2015 New England Patriots

The  New England Patriots season was the franchise's 46th season in the National Football League, the 56th overall and the 16th under head coach Bill Belichick. The Patriots entered the season as the defending Super Bowl champions.

In Week 14, with an 11–2 record, the Patriots clinched their seventh straight AFC East division title. By this, the Patriots tied the 1979 Los Angeles Rams for most consecutive division titles.

After going 10–0 to begin the season, the Patriots' first loss came against the Denver Broncos in overtime in Week 12. They would go on to lose four of their last six games, ultimately finishing the regular season with a 12–4 record for the fourth straight year. As the second seeded team in the AFC, they secured a first-round bye for the playoffs and home-field advantage for their first playoff game.

In the divisional round of the playoffs, the Patriots defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 27–20 to advance to the AFC Championship for the fifth straight year, where they fell to the eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos 20–18.

Free agency

 * Notable departures: Akeem Ayers, Brandon Browner, Jonas Gray, Darrelle Revis, Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Vince Wilfork.


 * Notable additions: Scott Chandler, Jabaal Sheard, Dion Lewis.

2015 draft class

 * Notes
 * The Patriots traded guard Logan Mankins and their fifth-round selection (No. 168 overall) to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for tight end Tim Wright and the Buccaneers' fourth- and sixth-round selections (Nos. 101 and 178 overall, respectively).
 * The Patriots traded their sixth-round selection (No. 208 overall) to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for the Titans' seventh-round selection (No. 219 overall) and linebacker Akeem Ayers.
 * The Patriots traded their original seventh-round selection (No. 249 overall) to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for wide receiver Greg Salas.
 * The Patriots traded their third- and seventh-round selections (Nos. 96 and 219 overall, respectively) to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for their fourth-, fifth- and sixth-round selections (Nos. 111, 147 and 202 overall, respectively).
 * The Patriots subsequently traded the fifth-round selection (No. 147 overall), gained from an earlier trade with the Cleveland Browns, to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for their fifth- and seventh-round picks (Nos. 166 and 247, respectively).

Regular season
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Week 1: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

 * NFL Kickoff game

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski caught three touchdown passes from quarterback Tom Brady on the opening night of the 2015 NFL season in a Patriots 28-21 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

With the help of two missed field goal attempts from Steelers placekicker Josh Scobee, the Patriots jumped out to a 14-point lead by the second quarter with 13-play and 9-play drives being capped off by Brady-to-Gronkowski touchdown passes. Scobee connected on his third field goal attempt shortly before the half, with the Patriots going into the break leading 14-3. The Patriots offense continued with their first half pace, producing a second half opening drive of nine plays, 80-yards, finishing with Brady throwing a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Scott Chandler. The Patriots led 21-3. The Steelers were able to score their first touchdown of the evening on the following drive, on the back of runs from running back DeAngelo Williams, who was starting in place of suspended running back Le'Veon Bell. The Steelers subsequently converted a two-point conversion. After a Patriots three-and-out, Scobee converted a 24-yard field goal to make the score 21-14 after a 13-play Steelers drive stalled inside the Patriots redzone. On the first play of the following Patriots drive, Brady connected with Gronkowski on a 52-yard pass to put the Patriots at the Steeler 27-yard line. The Patriots finished the drive six plays later, with Gronkowski catching his third and final touchdown pass of the night. The two teams exchanged punts, and then Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was intercepted on a long sideline pass intended for wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey by safety Duron Harmon, giving the ball back to the Patriots with seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The Patriots punted on their final drive of the night, and the Steelers scored a touchdown with two seconds left on the game clock, with Roethlisberger finding wide receiver Antonio Brown in the back of the Patriots endzone on an 11-yard pass. Gronkowski ended his superb night by falling on the subsequent Steelers onside kick attempt, ending the game.

Week 2: at Buffalo Bills
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw for a career second-best 466 yards, as he completed 38 of 59 pass attempts with three touchdown throws, as the Patriots were able to hold off a late Buffalo Bills rally thanks to their high-octane offense, giving the Patriots their first divisional win of the season.

The match-up between the Bills and Patriots was highly anticipated in the week before the meeting. Both teams had won their first games of the new season and high expectations for the season ahead were falling on both teams, including the host team, who were led by new head coach and old Patriots' foe Rex Ryan (formerly of the New York Jets). The Guinness Book of World Records was invited to Ralph Wilson Stadium to see if the Bills' fans could break the decibel record for crowd noise that was set at Arrowhead Stadium by Kansas City Chiefs' fans in the season prior (coincidentally in a game that the Patriots also featured in as the away team). In a heated game-day atmosphere, the Bills took the opening kickoff and drove the ball 80-yards in ten plays, with rookie running back Karlos Williams scoring on a 2-yard run for a Bills' touchdown. The Patriots went three-and-out on their first drive, but were able to hold the Bills to a three-and-out on the Bills' second drive thanks to a 3rd down sack of quarterback Tyrod Taylor by veteran defensive end Rob Ninkovich. The Patriots scored their first points of the contest on the following drive, with wide receiver Julian Edelman catching an 8-yard touchdown pass from Brady, after big pass plays to wide receiver Aaron Dobson and tight end Rob Gronkowski moved the ball quickly down the field. On the Bills' next drive, Taylor was once again sacked on 3rd down, this time by linebacker Jamie Collins, forcing the Bills to punt from their own 1-yard line. Punt returner Danny Amendola returned the ensuing Bills' punt 28-yards and an unnecessary roughness penalty on the Bills pushed the ball all the way to the Bills 13-yard line. The Patriots needed only two plays to punch the ball into the endzone, with running back Dion Lewis taking a draw run for 6-yards and the touchdown, putting New England up 14-7 with less than a minute to go in the 1st quarter. On the ensuing Bills' drive, Taylor was intercepted by cornerback Malcolm Butler and returned it to the Bills' 30-yard line. Five plays later the Patriots led 21-7 after Brady found Gronkowski in the back of the endzone on a play-action pass. The Bills' offense continued to sputter on their next two drives, going three-and-out on both. However, the Patriots were unable to build on their lead, as a fumble by Lewis and a failed fourth-and-one pass attempt to Edelman inside Bills' territory doomed both of their drives. On the Bills' next possession, a 39-yard pass interference penalty against cornerback Bradley Fletcher put the Bills at the Patriots' 9-yard line. On the Bills' next play, Taylor found tight end Charles Clay for a 9-yard touchdown pass. The Bills missed the extra-point kick attempt, leaving the score at 21-13 Patriots. Patriots' placekicker Stephen Gostkowski converted a 46-yard field goal on the ensuing Patriots drive. The Bills advanced the ball to the 50-yard line on the next drive, but Taylor was intercepted by safety Duron Harmon on a deep pass intended for wide receiver Sammy Watkins with 16 seconds remaining in the half. Brady took a knee on the ensuing drive, with the Patriots going into the half leading 24-13.

The Patriots advanced the ball to the Bills' 3-yard line on the opening drive of the second half, but the 12-play, 77-yard drive stalled with New England failing to convert a touchdown from short distance. Gostkowski converted the 21-yard field goal, making the score 27-13. A holding penalty disrupted the ensuing Bills' drive, and Buffalo punted to the Patriots' 17 yard line. The Patriots once again drove the ball down the field with relative ease, with Brady capping off the drive with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Edelman, who dove into the endzone as he was being tackled by defender Aaron Williams, who sustained an injury on the play. On the next series, the Bills were forced to another three-and-out after defensive end Chandler Jones sacked Taylor for an 11-yard loss on 3rd down. On the ensuing drive, a 23-yard pass play from Brady to Gronkowski set up the Patriots at the Bills 32-yard line, but New England couldn't advance the ball further, settling for a converted 50-yard field goal by Gostkowski, upping the score to 37-13. As the game entered the fourth quarter and with many Bills fans already heading for the exits, the Bills were finally able to establish rhythm with their offense, as Taylor led Buffalo on a 10-play, 80-yard drive that was completed by a 32-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Robert Woods. The two-point conversion failed. The Patriots responded by advancing the ball to the Buffalo 41-yard line, but for the second time in the game, New England failed to convert a fourth-and-one deep pass attempt to Edelman, turning the ball over on downs to the Bills. The Bills quickly capitalized on the Patriots' miscue, moving the ball down the field in under three minutes, finishing with a Taylor touchdown run of 7-yards. However, the Bills once again failed to convert the two-point conversion. The score was 37-25 in favor of the away team. On the second play of the ensuing Patriots drive, Brady was sacked by linebacker Jerry Hughes and fumbled the ball, with linebacker Preston Brown recovering for the Bills. On the first play of the next drive, Taylor completed a 26-yard pass to Woods. On the second play of the series, Taylor threw a 24-yard strike to Watkins for a Bills' touchdown. Bills' placekicker Dan Carpenter converted the extra-point kick, bringing Buffalo to within five points of New England, with the score at 37-32 and 4:20 left on the game clock. With a huge momentum swing in their opponents' favor, the Patriots got the ball back at their own 20-yard line with the goal to protect their lead and run out the game clock. As had been the theme throughout the day, the Bills' defense was unable to keep Brady and the Patriots' offense from marching up-and-down the field, and on their final drive, New England never faced a third down until they had already advanced the ball to the Buffalo 12-yard line. Running back LeGarrette Blount advanced the ball a further 4-yards on 3rd and 5, setting up a 25-yard field goal attempt for the all-pro Gostkowski. Gostkowski converted the try, pushing the Patriots lead to eight points, at a score of 40-32. After the ensuing touchback, the Bills got the ball on their own 20-yard line with 1:18 remaining in the game with a chance to tie the game if they could score a touchdown and convert a two-point attempt. On the Bills' first play of the drive, Taylor was intercepted for the third time of the day, this time by cornerback Logan Ryan at the 50-yard line on a long pass intended for Watkins. Brady kneeled on the ensuing drive, securing the 40-32 win. The Bills' fans failed to set the Guinness World Record for loudest crowd noise.

Week 3: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Patriots set a new record for points scored against the Jaguars with 51(breaking the previous record of 50 set by the prolific 1998 Minnesota Vikings).

The Jaguars received the opening kickoff, but went three-and-out. Taking the ball from their own 36, Brady drove the Patriots on a 5 play, 64 yard drive which Dion Lewis capped off with an 8-yard touchdown run. On their very next drive, again following a Jaguars punt, the Patriots marched 62 more yards, this time in 10 plays, culminating with Gostkowski's 46-yard field goal. The Jaguars then began a 58-yard drive, but it took 17 plays, taking 8:24 off the clock. The Jaguars converted four third-and-longs, but could only settle for Jason Myers' 40-yard field goal. The Patriots managed a long drive of their own, marching 78 yards using 14 plays. They reached the Jacksonville -2, but the Jags defense held, holding New England to a Gostkowski 20-yard field goal. The Jags reached the Patriots 46-yard line, but Devin McCourty intercepted the pass intended for Mercedes Lewis and returned it 27 yards to the Patriots- 43. From there the Patriots moved, quickly, 57 yards, finishing with Brady hitting Danny Amendola on a 1-yard touchdown pass with 0:18 left in the first half. The Patriots clock-eating strategy continued on their first drive of the 2nd half as they moved 52 yards eating 4:10 as Gostkowski kicked a 46-yard field goal, widening the lead to 23-3. After a Jacksonville three-and-out, the Patriots had one of the strangest scoring drives in NFL history. After a completion to Rob Gronkowski, Gronkowski was flagged for offensive pass interference pushing the ball five yards back to the Patriots- 33. On the very next play, Brady attempted a deep pass to Aaron Dobson that fell incomplete but Jacksonville was flagged for pass interference moving the ball to the Jaguars- 25. Again, on Tue very next play, Brady was intercepted by Davon House who returned the ball 82 yards to the Patriots- 26, however, the Jags were called for pass interference again, moving the ball to the 1-yard line. LeGarrette Blount ran it in for a touchdown on the next play. The Jaguars finally struck for a touchdown on their next drive as Blake Bortles hit Allen Burns for a 51-yard touchdown pass. However, Jacksonville's defense had no answer for Tom Brady. A crucial horse-collar tackle at the end of a 17-yard Blount run moved the ball to the Jaguars- 15. Two plays later Brady hit rookie receiver Keyshawn Martin on a 13-yard touchdown pass, increasing the lead to 37-10. After forcing the Jaguars into a turnover on downs, the Patriots didn't skip a beat marching 24 yards with Blount rushing for a 1-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter making the score 44-10. Following a Jaguars three-and-out, the Patriots took a page from the Jaguars playbook slowly moving 58 yards in 17 plays, taking 9:47 off the clock. Once again Blount took it in from 1 yard out increasing the lead to 51-10. Bortles commanded an 80-yard drive, hitting Clay Harbor to close out the scoring.

The Patriots won the turnover battle 1-0, dominated in total yards 471-293, more than doubled their first down total at 35-15, and held the ball for almost 10 minutes longer. With the win the Patriots improved to 3-0 and showed the damage their offense can do.

Week 10: at New York Giants
With the win, the Patriots improved to 9-0 for the first time since their undefeated regular season of 2007, and snapped their three-game losing streak against the Giants. With a Bengals loss to the Texans the same week, the Patriots remain the only undefeated team in the AFC.

Week 11: vs. Buffalo Bills
With the win, the Patriots improved to 10-0, and clinched their 13th consecutive 10 win season.

Week 12: at Denver Broncos
With their first loss, the Patriots fell to 10-1, and their hopes of repeating the undefeated regular season of 2007 ended.

The loss left the Carolina Panthers as the only unbeaten team in the league.

Week 14: at Houston Texans
With the win, the Patriots improved to 11-2, and they clinched the AFC East title for a seventh straight season after the Giants defeated the Dolphins the following Monday night. Their seventh straight division title tied the Rams franchise for the most consecutive division titles won by one team in NFL history.

Week 15: vs. Tennessee Titans
With the win, the Patriots improved to 12-2, and they clinched a first-round bye following the Broncos' loss to the Steelers later that night.

Week 17: at Miami Dolphins
Just days before Week 17, the Patriots acquired running back Steven Jackson, who was known for his tenure with the St. Louis Rams. The acquisition of Jackson sought to help with the team's injury-laden running game. However, his New England debut was ruined as he rushed for 35 yards and the Patriots ended up losing 20-10.