Changes

==Team History==

==Team History==

[[Image:Threetimesuperbowlwinners.gif|thumb|210px|The Patriots have won three [[Super Bowl]]s in the last six years.]]

[[Image:Threetimesuperbowlwinners.gif|thumb|210px|The Patriots have won three [[Super Bowl]]s in the last six years.]]

In the Patriots history as a team they have experienced both sides of being an [[National Football League]] team - the losing - and the winning. In their early history as a team, the Patriots struggled just to get a winning record. Between the years 1960 and 1984 the team only made the playoffs four times, and only won one playoff game. The winds of fortunes seemed to be turning for the Patriots in 1985 though when for the first time in the teams history the Patriots won a AFC Championship Game and played in [[Super Bowl XX]] vs the [[Chicago Bears]]. The Patriots lost the game though and for the next eight years, without a solid, reliable quarterback, the team regressed into their pre-1985 form.  

In the Patriots history as a team they have experienced both sides of being an [[National Football League]] team - the losing - and the winning. In their early history as a team, the Patriots struggled just to get a winning record. Between the years 1960 and 1984 the team only made the playoffs four times, and only won one playoff game. The winds of fortunes seemed to be turning for the Patriots in 1985 though when for the first time in the teams history the Patriots won an AFC Championship Game and played in [[Super Bowl XX]] vs the [[Chicago Bears]]. The Patriots lost the game though and for the next eight years, without a solid, reliable quarterback, the team regressed into their pre-1985 form.  

In 1993, the Patriots drafted with the first pick of the [[1993 NFL Draft]], [[University of Washington]] star quarterback, [[Drew Bledsoe]]. With Bledsoe now leading the team, the Patriots improved significantly and in 1996 the Patriots returned to the Super Bowl ([[Super Bowl XXXI]] vs the [[Green Bay Packers]]). Once again the Patriots lost but they didn't fall apart as a team and they continued to be a playoff contender throughout the late 1990's.  

In 1993, the Patriots drafted with the first pick of the [[1993 NFL Draft]], [[University of Washington]] star quarterback, [[Drew Bledsoe]]. With Bledsoe now leading the team, the Patriots improved significantly and in 1996 the Patriots returned to the Super Bowl ([[Super Bowl XXXI]] vs the [[Green Bay Packers]]). Once again the Patriots lost but they didn't fall apart as a team and they continued to be a playoff contender throughout the late 1990s.  

In 2000, the history of the Patriots quietly changed forever when [[Bill Belichick]] was appointed as the head coach and the Patriots drafted [[University of Michigan]] quarterback [[Tom Brady]] in the 6th round of the NFL Draft. The following year, 2001, Tom Brady became the Patriots starting quarterback and led the Patriots to their first [[Super Bowl]] victory. Since 2001, the Patriots have been in the playoffs all but one year (2002, 9-7 record) and have won two more Super Bowls. The 2004-2005 Patriots teams also set a NFL record for most consecutive game won with 26 in a row.  

In 2000, the history of the Patriots quietly changed forever when [[Bill Belichick]] was appointed as the head coach and the Patriots drafted [[University of Michigan]] quarterback [[Tom Brady]] in the 6th round of the NFL Draft. The following year, 2001, Tom Brady became the Patriots starting quarterback and led the Patriots to their first Super Bowl victory. Since 2001, the Patriots have been in the playoffs all but one year (2002, 9-7 record) and have won two more Super Bowls. The 2004-2005 Patriots teams also set a NFL record for most consecutive game won with 26 in a row.  

In 2007, the Patriots became only the second team in NFL history to win all sixteen of their regular-season games (the first being the 1972 [[Miami Dolphins]]).

In 2007, the Patriots became only the second team in NFL history to win all sixteen of their regular-season games (the first being the 1972 [[Miami Dolphins]]).

In the Patriots 2007 regular season opener vs the [[New York Jets]], a Patriots employee, video assistant Matt Estrella, was caught video taping [[New York Jets]] defensive signals during the first quarter of the game.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3012989 ESPN, Chris Mortensen, September 11, 2007, "Sources: Camera confiscated after claims of Pats spying on Jets"]</ref> NFL security officials at the game confiscated Estrella's video camera and the video tape and sent it to the leagues headquarters to determine whether the Patriots were violating the NFL's videotaping policy.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/09/rules_in_focus.html Boston Globe, Mike Reiss, September 11, 2007, "Rules in focus"]</ref> Days after the incident, Patriots head coach [[Bill Belichick]] apologized for the episode stating "I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected, most of all ownership, staff and players."<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/09/13/a_sorry_state/ Boston Globe, Mike Reiss, September 13, 2007, "A Sorry State, Belichick apologizes as probe continues"]</ref>  

In the Patriots 2007 regular season opener vs the [[New York Jets]], a Patriots employee, video assistant Matt Estrella, was caught video taping [[New York Jets]] defensive signals during the first quarter of the game.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3012989 ESPN, Chris Mortensen, September 11, 2007, "Sources: Camera confiscated after claims of Pats spying on Jets"]</ref> NFL security officials at the game confiscated Estrella's video camera and the video tape and sent it to the leagues headquarters to determine whether the Patriots were violating the NFL's videotaping policy.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/09/rules_in_focus.html Boston Globe, Mike Reiss, September 11, 2007, "Rules in focus"]</ref> Days after the incident, Patriots head coach [[Bill Belichick]] apologized for the episode stating "I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected, most of all ownership, staff and players."<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/09/13/a_sorry_state/ Boston Globe, Mike Reiss, September 13, 2007, "A Sorry State, Belichick apologizes as probe continues"]</ref>  

After a review of the video tape by the NFL's competition committee and commissioner [[Roger Goodell]], Bill Belichick was fined 500,000 dollars and the Patriots organization 250,000 dollars. The leagues verdict also stated the the Patriots would forfeit their 2008 NFL Draft first round pick if they made the playoffs in 2007, and if they failed to make the playoffs, their 2008 second and third round choices.<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80251b7e&template=without-video&confirm=true NFL.com, September 13, 2007, "NFL fines Belichick, strips Patriots of draft pick"]</ref>

After a review of the video tape by the NFL's competition committee and commissioner [[Roger Goodell]], Bill Belichick was fined 500,000 dollars and the Patriots organization 250,000 dollars. The leagues verdict also stated the Patriots would forfeit their 2008 NFL Draft first round pick if they made the playoffs in 2007, and if they failed to make the playoffs, their 2008 second and third round choices.<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80251b7e&template=without-video&confirm=true NFL.com, September 13, 2007, "NFL fines Belichick, strips Patriots of draft pick"]</ref>

[[Image:Bill Belichick.JPG|210px|thumb|Patriots head coach, [[Bill Belichick]] was fined $500,000 for his role in the sideline spying incident.]]

[[Image:Bill Belichick.JPG|210px|thumb|Patriots head coach, [[Bill Belichick]] was fined $500,000 for his role in the sideline spying incident.]]

[[Pittsburgh Steelers]] wide receiver, [[Hines Ward]], stated that he believed that the Patriots may have used the NFL violating taping methods against the Steelers in the 2002 and 2004 AFC Championship games. Ward said regarding the 2002 Championship game, "They knew a lot of our calls. There’s no question some of their players were calling out some of our stuff."<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8024a850&template=with-video&confirm=true Associated Press, September 12, 2007, "Steelers' Ward suspected Patriots spying"]</ref>

[[Pittsburgh Steelers]] wide receiver, [[Hines Ward]], stated that he believed that the Patriots may have used the NFL violating taping methods against the Steelers in the 2002 and 2004 AFC Championship games. Ward said regarding the 2002 Championship game, "They knew a lot of our calls. There’s no question some of their players were calling out some of our stuff."<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8024a850&template=with-video&confirm=true Associated Press, September 12, 2007, "Steelers' Ward suspected Patriots spying"]</ref>

[[New York Giants]] defensive end, [[Michael Strahan]] said that the incident had tainted the Patriots three [[Super Bowl]] victory's<ref>[http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1031230 Boston Herald, John Tomase, September 13, 2007, "Foes questioning Pats’ past"]</ref> while [[Indianapolis Colts]] head coach, [[Tony Dungy]] compared the Patriots spying to [[Barry Bonds]] alleged use of steroids.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/09/14/dungy_compares_belichick_spy_scandal_to_bonds_steroid_accusations/ Boston Globe, Cliff Brunt, Associated Press Sports Writer, September 14, 2007, "Dungy compares Belichick spy scandal to Bonds steroid accusations"]</ref>

[[New York Giants]] defensive end, [[Michael Strahan]] said that the incident had tainted the Patriots three Super Bowl victory's<ref>[http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1031230 Boston Herald, John Tomase, September 13, 2007, "Foes questioning Pats’ past"]</ref> while [[Indianapolis Colts]] head coach, [[Tony Dungy]] compared the Patriots spying to [[Barry Bonds]] alleged use of steroids.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/09/14/dungy_compares_belichick_spy_scandal_to_bonds_steroid_accusations/ Boston Globe, Cliff Brunt, Associated Press Sports Writer, September 14, 2007, "Dungy compares Belichick spy scandal to Bonds steroid accusations"]</ref>

== New England Patriots seasons record==

== New England Patriots seasons record==

| 0

| 0

| 2-1

| 2-1

| Lost [[Super Bowl XXXI]] vs the [[Green Bay Packers]]

| Lost [[Super Bowl XXXI]] vs the Green Bay Packers

|-

|-

| 1997

| 1997

|  

|  

|  

|  

| First season with [[Bill Belichick]] as head coach  

| First season with Bill Belichick as head coach  

|-

|-

| 2001

| 2001

| 0

| 0

| 2-1

| 2-1

| First 16-0 team in NFL history; lost [[Super Bowl]] to the [[New York Giants]]

| First 16-0 team in NFL history; lost Super Bowl to the [[New York Giants]]

|-

|-

| 2008

| 2008

| 0

| 0

| 2-1

| 2-1

| Lost [[Super Bowl]] to the [[New York Giants]]

| Lost Super Bowl to the New York Giants

|-

|-

|}

|}

==See also==

==See also==

*[[Miami Dolphins]]

*[[Miami Dolphins]]

*[[Buffalo Bills]]

*[[Buffalo Bills]]

*[[American Football Conference]]

*[[American Football Conference]]