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.
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. 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 the only time that Brady lost four consecutive games. The Patriots would not fail to win another AFC East title or miss the postseason again until 2008.
Offseason Additions 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 expansion draft
+ New England Patriots selected during the expansion draft Round Overall Name Position Expansion team—10Matt StevensSafetyHouston Texans
2002 NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 2002 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeT.C. TaylorWide ReceiverJackson State
Staff
Final roster
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 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 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 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 9–7 Gillette Stadium Recap
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 2: at New York Jets
Week 3: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week 4: at San Diego Chargers
The loss ended the Patriots' 10-game winning streak against the Chargers, losing to them for the first time since the 1970 season.
Week 5: at Miami Dolphins
Week 6: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 8: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 9: at Buffalo Bills
Week 10: at Chicago Bears
With the comeback win, the Patriots defeated Chicago and improved to 5-4.
Week 11: at Oakland Raiders
With the loss, the Patriots fell to 5-5 and finished 1-3 against the AFC West.
Week 12: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 13: at Detroit Lions
With the win, the Patriots improved to 7-5 and finished 3-1 against the NFC North.
Week 14: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 15: at Tennessee Titans
With the humiliating loss, the Patriots fell to 8-6 and finished 4-4 on the road.
Week 16: vs. New York Jets
Week 17: vs. Miami Dolphins
With the overtime victory, the Patriots eliminated the Dolphins from playoff contention and they would both finish the regular season at 9-7. Unfortunately for New England, the Jets' 42-17 win over Green Bay prevented the Pats from clinching the AFC East and eliminated them from playoff contention. This remains only season the Patriots missed the playoffs following a Super Bowl victory. This would also be the last time the Patriots both failed to clinch the AFC East and a playoff berth until 2008. New England ended the season 4-2 against the AFC East and 4-4 at home.
Standings
Notes
References
Further reading
External links Season page on Pro Football Reference New England Patriots Super Bowl History