR Donald Hayes (Panthers) | LB Bryan Cox (Saints) |
DE Rick Lyle (Jets) | WR Charles Johnson (Bills) |
DT Brandon Mitchell (Seahawks) | |
TE Rod Rutledge (Texans) | |
CB Terrance Shaw (Raiders) |
2002 NFL draft
edit2002 New England Patriots draft | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Draft order | Player name | Position | College | Notes | |
Round | Selection | ||||
1 | 21 | Daniel Graham | Tight end | Colorado | [a] |
2 | 65 | Deion Branch | Wide receiver | Louisville | |
4 | 117 | Rohan Davey | Quarterback | LSU | [b] |
4 | 126 | Jarvis Green | Defensive end | LSU | [c] |
7 | 237 | Antwoine Womack | Running back | Virginia | [d] |
7 | 253 | David Givens | Wide receiver | Notre Dame | Compensatory pick |
Staff
edit
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Coaching assistants
Strength and conditioning
|
Final roster
editRegular season
editSchedule
editWeek | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 9 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 30–14 | 1–0 | Gillette Stadium | Recap |
2 | September 15 | at New York Jets | W 44–7 | 2–0 | Giants Stadium | Recap |
3 | September 22 | Kansas City Chiefs | W 41–38 (OT) | 3–0 | Gillette Stadium | Recap |
4 | September 29 | at San Diego Chargers | L 14–21 | 3–1 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
5 | October 6 | at Miami Dolphins | L 13–26 | 3–2 | Pro Player Stadium | Recap |
6 | October 13 | Green Bay Packers | L 10–28 | 3–3 | Gillette Stadium | Recap |
7 | Bye | |||||
8 | October 27 | Denver Broncos | L 16–24 | 3–4 | Gillette Stadium | Recap |
9 | November 3 | at Buffalo Bills | W 38–7 | 4–4 | Ralph Wilson Stadium | Recap |
10 | November 10 | at Chicago Bears | W 33–30 | 5–4 | Memorial Stadium | Recap |
11 | November 17 | at Oakland Raiders | L 20–27 | 5–5 | Network Associates Coliseum | Recap |
12 | November 24 | Minnesota Vikings | W 24–17 | 6–5 | Gillette Stadium | Recap |
13 | November 28 | at Detroit Lions | W 20–12 | 7–5 | Ford Field | Recap |
14 | December 8 | Buffalo Bills | W 27–17 | 8–5 | Gillette Stadium | Recap |
15 | December 16 | at Tennessee Titans | L 7–24 | 8–6 | The Coliseum | Recap |
16 | December 22 | New York Jets | L 17–30 | 8–7 | Gillette Stadium | Recap |
17 | December 29 | Miami Dolphins | W 27–24 (OT) | 9–7 | Gillette Stadium | Recap |
Game summaries
editWeek 1: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Patriots | 7 | 3 | 17 | 3 | 30 |
at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Date: September 9, 2002
- Game time: 9:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Overcast, 86 °F (30 °C)
- Game attendance: 68,436
- Referee: Tony Corrente (99)
- TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, John Madden and Melissa Stark
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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|
Week 2: at New York Jets
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Patriots | 0 | 10 | 17 | 17 | 44 |
Jets | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Date: September 15, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Hazy, 78 °F (26 °C)
- Game attendance: 78,726
- Referee: Larry Nemmers (20)
- TV announcers (CBS): Dick Enberg, Dan Dierdorf, and Bonnie Bernstein
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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|
Week 3: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 3 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 0 | 38 |
Patriots | 0 | 9 | 8 | 21 | 3 | 41 |
at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Date: September 22, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Warm and humid, 80 °F (27 °C)
- Game attendance: 68,436
- Referee: Bill Carollo (63)
- TV announcers (CBS): Dick Enberg, Dan Dierdorf, and Bonnie Bernstein
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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|
Week 4: at San Diego Chargers
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Patriots | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Chargers | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: September 29, 2002
- Game time: 4:15 p.m.
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 67 °F (19 °C)
- Game attendance: 66,463
- Referee: Ron Blum (7)
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, and Armen Keteyian
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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|
This was the first time the Chargers had defeated the Patriots since 1970.[8][e]
Week 5: at Miami Dolphins
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Patriots | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 13 |
Dolphins | 6 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 26 |
at Pro Player Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Date: October 6, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Sunny, 87 °F (31 °C)
- Game attendance: 73,369
- Referee: Terry McAulay (77)
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, and Armen Keteyian
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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|
Week 6: vs. Green Bay Packers
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Packers | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
Patriots | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Date: October 13, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Overcast, 61 °F (16 °C)
- Game attendance: 68,436
- Referee: Bernie Kukar (86)
- TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Troy Aikman, Cris Collinsworth, and Pam Oliver
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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|
Week 8: vs. Denver Broncos
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 7 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 24 |
Patriots | 0 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 16 |
at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Date: October 27, 2002
- Game time: 4:15 p.m.
- Game weather: Sunny, 60 °F (16 °C)
- Game attendance: 68,436
- Referee: Tom White (123)
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, and Armen Keteyian
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 9: at Buffalo Bills
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Patriots | 7 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 38 |
Bills | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
- Date: November 3, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Cloudy, 40 °F (4 °C)
- Game attendance: 73,448
- Referee: Dick Hantak (105)
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms and Armen Keteyian
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 10: at Chicago Bears
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Patriots | 0 | 6 | 10 | 17 | 33 |
Bears | 0 | 6 | 21 | 3 | 30 |
at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois
- Date: November 10, 2002
- Game time: 4:15 p.m.
- Game weather: Overcast, 60 °F (16 °C)
- Game attendance: 63,105
- Referee: Bob McElwee (95)
- TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Randy Cross, and Beasley Reece
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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|
Week 11: at Oakland Raiders
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Patriots | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
Raiders | 3 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
at Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, California
- Date: November 17, 2002
- Game time: 8:30 p.m.
- Game weather: Clear, 61 °F (16 °C)
- Game attendance: 62,552
- Referee: Ed Hochuli (85)
- TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Patrick, Paul Maguire, Joe Theismann, and Suzy Kolber
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 12: vs. Minnesota Vikings
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
Patriots | 7 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 24 |
at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Date: November 24, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 pm
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 49 °F (9 °C)
- Game attendance: 68,436
- Referee: Gerald Austin (34)
- TV announcers (FOX): Kenny Albert, Tim Green, and Rob Nikoleski
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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|
Week 13: at Detroit Lions
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Patriots' | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
Lions | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: November 28, 2002
- Game time: 12:30 pm
- Game weather: none (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 62,109
- Referee: Larry Nemmers (20)
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, and Armen Keteyian
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 14: vs. Buffalo Bills
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bills | 0 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 17 |
Patriots | 17 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Date: December 8, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 pm
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 44 °F (7 °C)
- Game attendance: 68,436
- Referee: Jeff Triplette (42)
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms and Armen Keteyian
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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|
Week 15: at Tennessee Titans
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Patriots | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Titans | 0 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
at The Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee
- Date: December 16, 2002
- Game time: 9:00 pm
- Game weather: Cloudy, 57 °F (14 °C)
- Game attendance: 68,809
- Referee: Ron Winter (14)
- TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, John Madden, and Melissa Stark
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 16: vs. New York Jets
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jets | 14 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 30 |
Patriots | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 17: vs. Miami Dolphins
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dolphins | 7 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
Patriots | 0 | 10 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 27 |
at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Date: December 29, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 40 °F (4 °C)
- Game attendance: 68,436
- Referee: Bob McElwee (95)
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, and Armen Keteyian
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Standings
editAFC East | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
(4) New York Jets | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 4–2 | 6–6 | 359 | 336 | W2 |
New England Patriots | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 4–2 | 6–6 | 381 | 346 | W1 |
Miami Dolphins | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 2–4 | 7–5 | 378 | 301 | L2 |
Buffalo Bills | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2–4 | 5–7 | 379 | 397 | W1 |
Notes
edit- ^ The Patriots traded their first-, third- and seventh-round draft picks to the Washington Redskins for the Redskins' first-round pick.[4]
- ^ The Patriots traded fourth- and fifth-round draft picks to the Denver Broncos for the Broncos' fourth-round pick. The Patriots received the fifth-round pick in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the Patriots' sixth-round pick in the 2001 NFL draft. [5]
- ^ The Patriots received a fourth-round pick from the Green Bay Packers in a trade for Terry Glenn and a conditional pick in the 2003 NFL draft.[6]
- ^ The Patriots traded a fifth-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys for the Cowboys' fifth- and seventh-round draft picks.[7]
- ^ The Patriots and Chargers did not meet at all between 1984 and 1993 inclusive — an impossible occurrence in the pre-1978 or post-2002 NFL — because non-division conference matchups were entirely based on the previous season’s standings.[9][10]
References
edit- ^ "New Stadium Has Face Value". Hartford Courant. August 6, 2002. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- ^ "New England 27, Miami 24, OT". Yahoo! Sports. December 29, 2002. Retrieved January 28, 2008.
- ^ "Tom Brady loses third game in a row for first time since 2002 as Bucs fall to Ravens". CBS Sports. October 28, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
- ^ "Draft summary". Patriots.com. May 19, 2011. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011.
- ^ Patriots.com summary Archived May 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Patriots.com summary Archived May 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Patriots.com summary Archived May 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Chargers vs. Patriots Results". The Football Database.
- ^ Urena, Ivan. Pro Football Schedules: A Complete Historical Guide from 1933 to the Present. McFarland. pp. 17, 221. ISBN 0786473517.
- ^ Lisk, Jason (May 19, 2008). "History of the NFL's structure and formats, part two". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
Further reading
edit- Glennon, Sean (2004), This Pats Year: A Trek Through a Season as a Football Fan, Taylor Trade Publishing, ISBN 1-58979-119-3